### **Company Overview** Bata India Limited, established in 1931, continues to hold its position as **India’s largest footwear retailer and manufacturer**, with a legacy of over 90 years. As of Q3 FY2026, the company serves **over 260,000 customers daily**, sells close to **47 million footwear pairs annually**, and operates one of the most extensive omnichannel networks in the country. Under the leadership of **Mr. Gunjan Shah (MD & CEO)** since 2022, Bata has accelerated its transformational strategy centered on **product innovation, geographic expansion, digital transformation, and premiumization** to drive profitable, volume-led growth. --- ### **Retail & Distribution Network Expansion** Bata has made significant strides in expanding and modernizing its physical and digital footprint: - Operates **over 1,950 stores**, including company-owned (COCO), franchise (FRN), and store-in-store (SIS) formats. - **Franchise network covers over 600 unique towns**, with strong traction in **Tier 3–5 cities**, reflecting Bata’s capital-efficient, decentralized expansion model. - **Bata Red 2.0 format** deployed in ~750 stores; **COCO stores** active in ~560 locations across India’s top 20 cities. - Plans to expand the store network to **2,000 outlets by December 2026**, adding **200 new stores**. - **Exclusive Brand Outlets (EBOs)**: Hush Puppies and Power brands are being expanded, with targeted presence in premium retail corridors and malls. - **Sneaker Studios** now present in over **750 Bata and franchise stores**, reinforcing youth-focused appeal in the athleisure and sneaker segment. --- ### **Multi-Brand Strategy & Portfolio Evolution** Bata India leverages a diversified brand portfolio to cater to specific consumer segments: | **Brand** | **Target Segment** | **Key Highlights** | |---------------------|----------------------------------------|--------------------| | **Bata Red Label** | Global fashion, premium trends | Collaborations with *Emily in Paris*; Red 2.0 rollout to 750+ stores | | **Bata Comfit** | Comfort-focused daily wear | Uses Comfit Cushion, Naturfit tech; drives repeat purchases | | **Power** | Athleisure, fitness, premium sneakers | Strong growth in Easy Slide, Energy Series, and Stamina lines; apparel expansion in 100+ stores | | **Floatz** | Youth, fashion, washable clogs | 30%+ YoY growth; 7% check-out rate; >40,000 units/week; Disney & Marvel collaborations | | **Hush Puppies** | Premium comfort & elegance | Offices, travel, and casual wear; "ICONIC" festive collection; Peanuts x Hush Puppies collab | | **NorthStar** | Youth-inspired sneakers | Positioned for Gen Z and Millennials | | **Bubblegummers** | Children’s footwear | Focus on comfort, hygiene, and fun designs | | **Nine West** | Premium fashion (Licensing) | Targeting young women; 42+ stores; expansion to 70 planned | | **Naturalizer** | All-day comfort for professional women | Flagship stores in Delhi; N5 technology | --- ### **Key Product Performance & Initiatives** #### **1. Victoria Ballerina (Bata Ladies)** - **Checkout rate**: 6.1% - **Quarterly sales**: ~34,000 units - **Expansion plan**: To 1,000 retail doors - **In-store reinforcement**: Easels deployed to highlight product benefits at point of sale #### **2. Power Portfolio** - **Easy Slide** - Avg. weekly sales: 4,000 units - Weekly check-out rate: 5% - Distribution: Expanding to **1,200+ stores**; currently priced INR 2,599–2,999 - Check-out rate increased to **4.5% QoQ**, up from 3.9% - **Stamina (Premium Running)** - Weekly sales: ~1,500 units - Check-out rate: 4% (notable for >INR 4,000 price point) - **Energy Series** - New innovation-focused line under Power; part of technology-led strategy - Distribution targets: - Power portfolio to expand to **800+ doors** - Another variant: 480 doors (4% check-out rate, 1,000 units/week) #### **3. Floatz** - **Average weekly sales**: ~34,000 units - **Check-out rate**: **7%** (one of the strongest) - **Price point**: ~1.2x average store ASP - **Available in**: 400+ retail doors - **Innovation**: Dual-density foam, washable design, kids’ collection with **Disney & Marvel** - **Expansion**: Gaining traction in e-commerce and physical retail; >1,500 outlets #### **4. Hush Puppies** - **Premiumization driver**; focused on office wear and travel - **Successes**: - Launch of **Office Sneakers** and **ICONIC festive collection** - **Hush Puppies x Peanuts** collaboration (Seventy8 Collection) - **Vir Das** appointed as first India brand ambassador - **Non-footwear growth**: Handbags, belts, and wallets being standardized and enhanced #### **5. Entry-Level Pricing Strategy** - Introduction of products at **INR 399 and 499** in 800+ stores led to: - **Check-out rate jump from 3.5% to 8%** (double the network average) - **Weekly volume of ~15,000 pairs** - Expansion planned to **1,200 stores** - **Mid-tier pricing (INR 1,699–2,599)**: Driving higher check-out rates of **6.4%–6.6%**, especially in Tier 2–3 towns --- ### **E-Commerce & Digital Transformation** E-commerce remains the **fastest-growing channel**, with strategic focus on **profitable growth** and **technology-enhanced experiences**: - **bata.com** and marketplaces (Amazon, Flipkart, Myntra, Ajio) delivered **strong YoY growth** - **Mobile app**: Achieved **10,000 downloads in first 10 days** - **Omnichannel home delivery**: Available in **1,600+ stores**, fulfilling orders from full catalog - **Digital innovations**: - AR-powered Sneaker Studio on bata.in - Virtual Try-On & chatbot features - AI-powered Visual Merchandising App (99.5% adoption rate) - Bata Wallet, Buy Now Pay Later, and shoe care programs --- ### **Operational & Strategic Initiatives** - **Customer First Transformation Project**: Aimed at improving product availability, reducing inventory days, and enhancing store experience. - **Zero Base Merchandising**: Improves stock retrieval and availability. - **Automated Manufacturing**: - Investment in **PUDIP machine at Batanagar** to commercialize **IMEVA technology** for faster product cycles. - Focus on **IP-driven, automated in-house manufacturing**. - **Innovation & Design**: - 27%+ innovation rate in footwear (e.g., Floatz 3.0, Easy Slide, Energy Series). - Emphasis on **technological differentiation**, **sustainability**, and **comfort tech**. - **Sourcing Optimization**: - Strengthening of **in-house capacity** (25% of products in-house) - Consolidation of **external sourcing to 60 key partners** - Localized sourcing (e.g., domestic PU material) to reduce lead times --- ### **Marketing & Brand Engagement** - **Key campaigns**: *Try and Fly*, *Stronger Inside (Power)*, *10/10*, *Celebrate Every Step* - **Celebrity & influencer partnerships**: - Kartik Aaryan, Jim Sarbh, Vir Das, Disha Patani, Prajakta Koli (Floatz campaign) - **Lifestyle branding**: - Global ‘**One Brand**’ proposition: *Bata, Make Your Way* - 3D OOH ads, social media push, mall-based kiosks - **Experiential retail**: - Hush Puppies concept store, Floatz kiosks, Happy Feet Centers (3D scanning, pedicures, shoe spa) --- ### **Financial & Operational Performance (FY2025: Jul 2024–Jun 2025)** - **Sales**: ₹34,880 million - **Profit After Tax (PAT)**: ₹3,284 million - **Growth drivers**: **Floatz, Power, Hush Puppies** – validating the premiumization and casualization strategy - **Volume-led growth** in H2 driven by festive, wedding, and winter seasons