Britannia Industries

Britannia Industries Limited is an Indian company based in Kolkata that is famous for its Britannia and Tiger brands of biscuit, which are popular throughout the country. Britannia is has an estimated 38% market share.Ruchita Saxena, , Business Standard, 6 October 2007

The Company's principal activity is the manufacture and sale of biscuits, bread, rusk, cakes and dairy products.

History

The company was established in 1892, with an investment of Rs. 295. Initially, biscuits were manufactured in a small house in central Kolkata. Later, the enterprise was acquired by the Gupta brothers and operated under the name of "V.S. Brothers." In 1918, C.H. Holmes, an English businessman in Kolkata, was taken on as a partner and The Britannia Biscuit Company Limited (BBCo) was launched. The Mumbai factory was set up in 1924 and Peek Freans UK, acquired a controlling interest in BBCo. Biscuits were in big demand during World War II, which gave a boost to the company’s sales. The company name finally was changed to the current "Britannia Industries Limited" in 1979. In 1982 Nabisco Brands Inc., USA became a major foreign shareholder.

Kerala businessman K. Rajan Pillai secured control of the group in the late 1980s, becoming known in India as the 'Biscuit King'. In 1993, the Wadia Group acquired a stake in ABIL UK, and became an equal partner with Groupe Danone in Britannia Industries Limited.

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