Bata initial started its operations India in 1932 as small scale organisation in Konnagar, near Kolkata. During the 70s and 80s, the brand emphasized range, comfort and durability making it a one-stop-trusted family footwear brand in India for decades. As a brand, Bata has continuously evolved over the decades in India and has shown solid performance. It has traveled a long journey since its inception into India and has today, grown into one of the largest footwear retailers with approximately 1,400 outlets across India.
The company will continue to focus on tier 3, 4 towns and expects double-digit growth from these markets in distant future.
The footwear giant is trying to re-design its stores to a contemporize them, improve store decor to strengthen its popularity among Millennial’s.
Bata has also expanded its product portfolio by expanding into the accessories segment offering ladies and men bags. It is also banking on misrepresentation of its products for growth in the Indian market.
“The company has a target of 500 franchise stores over the next 4-5 years and would also continue to open more company-operated stores. This will help us to take the footprint of Bata in my more towns than we have had and that is a successful engine of growth for us,” Sandeep Kataria, CEO of Bata India told CNBC-TV18.
“Demand has been good than earlier years. They have been growing in double-digits with robust growth coming in from tier 3 and 4 towns including the franchise stores. There has not been a big difference in terms of growth in bigger towns and tier 3, 4 towns. The third quarter was very good for the company,” Kataria added.
“As a part of this strategy, Bata has rolled out the ‘Red Angela’ store concept with a red and white colour format that is aimed at standardizing the Bata brand identity,” says Kataria.
In March, 2018 last year Bata launched its first exclusive store of Power – its international sportswear brand at Great India Place Mall, Noida.
The 750 sq. ft., spacious high-tech store, caters to the increasing demand for active lifestyle with a range of shoes, apparel, bags, and accessories.
Bata India has seen rapid response and around 51 percent surge in net profit to Rs 108 crore ($15.3 million) during the third quarter ended December 2018 with revenue of Rs 779 crore on the back of robust festive sales.
E-commerce currently accounts for 4-4.5 per cent of the company’s revenue. The figure will move into double digits pretty soon. For the financial year 2017-18, Bata’s net profit was at Rs 224 crore while its revenue stood at Rs 2,636 crore