ITC Limited

ITC Limited

Incorporated on August 24, 1910, as the Imperial Tobacco Company of India Limited, ITC Ltd has evolved from a cigarette manufacturer into a diversified conglomerate. It expanded into hospitality (1975), paperboards (1979), agri-business (1990), and FMCG (2001), becoming a premier Indian company with major interests in hotels, packaging, and technology. 

Key Historical Milestones

• 1910: Founded in Kolkata as a private limited company.
• 1913: Established the first cigarette factory in Bangalore.
• 1954: Converted into a public limited company.
• 1970: Name changed to India Tobacco Company Limited as ownership became more Indianized.
• 1974: Renamed to I.T.C. Limited.
• 1975: Entered the hospitality industry.
• 1979: Entered the paperboard business, establishing its first mill in Bhadrachalam.
• 2000s: Diversified into foods (2001), education & stationery (2002), and personal care (2005).
• 2025: Demerged its hotel business into a separate entity, ITC Hotels, and expanded its portfolio with the acquisition of Sresta Natural Bioproducts. 

Name EvolutionThe company changed its name from Imperial Tobacco Company of India Limited (1910) to India Tobacco Company Limited in 1970, and finally to I.T.C. Limited in 1974 to reflect its diversified nature. [1, 9]

Key Business Growth

• Agri-Business: In 1975, it bought the assets of India Leaf Tobacco Development Co. Ltd. Later, its

  e-Choupal

  
  initiative started in 2000 empowered farmers by providing real-time information.
• FMCG: Beyond cigarettes, the company launched brands like Aashirvaad, Sunfeast, and Bingo.
• Hotels: Its chain was named "Welcome Hotels" in 1975 and later renamed "Welcomgroup" in 1979.
• Sustainability: ITC was among the first in the world to publish a sustainability report, complying with GRI standards.