Popular brands owned by Ratan Tata
An industrialist, philanthropist, and former chairman of Tata Sons — Ratan Tata — is one of India's most renowned business magnates. He has an individual net worth of Rs 3800 crore, according to the IIFL Wealth Hurun India Rich List 2022. Widely recognized for propelling the Tata Group from a leading Indian multinational conglomerate to a global powerhouse, the 85-year-old businessman has expanded the company into various sectors by investing in multiple domestic and international brands that play a significant role in our daily lives.

Born on December 28, 1937, to Naval and Sonu Tata, Ratan Tata was raised by his grandmother Navajbai Tata, who adopted him formally after his parents split. After graduating from Cornell University, he returned to India in 1962 and began his career as an apprentice at Tata Steel's plant in Jamshedpur. In 1991, J.R.D. Tata announced him as his successor to the Tata Group before stepping down. Over the next two decades, Ratan Tata left no stone unturned in consolidating all the various enterprises under one banner, which streamlined his business and helped him take it global.

During Ratan Tata's leadership, the Tata Group experienced remarkable revenue growth. According to the Tata Group's official website, 29 publicly traded companies have a total market value of $300 billion (approximately Rs 24,97,518 crore) under its umbrella. Below, there's more information about some of the well-known domestic and international brands that Ratan Tata owns.

7 popular brands you didn't know are owned by successful Indian businessman Ratan Tata

1. Tetley
   After consolidating his position in the country, Ratan Tata went global in 2000 when Tata Group's subsidiary Tata Tea, a $114 million company venture, acquired the second largest tea brand, Tetley, for $450 million. According to India Today, Tata Sons's former chairman said, "It is a bold move, and I hope that other Indian corporates will follow."
2. Jaguar Land Rover
   After a monumental move of acquiring Tetley in 2000, Ratan Tata bought Jaguar and Land Rover in an all-cash transaction of around $2.3 billion from Ford in June 2008 and formed Jaguar Land Rover.
3. Starbucks
   In 2012, Tata Consumer Products Limited, a subsidiary of Tata Sons, partnered with Starbucks Coffee Company, a popular international brand known for its cappuccinos and lattes. According to The Economic Times, the Seattle-based coffee company had explored other options with potential partners before deciding to collaborate with Tata Sons.
4. Air India
   In January 2022, Tata Sons re-acquired Air India from the Indian government. The airline was originally founded by J.R.D Tata as Tata Airlines in 1932. However, after India gained independence in 1947, the government acquired the airline. Due to increasing debt, the government was forced to sell the airline.

With the recent acquisition, Tata Sons has expanded its aviation portfolio, including Vistara, AirAsia India, and Air India Express. According to The Economic Times, the deal was completed for Rs 18,000 crore.

6. Westside
   Westside is Trent Limited's (the retail division of the Tata Group) most important business. It began operations in India in 1998, just after the Tatas acquired the British retail chain Littlewoods and rebranded it as Westside. According to The Economic Times, there are almost 49 Westside stores in 28 Indian cities.
7. Zara
   The Tata Group does not own Zara stores in India. However, they have partnered with Inditex, a Spanish multinational clothing company, for over a decade. In 2014, Tata Group's retail division, Trent Limited, entered a deal with Inditex to help the Spanish brand venture into the Indian market. As a part of this joint venture, Inditex Trent, Tata Group currently operates 21 Zara stores nationwide.