East India Distilleries (EID) Parry Limited is an Indian public company headquartered in Chennai, Tamil Nadu that has been in business for more than 225 years. It has many firsts to its credit, including the manufacturing of fertilizers (1906) for the first time in the Indian subcontinent. The company is currently engaged in the manufacture and marketing of sugar and bio-products. Parry's is the oldest surviving mercantile name in Chennai. Origin and history EID Parry is one of the oldest business entities of the Indian subcontinent and was originated by Thomas Parry, a Welshman who came to India in the late 1780s. On 17 July 1788, he started a business of banking and piece goods. By 1819, a partnership firm named "Parry and Dare" Company was founded by Thomas Parry and John William Dare. Parry's Corner, one of the most prominent central business districts of Chennai, derives its name from Parry. Over a period of time, the business established by Parry continued to grow, and its flagship company EID Parry emerged. In 1908 Parry & Company set-up ‘The Pottery’ unit in Ranipettai. Over the years it was named as "Parryware". Parry & Company Limited and East India Distileries & Sugars Limited were merged to form EID Parry India Limited. In its more than 200-year existence, this house remained active and operated many businesses. The Murugappa Group took over EID Parry in 1981 from financial & public institutions such as Life Insurance Corporation Of India, United Assurance Co, and Unit Trust of India. Businesses Sugar EID Parry set up India's first sugar plant at Nellikuppam in 1842. It was India's first private sector company to perform Research & Development. The sugar division contributes to over 65% of EID Parry's turnover, and around 20% of the sugar production in Tamil Nadu is from EID. The Nellikuppam Integrated Sugar Complex has a crushing capacity of 6500 metric tonnes per day, its co-generation facilities produce 24.5 MW of power, and its distillery facilities produce 75 kilolitres per day. The Travancore Sugars & Chemicals Ltd. (TSCL) at Valanjavattom Thiruvalla the Sugar division, Distillery division and Blending & Bottling division was originally owned by M/s Parry & Co. Government of Kerala (GOK) took over the company in 1974. EID Parry has 7 plants in the country situated at Nellikuppam in Cuddalore district, Pugalur in Karur district, Kurumbur in Pudukottai district, Pettavaithalai in Trichy district, Pondicherry in