Speaking to ET Now, Chairman and Managing Director Sanjiv Puri outlined a three-pronged strategy guiding the conglomerate’s technology investments and long-term growth plans.
Tech at ITC: Efficiency, problem-solving and new businesses
Puri said ITC is leveraging technology across three key pillars:
- Driving operational efficiency, improving supply chains, marketing systems and manufacturing processes.
- Solving complex problems including climate risk modelling for adaptation plans, which was previously not possible.
- Creating new business opportunities, building digital-led platforms that unlock new revenue streams.
One key example is ITCMAARS, ITC’s digital agri-platform that empowers farmers with advisory and market access, while also creating business value for the company.
Similarly, ITC’s fresh fruits business leverages the company’s digital ecosystem to scale new growth avenues.
“It’s about creating societal value while strengthening enterprise competitiveness,” Puri said.
After hotels demerger: More restructuring ahead?
Following the recent demerger of the hotels business, speculation has risen about further restructuring within the group.
Puri indicated that corporate structure decisions are guided by one principle: enhancing competitiveness and long-term value creation.
“At the moment, the existing structure works well given the synergies across businesses,” he said.
The hospitality vertical was spun off because management believes a focused, standalone entity can grow faster and unlock value in a rapidly expanding hospitality market.
Hotels expansion: “Opening every month”
On expansion plans, Puri confirmed that hotel growth remains a priority.
“Yes, absolutely. We are opening hotels every month,” he said, underscoring strong momentum in the hospitality segment.
The standalone hotel entity is expected to capitalise on India’s robust domestic travel and tourism growth cycle.
₹20,000 crore capex across businesses
ITC plans to invest approximately ₹20,000 crore over the medium term, spanning its key verticals:
- FMCG
- Tobacco
- Hotels
- Agri and paperboards
“Investment is integral to our growth plans,” Puri said, reiterating the company’s ambition to expand rapidly across segments.
FMCG and tobacco: Continued focus
While the hotel business has been separated structurally, ITC remains committed to strengthening its core businesses.
Capex allocations will support:
- Scaling FMCG capacity and distribution
- Strengthening brand portfolios
- Maintaining competitiveness in tobacco
The conglomerate continues to pursue a multi-engine growth strategy, leveraging synergies across verticals.
The bigger picture
ITC’s post-demerger roadmap reflects a blend of digital transformation, portfolio optimisation and capital investment.
With a ₹20,000 crore capex pipeline, rapid hotel expansion and technology-led innovation in agriculture and FMCG, the group appears focused on accelerating growth while maintaining structural flexibility.
For investors, the key watchpoints will be execution speed, value creation from the hotels spin-off, and returns on new digital-led business initiatives.