| Welspun Living Limited | |
| Former Name: | Welspun India Limited |
| Type: | Public |
| Industry: | Textiles |
| Founded: | 1985 |
| Founder: | Balkrishan Goenka[1] |
| Revenue: | (FY24) |
| Net Income: | (FY24)[2] |
| Parent: | Welspun Group |
| Location Country: | India |
Welspun Living Limited, previously known as Welspun India Limited,[3] is an Indian textile manufacturing company headquartered in Mumbai.[4] Founded by Balkrishan Goenka in 1985,[5] the company produces home textile products such as bed linen, terry towels, rugs, and yarn.[6] Welspun operates several brands, including Christy,[7] Spaces and Welhome,[8] and is led by Dipali Goenka, who serves as the CEO and managing director.[9]
Founded in 1985 by Balkrishan Goenka as Welspun Winilon Silk Mills in Palghar, Maharashtra,[10] Welspun India initially focused on polyester texturizing.[11] In 1991, the company went public through an initial public offering (IPO) and subsequently changed its name to Welspun India Limited. Towel manufacturing and export operations began in 1993 with a new plant in Vapi, Gujarat. In 1998, Welspun secured its first outsourcing order of terry towels from Walmart. Subsequently, the company began exporting towels to additional American retail majors including JCPenney, Target, Kmart, Tommy Hilfiger, Calvin Klein, Shopko and Costco, as well as retailers in Europe, Australia and New Zealand. In 2004, a new facility in Anjar, Gujarat, was established for bed linen production,[12] with a capacity of 35 million meters per annum.[13] The Toweling facility started commercial production in March 2005, and the spinning facility commenced commercial production in June 2005.
In 2007, Welspun started a bedding sets facility in Mexico.[14] In 2009, the company demerged its Sales & Marketing and Investment divisions into two separate entities - Welspun Global Brands Ltd. and Welspun Investments & Commercials Ltd.[15] [16] In 2014, Welspun launched a new spinning facility at Anjar, Gujarat.[17] In 2017, Welspun entered the flooring and smart textiles sectors, expanding into in the Middle East, Japan, Australia, and the EU.[18] On February 9, 2017, the company partnered with the Cotton Egypt Association (CEA) to promote Egyptian cotton products globally.[19] [20]
In 2006, Welspun India acquired an 85% stake in CHT Holdings, the holding company of the UK's largest towel firm, Christy, for the equivalent of $28.7 million USD.[21] Christy's existing management retained a 15% stake in the company and continued to be involved in its operations. Following the acquisition, Rajesh Mandawewala, joint Managing Director of Welspun, was appointed Chairman at Christy.[22]
As part of a demerger move in September 2008, Welspun separated its Sales & Marketing and Investment divisions, creating two distinct entities—Welspun Global Brands Ltd. (WGBL) and Welspun Investments & Commercials Ltd (WICL). WGBL was specifically responsible for the sales and marketing division of Welspun's home textile business.[23]
In 2012, WGBL was reintegrated into Welspun India Limited. However, the marketing business of Welspun India was separated and transferred to a third firm called Welspun Retail Ltd (WRL). In the same year, certain overseas investments of Welspun India Limited (WIL) were moved to WRL.[24] Welspun Retail was later renamed Welspun Global Brands Ltd to maintain its marketing identity.[25]