10 Unknown Companies of Tata

Whenever you think of Tata Group, I'm pretty sure your mind immediately starts to think of big steel plants, cool technology, and even cooler cars. And oh, of course, "desh ka namak" as well. There's barely anyone in India who has never heard about the iconic Tata Group. But if you think your GK is really good then think again because there's a whole world of underrated Tata companies that are quietly shaping our lives.

Each of these companies has something unique, yet they have one thing in common- Tata Group. In this article, we've discussed 10 hidden gems of Tata Group. So, let's start, shall we?

Table of Contents

• Infiniti Retail
• Taneira
• Tata Strive
• Tata Agrico
• Voltas Beko
• Landmark Bookstores
• Tata Swach
• Nelco
• Rallis India
• Himalyan Natural Mineral Water

1. Infiniti Retail

Infiniti Retail was founded in 2006 in Mumbai. It operates the popular Croma chain of electronics. As a subsidiary of Tata Digital, it has grown into a household name in consumer electronics with 515 Croma stores outlets spanning 171 major cities in India. The stores are mainly operated on a lease/revenue-sharing basis.

While the company's revenue skyrocketed from ₹8,223 crore in FY22 to ₹17,867 crore in FY24, Infiniti Retail continues to face profitability challenges, reporting a negative profit margin of 5.5% in FY24.

2. Taneira

Taneira was launched in 2017 and is dedicated towards celebrating India's cultural heritage through craftsmanship. It offers a wide range of ethnic clothing including sarees, kurtas, and ready-to-wear ethnic attire, focusing particularly on women's wear. Their products are all handcrafted and they created several “Weavershalas” in Varanasi, Champa, Coimbatore, Phulia, and Baruipur and are planning to expand them across the country. Their aim is to provide a sustainable livelihood to skilled weavers and artisans.

By Q1 FY24-25, Taneira expanded to 81 stores across 41 cities and added 4 new stores in the same quarter, recording a year-on-year growth of 12% in Q2 FY24-25.

3. Tata Strive

Launched in 2014, Tata Strive operates as a skill-development initiative under the Tata Community Initiatives Trust operating multiple Tata Strive Skill Development Centres (TSSDCs) in Mumbai, Aligarh, Hyderabad, Mohali, Nasik and Pune.

Its major source of revenue comes from vocational training courses, corporate partnerships and government collaborations.

Tata Strive has seen steady growth. Its revenue grew from ₹41.78 crore in FY22 to ₹72.7 crore in FY24. More than just a revenue generator, Tata Strive exemplifies the Tata Group's commitment to social responsibility and nation-building.

4. Tata Agrico

Tata Agrico was established in 1925 as Tata Group's oldest venture into the agricultural sector. It manufactures high-quality agricultural implements and tools, including:

• Conventional tools for gardening like roll cut secateurs, digging trowels, weeding forks, hedge shears
• The modern ones, like bonsai kits & garden kits, are customised according to the needs of consumers.

5. Voltas Beko

Voltas Beko entered the market in 2017 as a joint venture between Voltas Ltd. and Turkish home appliance manufacturer Beko. Voltas alone is a very popular air conditioning brand in India, established in 1954. This joint venture primarily aimed at Voltas' image as an air conditioning brand to a comprehensive player in the consumer appliance market.

It offers a wide range of home and kitchen appliances, including Refrigerators, Washing Machines, Dishwashers, and Microwave Ovens.

While sales jumped from ₹944.49 crore in FY22 to ₹1,602.87 crore in FY24, the company continues to struggle with profitability, reporting a negative profit margin of 16.67% in FY24.

6. Landmark Bookstores

Landmark Bookstores was established in 1987 and is a chain of books and music retailers based in Chennai. In 2013, Trent Ltd. acquired the company and bought 76% stakes for ₹103.6 crores.
It offers:

• Books
• Audio and video music
• Movie VCD/DVDs
• Video Game console
• Magazines
• Toys

And even technology products like:

• Mobile phones
• Tablet computers
• Phone Accessories
• Camera and camera accessories
• Laptops

7. Tata Swach

Launched on 7 December 2009 in Mumbai, India, Tata Swach emerged as an innovative product made by TCS and Tata Chemicals. They created this company with the intent of providing low-cost, low-maintenance, and user-friendly water purifiers.

Tata Swach’s purifiers are made up of natural materials primarily rice husk ash which uses nanotechnology for effective water purification. This company is a part of Tata Chemical's Consumer Products segment, which became a separate entity in 2019 as Tata Consumer Products.

According to its annual reports of 2015, Tata Swach generated a revenue of ₹1,518 crore in this segment, selling 4,02,435 units in FY14-15. Compared to its revenue in FY10-11 which was ₹782 crore, the company saw substantial growth.

8. Nelco

Nelco, founded in 1949 in Mumbai, specialises in satellite communication services and integrated security solutions. Nelco holds these licenses issued by the Department of Telecommunication, Government of India (DOT):

• VSAT license
• Internet Service Provider (ISP) license and
• Inflight & Maritime Communication (IFMC) license

Nelco also offers security and surveillance services to Government, Defense, and Enterprise sectors.

Nelco has shown good growth in terms of both sales and profit margin. With sales growing from ₹264.81 crore in FY22 to ₹322.67 crore in FY24 and profit margin jumping to 7.33% in FY24, Nelco has proven its operational efficiency and relevance in a competitive industry.

9. Rallis India

Founded in 1948, Rallis India has established itself as a trusted name in agricultural products, including pesticides, seeds, and plant growth nutrients. It is a subsidiary of Tata Chemicals Ltd.

Rallis India’s sales kept fluctuating from ₹2,631 crore in FY22 to ₹2,663.98 crore in FY24. Despite this, it remains a vital player in India's agribusiness sector, with profit margins rebounding to 5.52% in FY23-24.

10. Himalayan Natural Mineral Water

Himalayan Natural Mineral Water was established in 1991 Dhaula Kuan, Himachal Pradesh. It was then acquired by Tata Global Beverages (which operates under Tata Consumer Products). This brand marked the entry of Tata into bottled water market.

It is claimed by the company that:

• They source the water from naturally occurring Himalayan springs located at the foothills of the Shivalik ranges of the Himalayas.
• And their water remains untouched with minimal processing to retain its natural mildly alkaline pH very similar to that of a human body.

It distributes its product through a network of third-party distributors and retailers across more than 20 countries. Its business scaled from a modest ₹180 crore turnover in FY20-21 to ₹900-1,000 crore in FY24.

Conclusion

Tata Group isn't just a business conglomerate, its a legacy of innovation and nostalgia. Most people associate Tata with its excellence. This is the reason why most of us recognise the popular brands, companies, and products. While we adore the popular ones, we must not ignore the presence of these lesser-known brands that are not only solving certain problems but also represent Tata’s interest in diversifying their business portfolio.

So the next time you pick up a product that you've never used before, remember to check the packaging. Who knows, it might end up being a Tata product or a brand acquired by Tata. 🤷🏻‍♀️

Speaking of acquisitions, if you want to know about the companies that are under Tata’s umbrella, then check out this article.

And if you know about any other underrated Tata brand, let us know in the comments. 👇🏻

*Disclaimer: The stocks, companies, and policies discussed above aren't recommendations from Finology Insider and shall not be construed as a replacement for professional advice. Consult a professional or conduct the necessary research before making investment decisions.