Bata India plans to launch 500 franchise stores in next 4-5 years

Bata India, India’s largest shoe retailer, is planning to open 500 franchise stores over the next four-to-five years. Currently, the company has 1,500 stores that also sell brands such as Power and Hush Puppies.

Sandeep Kataria, CEO of Bata India, said, "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."

"One of our big strategies over the last three years have been about premiumisation, to bring in novelty, bring in new ideas, new articles into our shelves and offering more to the consumer in terms of fashion, comfort, innovation and being able to charge a little bit more. So we are still a great value for our consumer," he added.

Kataria further stated, "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."