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 The 'Wills Lifestyle' range was
further augmented during the year with the extension of 'Essenza Di
Wills', an exclusive line of prestige fragrance products, to select 'Wills
Lifestyle' stores. The products have met with encouraging response from discerning
consumers. The year also marked the launch of the 'Wills Lifestyle
India Fashion Week' (WIFW), billed as the country's premier fashion event. In the
popular segment, the 'John Players' brand delivered a strong
performance during the year and created a buzz among its youthful target audience.The
year witnessed the rapid scale-up of the stationery business with volumes of 'Classmate' notebooks trebling over last year - making 'Classmate'
the most widely distributed notebook brand across the country. The 'Expressions'
brand of greeting cards sustained its leadership status in multi-brand outlets across the
country.
In the Safety Matches business, the Company's brands, including 'Aim'
which is the largest selling brand of matches in the country, continued to enjoy strong
consumer preference, resulting in enhanced market standing. The year also witnessed the
successful acquisition of Wimco by a wholly owned subsidiary of the Company.
The Company's incense sticks (Agarbatti) business made rapid gains during the year with
the 'Mangaldeep' brand emerging as the only national brand in
its first full year of operations.
Hotels
 During 2005-06, the Hotels business posted a strong
financial performance with Segment Revenues growing by 35.7%. ITC
Grand Central, the Company's second property in Mumbai, which was commissioned in
January 2005, posted an impressive performance to record a positive bottom line in its
first full year of operations. The business also progressed a product upgradation
programme during the year with a view to maintaining the contemporariness of the Company's
properties.
ITC Hotel Grand Central, Mumbai |
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