ITC Limited has been conferred the Business Today Award for the Best Managed Company – Retail and Consumer Products this year in recognition of its outstanding initiatives in the consumer products segment. The award was presented by the Union Commerce Minister, Shri Kamal Nath to Mr R Srinivasan, Member of the Corporate Management Committee of ITC, yesterday in Mumbai.

ITC has created multiple drivers of business growth by leveraging its diverse competencies in agri sourcing, branding, hospitality and packaging, trade marketing & distribution. Since 2000, apart from consolidating its traditional businesses, ITC has forayed into Lifestyle Retailing, Branded Packaged Foods, Personal Care Products, Greeting, Gifting & Stationery, Incense Sticks and Safety Matches by blending its strong internal competencies to meet the emerging business opportunities of a growing economy.

The success of this strategy is reflected in ITC’s new FMCG businesses clocking 68% growth during 2006-07. ITC’s endeavour to leverage its deep understanding of the consumer, gained through its intimate relationship with the consumer over several decades, its commitment to creating world class products and services through intensive R&D and innovation, and its world class human capital continue to build competitiveness of its FMCG businesses.

The Company's Branded Packaged Foods business continued to expand rapidly. The unwavering commitment to benchmarked high quality standards enabled ITC to rapidly gain market standing in all its six brands, namely Aashirvaad, Sunfeast, Bingo!, Candyman, Minto and Kitchens of India.

The Lifestyle business’ retail footprint now stands at 44 'Wills Lifestyle' stores, complemented by an expanded network of John Players 'exclusive brand outlets' and increased presence at reputed 'large format stores' and 'multi-brand outlets'. The range of Miss Players apparel is also fast gaining ground amongst the trendy young women.

ITC has recently expanded its foray into the Personal Care segment with Fiama Di Wills shampoos, soaps and shower gels, Vivel Di Wills and Vivel Soaps, as well as Superia Shampoos and Soaps. This is in addition to the super premium Essenza Di Wills portfolio.

Leveraging the trade marketing and distribution strengths of the FMCG business, Classmate and Paperkraft in the stationery business have become the most widely distributed brands in the country.

Matches marketed by ITC are available in unique designs and with innovative value added features. Brands like iKno, Mangaldeep, VaxLit, Delite and Aim have already become popular. The Aim brand is already the largest selling brand of Safety Matches in India. Mangaldeep has also emerged as the largest national brand in the incense sticks category.

ITC’s aspiration is to be a leader in every segment of the FMCG businesses it is engaged in.