Bata plans to expand footprint with multi-brand shoe stores

By

Maverick Martins

Published
Mar 20, 2019

India’s largest shoe retailer, Bata India Ltd, is planning to expand its retail footprint in the country with multi-brand footwear outlets.
 

Bata aims to expand its customer base and reach more shoppers across the country through these multi-brand footwear outlets.
 
Bata currently has 1,500 exclusive stores that sell brands such as Power, Hush Puppies, and the eponymous Bata in India. As far as multi-brand outlets are concerned, Bata has managed to tap a small section of this market and sells in only 15,000 multi-brand outlets out of the total 75,000 shoe stores.

The company is looking to now step up its efforts to reach more customers and boost its distribution network.
 
“Bata reaches out to only 15,000 multi-brand outlets — those that sell different footwear brands under one roof — of the 75,000 such organized shoe stores at present in the country. For us, it is a very small part as of now but as we go forward it could be a pretty big opportunity. For some footwear brands, such MBOs constitute about half their sales," Sandeep Kataria, the company’s chief executive officer told the Mint.
 
“We could be taking baby steps this year. Right now we are putting the solutions, talent, and right assortment in place. The company has thus, over the last two years, been ramping up its business to appeal to younger Indian shoppers. It has increased the number of product launches to 600-700 per season," Kataria added.
 
Bata has planned 80 stores next fiscal and eyeing double-digit growth going forward. It is the largest footwear retailer in the country, offering footwear, accessories, and bags.