If you are the ’80s or ’90s kid, do you remember those Britannia Bikis Classic, sugar-coated little hearts, and those fruit cakes that were a bit pricey, but our parents still got them for us as bait to not miss school?
However, not only this, but even Generation X (before the ’80s) has been cherishing the products of this food giant.
Today, we are going to talk about the bakery giant behind the most-loved cakes, cashew cookies, milk cookies, and more: Britannia Industries!
In this blog, we will explore the history of Britannia, from its humble beginnings in Kolkata to its current position as a global total foods company.
Britannia Industries History- Biscuits, Bread, and Beyond
Here is how the now most loved household biscuit and bakery brand has grown over the span of 120 years.
The Sweet Beginnings (1892-1900s)
This chapter takes you back to the early days when biscuits were just the beginning for Britannia.
A bunch of British folks in Kolkata decided to start something sweet – Britannia Industries.
They kicked off the whole venture with just Rs 295.
Can you imagine this?
That sounds more like starting your own biscuit empire that you wouldn’t be even aware of, with a mere pocket change, nowadays! Initially, they baked biscuits, cakes, and bread for the British officers and tea planters hanging out in India.
Wartime Heroes and Post-Independence Challenges (1910-1947)
From supplying service biscuits to the Indian Army during the Second World War to facing challenges post-independence, this era paints a picture of Britannia’s resilience and evolution.
As the years rolled on, in 1918, Britannia became a public limited company, flaunting the name Britannia Biscuit Company Limited.
Britannia achieved a milestone by becoming the first company east of the Suez Canal to utilize imported gas ovens. Their business was thriving, and, more importantly, Britannia was gaining a reputation for delivering quality and value.
Fast forward to the Second World War – Britannia wasn’t just about biscuits; they stepped up big time.
They supplied biscuits to the Indian Army and even set up a training centre for disabled soldiers.
That was like turning biscuits into a force for good!
In 1924, Britannia established a new factory in Mumbai. During the same year, the company became a subsidiary of Peek Frean & Company Limited UK, a prominent biscuit manufacturing company.
Post Independence Era
After India got its independence in 1947, things got tricky.
There were challenges left and right – partition, shortages of raw materials, and tough competition from other biscuit makers.
But did Britannia back down?
No way!
In 1954, facing challenges, Britannia set up fancy machines in Mumbai.
The same year, they started making good-quality sliced bread in Delhi.
By 1965, they opened a new bread bakery in Delhi.
In 1975, Britannia took over delivering biscuits from Parry’s.
In 1976, they started selling Britannia bread in Calcutta and Chennai.
In 1978, Britannia invited people to buy shares, and lots of Indians did – more than half!
In 1979, they changed their name from Britannia Biscuit Company Limited to Britannia Industries Limited, showing they were doing more than just biscuits.
The ’90s Shake-Up and Total Foods Vision (1990s-2000s)
As India’s economy opened up, Britannia faced new challenges and embraced transformation. This part of the story unfolds the ’90s shake-up, marking the journey towards becoming a total foods company.
The ’90s brought big changes when the Indian economy opened up.
More players entered the bakery market, and Britannia Industries had to step up its game too.
To make that happen, they shook things up – a new look, a new mindset, and a bunch of cool new products like Tiger, NutriChoice, Little Hearts, and 50-50.
And guess what?
They were ranked among India’s most trusted brands.
Growth, Innovation, and Beyond (2000s-Present)
In 2000, they hit a whopping Rs 1000 crore in turnover – that’s like rolling in biscuit dough!
Fast forward to the present day, Britannia’s story continues.– Britannia Industries is still baking up a storm.
They’ve added more goodies to their lineup – cakes, rusk, croissants, milkshakes, and even coconut water.
Britannia Industries: A Major FMCG Player
Britannia Industries is currently ranked fifth among the top FMCG companies based on market capitalisation, indicating its substantial presence in the market.
According to the latest information, Britannia boasts strong financial numbers.
Britannia Industries Overview
- Market Presence
- Ranked 5th among top FMCG companies.
- Stock Information (As of 19th Jan 2024)
- Share Price: ₹5150
- Market Cap: ₹124,070 Cr
- Financial Performance (Quarter ending 30th Sep 2023)
- Revenue: ₹4,350 Cr
- Legacy and Global Presence
- Over 130 years of legacy.
- Operations in 80+ countries worldwide.
Britannia Industries Introduction
- Year of foundation: Britannia Industries was established in 1892 by a group of British businessmen in Kolkata.
- CEO and MD: The current Executive Vice-Chairman and Managing Director of Britannia Industries is Varun Berry.
- Britannia Industries Owner/ Chairman: Nusli Wadia
- Current market cap: As of January 19th, 2024, the market capitalisation of Britannia Industries was ₹1,24,070 Cr.
- Headquarters: The headquarters of Britannia Industries is located at 5/1A, Hungerford Street, Kolkata, West Bengal, India.
- Parent company: Britannia Industries is part of the Wadia Group, led by Nusli Wadia, who serves as the Chairman of the company.
- Products offered: Britannia Industries provides a variety of food products, including biscuits, breads, cakes, rusk, dairy products, beverages, and snacks. Some of its popular brands include Good Day, 50-50, Marie Gold, Tiger, NutriChoice, Milk Bikis, Bourbon, Little Hearts, Pure Magic, and Cheese.
Britannia Industries Limited: Charting a Responsible Future
They’re cooking up new ways to be eco-friendly and caring for folks.
So, what’s Britannia’s vision for the future?
To be a responsible global total foods company, serving up exciting goodness all day long with all these finger-licking products:
• Biscuits: Britannia is one of the leading biscuit manufacturers in India, with popular brands such as Good Day, 50-50, Marie Gold, Tiger, NutriChoice, Milk Bikis, Bourbon, Nice Time, and Little Hearts. Britannia biscuits are available in various categories, such as cookies, crackers, cream, health, and treats.
• Bread: Britannia breads include wheat bread, multigrain bread, fruit bread, sandwich bread, pav, bun, and kulcha. They are made from premium ingredients and are enriched with essential nutrients.
• Cakes: Britannia cakes include fruit cake, nut & raisin cake, chocolate cake, muffin, cupcake, and brownie.
• Rusk: Britannia rusk is a crispy and crunchy snack made from wheat flour, sugar, and butter and comes in different flavors such as elaichi, milk, and suji toast.
• Dairy: Britannia dairy products include cheese, butter, ghee, dahi, milk, and beverages and are made from fresh and pure milk, offering a range of benefits such as calcium, protein, and probiotics.
• Snacks: Britannia snacks are tasty and convenient, suitable for enjoyment anytime, anywhere. Britannia snacks include wafers, salted snacks, and nuts.
And that is the story of Britannia – from a little biscuit house in Kolkata to a snacking sensation loved by all.
Cheers to more biscuits, cakes, and goodness from Britannia!
FAQs| Britannia Industries History
Britannia’s main products include bakery and dairy items like biscuits, bread, cakes, rusk, cheese, milk, butter, ghee, and yoghurt. Popular brands from Britannia include Good Day, Marie Gold, Tiger, NutriChoice, Milk Bikis, and Britannia Cheese.
No, Parle and Britannia are different companies in the Indian biscuit and bakery market. Parle is a family-run business, while Britannia is a public limited company. Parle has a higher market share in mass and low-premium segments, whereas Britannia dominates the premium segment.
Britannia is headquartered in Kolkata, India. It was established in 1892 by a group of British businessmen and later acquired by the Wadia Group in the early 1990s.
Source- britannia.co.in
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