Britannia Industries recently announced the departure of its permanent workers from the historic Taratala factory in Kolkata, fueling speculation about the company’s potential complete withdrawal from West Bengal.
On June 20, Britannia informed the exchanges that all permanent workers at its Taratala facility had opted for a voluntary retirement scheme (VRS), prompting discussions about the possible shutdown of one of its oldest units in India.
Despite concerns, Amit Mitra, special advisor to the Chief Minister of West Bengal on finance, assured that Britannia remains committed to the state. He stated on June 25 that Varun Berry, MD of Britannia Industries, affirmed the company’s dedication to retaining its registered office in Kolkata and continuing shareholder meetings there. Mitra highlighted that while the Kolkata factory ceased operations due to obsolescence, Berry expressed intentions to discuss strategies for strengthening Britannia’s presence in the state.
However, fears persist among stakeholders. The Left-backed trade union CITU noted that the Taratala plant has been non-operational for over 20 days, with all 122 permanent employees opting for VRS and negotiations ongoing for 250 contractual workers.
Meanwhile, the BJP criticized the state’s ruling TMC, attributing the factory’s closure to what it described as “unionbaji and tolabaji,” referring to alleged union and extortion practices.
Britannia and its plans for future manufacturing at the Taratala plant remain uncertain amid these developments.
