ITC Limited is one of India's largest diversified conglomerates, headquartered in Kolkata, West Bengal. The company operates across multiple business segments including fast-moving consumer goods (FMCG), hotels, paperboards and packaging, agri-business, and information technology. ITC is among the most valuable companies listed on Indian stock exchanges and is known for its wide portfolio of cigarette and consumer brands as well as its sustainability initiatives.
| Name | ITC Limited |
|---|---|
| Former name | Imperial Tobacco Company of India Limited; later India Tobacco Company Limited |
| Industry | Conglomerate (FMCG, hotels, paperboards, agri-business, IT) |
| Headquarters | Virginia House, Kolkata, West Bengal, India |
| Country | India |
| Founded | 1910 |
| Listings | BSE, NSE |
| Subsidiaries include | ITC Hotels, ITC Infotech |
ITC was incorporated on 24 August 1910 as the Imperial Tobacco Company of India Limited, originally a subsidiary of the British-based Imperial Tobacco Company. The company was renamed India Tobacco Company Limited in 1970 and subsequently to I.T.C. Limited in 1974, reflecting the progressive Indianisation of its shareholding and management. The current name, ITC Limited, was adopted in 1974, with the full stops dropped to signify the broadened scope of its activities beyond tobacco.
While cigarettes historically formed the core of its revenues, ITC has diversified extensively over the decades into non-tobacco segments, with FMCG products under brands such as Aashirvaad, Sunfeast, Bingo!, Yippee!, Classmate, Fiama, Vivel, Engage, Savlon (in partnership), and Mangaldeep gaining substantial market share.
The FMCG segment encompasses cigarettes, packaged foods, personal care, education and stationery products, and lifestyle retailing. Cigarette brands include Wills, Gold Flake, Classic, India Kings, and Navy Cut. Foods brands include Aashirvaad (atta and staples), Sunfeast (biscuits), Bingo! (snacks), Yippee! (noodles), and Candyman.
ITC Hotels operates a chain of luxury and premium hotels across India under brands such as ITC Hotels (luxury), Welcomhotel, Fortune, and WelcomHeritage. The chain emphasises sustainability, with several properties certified as LEED Platinum.
ITC's paperboards and packaging business has manufacturing facilities in Bhadrachalam (Telangana), Bollaram, Tribeni, and Kovai, producing value-added paperboards, specialty papers, and packaging solutions.
The agri-business division deals in leaf tobacco, wheat, rice, marine products, processed fruits, and other agricultural commodities. The e-Choupal network has linked Indian farmers to ITC's supply chain across multiple states.
ITC Infotech, a wholly owned subsidiary, provides IT services and consulting to global clients in sectors such as banking, retail, manufacturing, and consumer goods.
ITC Limited is among India's largest private sector companies by market capitalisation and tax contribution. It is one of the country's largest foreign exchange earners through agricultural exports. The company has been recognised for its environmental, social, and governance practices, and has reported being carbon-positive, water-positive, and solid-waste recycling-positive for multiple consecutive years. Its e-Choupal model has been studied internationally as a case in rural digital empowerment and supply chain innovation.