ITC Classmate bets on premiumisation and digital tools to stay relevant in screen-first India

ITC's stationery brand deploys eduGAMES, QR codes and an omni-channel push across general trade, modern retail, e-commerce and quick commerce to defend share in a price-sensitive Rs 16,500-crore market shifting toward screen-based learning.

— FiledFri, 10 Jul, 2026, 13:03 IST·First seen Fri, 10 Jul, 2026, 13:02 IST·Source Financial Express · BrandWagon

What happened

ITC Classmate · ITC's Classmate stationery brand pursues premiumisation and digital-first tools (eduGAMES, QR codes) via an omni-channel strategy across general

Key facts

  • Rs 16,500 crore stationery market
  • FY25 FMCG revenue Rs 21,981 crore
  • Classmate consumer spends over Rs 1,000 crore
  • launched 2003
  • 11 interactive challenges

Why this matters

ITC's move to bolt interactive digital tools onto a legacy stationery brand points to appetite for edtech and interactive-learning assets that extend Classmate beyond paper.

What to watch

  • Back-to-school quarter volume vs value growth split
  • QR/eduGAMES active-user and repeat-scan metrics
  • Competitor (Navneet, Sundaram, local) pricing and digital responses
  • Quick-commerce stationery attach rates and margin pressure
  • State-level tablet/digital-classroom adoption data
  • Expand eduGAMES challenge library and tie QR content to a data-capture/loyalty loop
  • Deepen quick-commerce SKU presence ahead of back-to-school seasonality
  • Launch premium sub-line (art supplies, geometry, planners) to raise basket value
  • Pursue edtech or content partnerships to hedge against paper decline