Vittal Mallya facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Vittal Mallya
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| Born | 8 February 1924 |
| Died | 13 October 1983 (aged 59) The Taj Mahal Palace Hotel, Mumbai, Maharashtra, India
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| Nationality | Indian |
| Education | The Doon School Presidency College, Kolkata |
| Occupation | Businessman |
| Years active | 1947 – 1983 |
| Organization | United Breweries Group |
| Known for | Liquor Baron |
| Board member of | United Breweries Group Mysore Electro-Chemical Works Kissan Products Hindustan Cocoa Products Indian Sewing Machines Company Hoechst AG Ismaco British Paints Cadbury India Hindustan Polymers Bush Boake Allen |
| Relatives | Vijay Mallya (son) Siddharth Mallya (Grandson) |
Vittal Mallya (born February 8, 1924 – died October 13, 1983) was an important Indian businessman. He is best known for leading the United Breweries Group, a large company in India. Vittal Mallya was also the father of another well-known Indian businessman, Vijay Mallya.
Early Life and Learning
Vittal Mallya was born in 1924. He was the youngest of three children. His father, Lt. Col. Bantwal Ganapathi Mallya, was an army officer. His family came from a community called Gaud Saraswat Brahmin in Mangalore.
Growing Up in Different Places
As a child, Vittal Mallya lived in many different army towns across India. This helped him learn about the many cultures in his country. When he was about 12 years old, his father's position allowed him to attend The Doon School. This was a very good school.
A Bright Student
Vittal was a very smart student. He often skipped grades because he did so well in his studies. After school, he went to Presidency College, Kolkata. He chose this college because his father was working in Kolkata at the time.
Learning from Travel
After college, Vittal Mallya traveled abroad for more than two years. This trip was like a "grand tour." His father, who had studied in England, wanted him to see Europe and the wider world. Vittal also wanted to gain practical knowledge from his travels. He believed this was more valuable than just formal education. During his trip, he even learned to speak Spanish!
Building a Business Empire
Vittal Mallya began his business journey in 1946-1947. He started buying shares in a company called United Breweries Limited.
Becoming a Leader
In 1947, Vittal Mallya became the first Indian director of United Breweries. Just one year later, he became the chairman of the company. This meant he was in charge. In 1951, he also bought another company called McDowell & Company Limited.
Expanding Across India
In 1952, Mallya moved to Bangalore. From there, he began to steadily buy smaller companies that made beverages. He also opened new production facilities in different states. These included Kerala (in 1959), Andhra Pradesh (in 1969), Goa (in 1971), and Bihar (in 1973).
Growing the Business Further
By the early 1960s, Mallya was back in Calcutta. He gained more control of the beverage market. He bought companies like Carew & Company Limited and Phipson & Company Limited. Phipson was a major company that distributed beverages. Later, in the early 1970s, he acquired another distribution company called Herbertsons Limited.
New Partnerships
Around this time, Vittal Mallya also started working with Hoechst AG from Germany. They worked together to create Hoechst Pharmaceuticals Limited, which is now known as Aventis Pharma India.
Moving into Food Products
Mallya also started to get involved in the food industry. He bought Kissan Products in 1950. When he acquired Herbertsons two decades later, he also gained its Dipy's division. This gave him a strong hold on many processed food products.
Smart Business Moves
In 1977, there was a time when many beverage companies faced difficulties. Vittal Mallya showed his smart thinking by buying or taking control of even more companies. He acquired Premier, Jupiter, Punjab, and Indo-Lowenbrau. He also took over facilities in Udaipur, Alwar, Mirganj, Serampore, and set up a plant in Pondicherry. While other companies were struggling, he expanded his business. This helped him become a leading figure in the beverage industry.
Controlling Key Ingredients
Mallya even got the Jammu & Kashmir Government to lease him land for a nursery. He then gave hops seedlings to farmers in Kashmir. He bought all their produce. Hops are a very important ingredient for making certain beverages. By doing this, he gained control over a key part of the industry.
Diverse Business Interests
Vittal Mallya became chairman of British Paints with help from Hoechst AG. He also joined the board of Cadbury India and later became its chairman. He took advantage of opportunities when international companies sold parts of their businesses in India. This allowed him to become chairman of the Indian Sewing Machine Company and Malayalam Plantations (a large tea and rubber company). He also became a director of Bush Boake Allen.
He also acquired Hindustan Polymers and Mysore Electro-Chemical Works, which made MEC batteries.
By 1981, Vittal Mallya was in control of a huge business group. It included many beverage production facilities, food companies, investment firms, packaging units, drug companies, soft drink bottling plants, and a battery unit. He was truly a powerful businessman.
Personal Life
Vittal Mallya was married three times. His first wife was Lalitha Ramaiah, and they had a son named Vijay Mallya. He later married Kailash Advani, who was a lawyer and ran a clothing business. They did not have children together.
Vittal Mallya was known for being careful with money. He believed in saving and living simply. He tried to teach these values to his son, Vijay. For example, he gave Vijay a small allowance and did not let him have his own car.
