Jagannathan, who transformed a modest cookware company into Prestige, one of India’s most beloved homegrown brands, is survived by his wife, Latha Jagannathan, and sons T.T. Mukund and T.T. Lakshman.
How did be begin his journey?
An IIT Madras engineer with a master’s from Cornell University, Jagannathan returned to India in the early 1970s to stabilise his family’s struggling business. Barely in his 20s, he took the reins of TTK Prestige, revamping both its products and public image.
Read | Prestige targets mid-income homes amid luxury boom
What innovations made Prestige a household name?
When reports of faulty pressure cookers threatened the company’s reputation in the late 1970s, he introduced the now-iconic gasket release system—a safety valve that reshaped how Indian households perceived cookware. A 1980s television campaign linked a husband’s affection for his wife with her safety in the kitchen, turning a functional appliance into a symbol of care and modern aspiration, cementing Prestige’s cultural relevance for decades.
How did Prestige expand globally?
Under Jagannathan’s leadership, Prestige navigated near-bankruptcy to global expansion, launching the Manttra brand in the US and acquiring the UK-based Horwood Homewares. Manttra has since become the top-selling Indian kitchen brand in US stores, while Prestige commands over 40% of the US pressure cooker market.
Read | Meet the 27-year-old, youngest, self-made billionaire whose ‘prediction’ company got $2 billion from NYSE’s parent
How did Prestige compete in India?
From a pressure-cooker maker, Prestige evolved into a full-service kitchen solutions brand, spanning cookware, electrical appliances, and home-care products. Yet, the company faced stiff competition from Hawkins Cookers, whose loyal consumer base prized durable designs and traditional distribution. For decades, Prestige and Hawkins dominated India’s pressure cooker market, setting trends in pricing, marketing, and product innovation.