Bata Shoe Company

Bata Shoe Company was founded in 1894 in Zlin (then in the Austro-Hungarian Empire, today in the Czech Republic) by Tomas BaA? a ,whose family had been cobblers for generations. A large order from the army for military footwear, and rising demand for them during World War I, started the company’s rapid growth and a small manufacturing company grew into a modern industrial concern, one of the first mass producers of shoes. The Bata Shoe Organization is currently headquartered in Lausanne,Switzerland. It has a retail presence in over 70 countries and production facilities in 27 countries.

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In its history the company has sold more than 14 billion pairs of shoes. Bata companies strive to listen to the customers in their local markets and clearly identify their footwear needs, and then to provide products that exceed their customers’ expectations in terms of quality, style and value. Bata operating companies are grouped into four business units based on similarities in markets and business issues. Each group benefits from synergies specific to their requirements, such as product development, sourcing and marketing support.

Each business unit is entrepreneurial in nature, and can quickly adapt to changes in the marketplace and seize potential growth opportunities. Bata International serves customers in much of Asia, the Pacific and Africa through its 3,000 stores and many dealers. It is supervised from Singapore. Bata International operates shoe innovation centers in several countries as well as 30 factories to serve individual markets. Bata Europe is based in Paris and operates 500 stores offering fashionable footwear. The world-class shoe innovation center just outside of Venice supplies many of the exclusive lines found in Bata stores throughout Europe.

Bata Latin America is based in Mexico City. Bata is the leading retailer of shoes in Latin America and the leading marketer of children’s branded footwear. Bata Canada is based in Toronto from where 250 stores serve the Canadian market. Its chain of Athletes World’s and Nike Shops is the leading fashion source in Canada for young urban customers. Bata Shoe organization (B. S. O. ) is the largest manufacturer and marketer of footwear in the world. Its global business comprises of shoe factories, tanneries, engineering plants, quality control laboratories, product development and research centers.

Bata distributes its products through approximately 6,300 retail outlets, 10,000 franchises and thousands of wholesale depots and dealers. More than 50,000 people are employed in producing and selling over 300 million pairs of shoes each year, primarily for the domestic markets in which B. S. O companies operate. Approximately 400,000 additional people and their families are engaged in the support services required by B. S. O. operations. Bata International Centre is located in Toronto, Canada. Mr. Tomas Bata, the founder of Bata Shoe Organization, initiated this worldwide operation in Zlin, Czechoslovakia, now known as the Czech Republic.

The year 1994 marked the 100th founding anniversary of BATA. Over the years B. S. O. ’s operation expanded across the entire globe and established itself as the world’s largest organization in footwear manufacturing and marketing. Bata India is the largest retailer and leading manufacturer of footwear in India and is a part of the Bata Shoe Organization. Bata first established itself in India in 1931 and commenced manufacturing shoes in Konnagar (near Calcutta) in 1936. At that time the Bata Shoe Organization was headquartered in the Czechoslovak town of Zlin, the residence of Tomas Bata, the founder of the organization.

The Company went public in India in 1973 when it changed its name to Bata India Limited. Today, Bata India has established itself as India’s largest footwear retailer. It has cornered around 35% market share in the organized footwear sector in India. Operations were expanded throughout India with the establishment of factories in different states and the rapid growth of the distribution channels to allow the Company’s products to reach consumers in every town across India Its retail network of over 1200 stores gives it a reach / coverage that no other footwear company can match.

The stores are present in good locations and can be found in all the metros, mini-metros and towns The company currently sells over 45 million pairs of shoes every year and has an annual sales turnover of nearly Rs 10 bn. Bata India is the largest company for the Bata Shoe Organization (BSO, which holds 51% equity stake in Bata India) by pairs sold and the second largest by revenue. Bata India has also created three independent distribution channels in the wholesale business: urban, institutional ; industrial safety, and branding.

Its urban wholesale division sells over 15 million pair of shoes through 16 depots and 150 large distributors, catering to more than 20,000 dealers. The industrial safety division caters to needs of various industries, with special features like impact and heat resistance, oil resistance, and lightweight shoes. Institutional sales division is focusing on the special needs of defence and para military forces; hospitability, airlines, retail, construction, hospitals, mining and many other industries, which have specialised needs. Bata has been holding a unique place in the hearts of Indians for more than 75 years.

Probably the only footwear brand that offers footwear and accessories for the entire family, Bata has redefined the modern footwear industry in India. It has established a leadership position in the industry and is the most trusted name in branded footwear. BIL enjoys a very strong brand positioning with consumers in India and is quick to evolve in products to meet the changing needs of today’s consumers. In India, the company has 6 manufacturing plants and a wide spread distribution network of 1200 plus retail stores and over 20,000 independent shoe dealers covering almost 400 cities across the country.

The company offers a wide range of footwear for men, women and kids. Its key brands include Bata, Hush Puppies, Scholl, North Star, Power Marie Claries and Bubble gummers. In addition to footwear products the company also offers accessories for men and women. These primarily include purses, valets and handbags for women and leather belts for men. BIL markets its accessories under its Bata ; more, Ambassador and Marie Claire brands. The Bata ; more brands offer purses, handbags and belts while the ambassador and Marie Claire brands include belts and handbags respectively.