The East India Company, once among the most powerful trading corporations in history, has shut down once again.
Originally founded in 1600, the company played a central role in British colonial expansion in India before being formally dissolved in 1874. More than a century later, in 2010, businessman Sanjiv Mehta revived the historic name as a luxury retail brand in London. Operating from Mayfair, the modern venture focused on high-end teas, chocolates and spices, positioning itself as a premium heritage brand.
However, the rebranded company reportedly struggled financially, accumulating substantial debts, including unpaid taxes and employee dues. Following mounting liabilities, the firm officially entered liquidation in 2025.
The closure marks the second — and likely final — end of a corporate name that once shaped global trade and colonial history. While the original East India Company altered the course of empires, its 21st-century revival proved unable to sustain itself in the modern retail landscape.
