With nearly 90 per cent of its stores operating as hyperlocal fulfilment hubs, Bata is expecting digital channels to contribute 20 to 25 per cent of overall business over the next few years
Bata India has crossed the 2,000-store mark across the country, strengthening its position as India’s largest and most expansive footwear network. The company now plans to aggressively expand its network to 3,000 stores nationwide over the coming years.
The expansion will primarily focus on tier 3 and 4 markets through a franchise-led growth model, enabling the company to accelerate its reach across emerging consumption centres. India stands as Bata’s largest market globally and largest manufacturing and sourcing hub. It also contributes close to one-fourth of Bata’s global revenues and supports sales of close to 50 million pairs annually through company-owned stores, franchise outlets, multi-brand outlets and digital channels.
“Our focus now is on building a future-ready organisation driven by retail scale, omnichannel capabilities and manufacturing strength. As Bata’s most strategic market globally, India continues to offer significant headroom for growth, particularly across emerging towns and cities. Going forward, we will continue to expand accessibility through a balanced mix of company-owned and franchise-led stores while strengthening our digital and omnichannel capabilities,” stated Badri Beriwal, Chief Strategy and Business Development Officer, Bata India.
The company is accelerating investments in digital and omnichannel capabilities across online and offline touchpoints. With nearly 90 per cent of its stores operating as hyperlocal fulfilment hubs, Bata is expecting digital channels to contribute 20 to 25 per cent of overall business over the next few years as it continues to invest in younger consumer segments, app-led engagement and omnichannel retail experiences.
As part of its retail transformation journey, Bata India has expanded its Zero-Based Merchandising (ZBM) format to around 775 stores and plans to scale this to nearly 900 stores by the end of 2026. The initiative is helping enhance merchandising efficiency and improve inventory agility, the company said.
