Last Updated on Nov 17, 2021 by Aradhana Gotur
Did you know Air India was actually founded by JRD Tata as Tata Airlines? Here are 12 amazing facts about the Tata Group.
Table of Contents
Fact No. 1: Started as a trading company
Tata Group was founded as a private trading firm in 1868 by Jamsetji Tata. At that time he dreamed of achieving 4 goals – setting up an iron and steel company, a unique hotel, a world-class learning institution, and a hydro-electric plant. Quite ambitious right? If we look at it today, Tata Group has over 100 operating companies across various sectors in over 100 countries; of which 29 are publicly listed.
By the way, you can always look up any listed company and how it is performing on Tickertape.
Fact No. 2: Huge workforce powering this conglomerate
To run such a conglomerate, you need a strong workforce. Tata Group employs over 7,50,000 people. That’s more than Toyota, Coca-Cola, Microsoft, and Google combined.
As a matter of fact, Tata Consultancy Services employs more than 30,000 employees in North America, which is more than twice what Google (5,000) and Microsoft (8,000) employ combined in India.
Fact No. 3: The first dream – a unique hotel
In 1903, the Taj Mahal Hotel at Colaba waterfront, Mumbai was opened making it the first hotel with electricity in India. Taj Mahal Hotel is owned by Indian Hotels Company Ltd. a subsidiary of Tata Group. It manages a portfolio of hotels, resorts, jungle safaris, palaces, spas, and in-flight catering services. It has more than 196 hotels in 80 locations across 12 countries, with over 20,000 rooms and 25,000 employees.
Fact No. 4: Setting up steel plants
After Jamsetji’s death, his older son Dorabji Tata became the chairman in 1904 and established the Tata Iron and Steel company (TISCO), in 1907. It is now known as Tata Steel. It is among the top steel-producing companies in the world with an annual crude steel capacity of 34 mn. tonnes per annum.
Fact No. 5: Serving refreshing tea to the world
You must have seen Tata Tea’s ‘Jaago Re’ campaign advertisements for sure. It turned many heads and raised awareness around specific causes. Tata Tea has about 20% market share in India making it the number one Tea company in India by volume. Not only in India, but Tata also owns Tetley, which is the largest brand in Canada and UK, and 2nd largest in the US. All these brands are owned by Tata Consumer Products which is listed on BSE and NSE.
Fact No. 6: Connecting people
Tata Communications has the largest and most advanced subsea fiber network, which carries about 30% of the world’s internet routes. It connects 4 out of 5 mobile subscribers worldwide. Now that’s actually connecting people all over the world. Interestingly, while other stocks were going down during the pandemic, Tata Communications saw a good upward rally, all thanks to the people who were inside their homes, consuming more internet than before.
Fact No. 7: Making your life cool
You might have seen Voltas ACs in commercial buildings, complexes, and even at homes. Voltas is India’s largest air conditioning brand owned by Tata Group. It has completed many international projects including air conditioning in the world’s tallest building – the Burj Khalifa, The Ferrari World Theme Park, and Etihad Towers in Abu Dhabi.
Fact No. 8: Gracing mankind with jewels
Titan Company Ltd. is the world’s fifth-largest wristwatch manufacturer and a leading watch manufacturer in India. Along with watches the company makes eyewear under the name of Titan Eye Plus and Jewellery under the brand, Tanishq. Titan has been one of the multi-baggers of Rakesh Jhunjhunwala’s portfolio, where he bought on share just at Rs. 3, and now it’s trading around Rs. 2,499.
Fact No. 9: India’s largest automobile manufacturer
From manufacturing locomotives to competing with global automobile brands, Tata Motors boasts 75 yrs of past glory since 1945. It is the backbone of the Indian Army Vehicles. You might not know this, but Jaguar and Landrover are owned by Tata Motors. There is quite an interesting acquisition story, which you can check in our separate video on interesting facts about Tata Motors.
Fact No. 10: Lighting up lives
Tata Power is India’s largest integrated power company. It had set up India’s first hydroelectric power station in 1915. It has a 30% clean energy portfolio. Tata Power even has its presence in countries like Singapore, Indonesia, Bhutan, and South Africa.
Fact No. 11: Leading the IT services industry
Tata Consultancy Services was the first company in India to hit a $ 100 bn. market cap in 2018. TCS has played a huge part in redesigning and maintaining the UIDAI portal. So if you don’t get an OTP related to your Aadhar card, you know whom to blame. Just kidding.
Fact No. 12: Owning a salt company
Tata owns British Salt, UK’s leading manufacturer of high purity salt products. If you remember Mahatma Gandhiji’s salt march, 91 yrs ago, an Indian company owning British Salt is quite ironic, right?
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