ITC is a leading Indian business conglomerate with diversified business interests in the fields of agribusiness, FMCG, paper, tobacco, hospitality, and information technology, among others. The ITC logo has undergone a few changes since the inception of the company in 1910. Each iteration of the logo reflects the evolving identity of the company as it moved from a tobacco-centric business to a diversified conglomerate. The article delves into the evolution of the ITC logo and discusses other relevant details concerning the company.
The Genesis of the ITC Logo (1910)
The forerunner of ITC was the Imperial Tobacco Company, which succeeded the British company, W.D. & H.O. Wills. So, the original logo of the British Wills company featured the name W.D.&H.O. WILLS in an arched form. The white-coloured letters ending with a single apostrophe sign appeared in thick black outlines, which gave the letters a three-dimensional effect. The uppercase letters forming the brand name were compact to look at and were highly visible.
The original logo featured the full name “Imperial Tobacco Co.,” thereby emphasising its roots in tobacco manufacturing. This logo was representative of its British origins and focused solely on tobacco products. There are no records of the logo in public domain, and so the below illustration of the building bearing the name in Bristol, England, has been displayed.
(1970-Present)
In 1970, the company rebranded itself as India Tobacco Company Limited. Thereafter, the company became “ITC Limited.” The new logo design of the company name was modernised and featured a stylised representation of the letters “ITC” that conveyed a sense of dynamism and innovation. This change reflected the strategic shift that the company made towards becoming a multi-business conglomerate with interests in FMCG, hotels, paperboards, and more.
The ITC logo emphasises simplicity and elegance by using clean lines and a bold typeface. It symbolises ITC’s commitment to sustainability and innovation while maintaining a connection to its heritage. The logo is often accompanied by various brand identifiers that represent its diverse product portfolio across sectors like FMCG, hospitality, and agribusiness.
The below-mentioned logo was crafted to commemorate the centenary of the company in 2010.
The Elements of the ITC Logo
Font
The official font used in the logo is the Gill Sans font family, which is known for its clean lines and modern appearance. It enhances both readability and aesthetic appeal of the logo. The variants of Gill Sans employed include Regular, Light, Bold, and Medium.
Colour
The ITC logo primarily uses two colours: Dark blue, which is the dominant colour in the logo. It’s a deep, rich navy blue that gives a sense of professionalism, trust, and stability. The other colour is white, which creates a strong contrast against the dark blue background. In fact, the specific shade of blue used in the ITC logo is often described as a royal or navy blue.
The simplicity of this two-colour palette (blue and white) creates a clean, memorable, and easily recognisable logo. The dark blue colour is often associated with corporate reliability and professionalism, while the white colour provides clarity and contrast.
The History of ITC
ITC Limited was originally established as the Imperial Tobacco Company of India Limited in 1910. It has a rich history marked by significant transformation and diversification. Initially the company was focused on tobacco products, wherein it started its operations in Kolkata. Over the years, the company expanded its portfolio beyond tobacco and ventured into various sectors, including Fast Moving Consumer Goods (FMCG), hospitality, paperboards and packaging, agribusiness, and information technology.
In 1970, the ownership of the company was Indianised, and it became the India Tobacco Company Limited. This was followed by another rebranding in 1974 to I.T.C. Limited, which was further simplified to ITC Limited in 2001. This rebranding reflected the diverse business interests of the company rather than just an acronym.
Over the years, ITC made significant strides in various industries. For instance, in 1975, it entered the hospitality sector by acquiring its first hotel in Chennai, which was renamed ITC-Welcomgroup Hotel Chola. This marked the beginning of ITC’s expansion into luxury hotels and hospitality services. The 1980s saw ITC diversifying into paper and packaging with the establishment of a manufacturing plant in Bhadrachalam, Andhra Pradesh.
The 1990s were transformative for ITC as it underwent restructuring under the leadership of Yogesh Chander Deveshwar, who became chairman in 1996. His vision led to a focus on sustainable development and a broader business strategy that included launching popular FMCG brands like “Classmate” for stationery products and “Kitchens of India” for food items.
Today, ITC is recognised as one of India’s largest conglomerates with a presence in multiple sectors and a commitment to quality and sustainability. Its evolution from a tobacco company to a diversified business entity exemplifies its adaptability and strategic foresight in responding to changing market dynamics.
Interesting Facts About ITC
- ITC was originally known as the Imperial Tobacco Company, and it was incorporated in 1910 in Kolkata. Thereafter, the company opened its state-of-the-art tobacco factory in Bengaluru.
- ITC had established a packaging business in 1925 to help its cigarette business. Today, the same packaging business has clients, such as Colgate Palmolive, Nokia, Tata Tea, and others. Today, ITC is arguably the most famous packaging house in India.
- In 1975, ITC diversified into the hotel segment by buying a hotel in Chennai and named it My Fortune. Its luxury hotel segment is divided into four brands, namely, ITC Hotels – Luxury Collection, Fortune Hotels, WelcomHotels, and WelcomHeritage.
- ITC is invested with the need to reduce its carbon footprint. In this pursuit, it conserves energy by using renewable sources of energy. Around 41% of ITC’s energy requirement is renewable.
- ITC is arguably the only company in the world to be carbon positive for 15 years, water positive for 18 years, and solid waste recycling positive for 13 years.
- Since ITC is in the packaging industry, it makes a number of electrical insulation papers, FMCG cartons, decorative laminate, and writing and printing papers. However, to overcome the depletion of wood to manufacture packaging materials, ITC runs a farm plantation program. According to this program, the company offers saplings to farmers at a nominal cost and the know-how and wherewithal to achieve efficient farming. And when the tree matures, ITC offers the farmers a buyback guarantee as well. Interestingly, farmers are allowed to sell the wood to others as well.
- ITC has one of the largest agribusiness divisions in India. Besides, this division is one of the largest exporters of agricultural products, thereby helping about 40 crore farmers. ITC runs about 6,100 e-Choupals in 10 states, where they inform and empower the farmers with internet access to improve the quality of their agricultural products.
- ITC runs one of the fastest-growing IT services companies in India, called ITC Infotech India Limited.
- ITC does not have any promoter holdings and is professionally managed.
- ITC has diversified into the FMCG business and is a major player in the sector. Its sales have grown by 15% y-o-y.
- ITC is among the top companies to have a large market capitalisation in India.
Finally
The evolution of the ITC logo shows the journey of the company from a tobacco manufacturer to one of India’s leading diversified business conglomerates. Each logo redesign has marked significant milestones in ITC’s history. It reflects the adaptability and commitment of the company to growth in various sectors. Today, the ITC logo stands as a symbol of innovation, quality, and corporate responsibility in the Indian business landscape.