Bata plans expansion, to add 100 stores in FY21

Footwear major Bata India is looking to augment its retail presence by opening around 100 outlets in FY21. The move to expand presence comes despite the COVID-19 outbreak, according to a company official.

The shoemaker, which currently has around 1,500 stores across India, plans to add 500 outlets by 2023 to strengthen its network in semi-urban and rural markets, as per a report.

The network expansion will be executed mostly in the rural areas where economic performance has been comparatively better than in urban areas during the current COVID-19 crisis, another company official said.

ALSO READ: Decathlon expands its wings with its new store at Saket 

The footwear major has taken a new initiative — Bata Store-on-Wheels — to reach out to its customers in urban areas.

According to Sandeep Kataria, CEO, Bata India this new channel allows customers to shop at their doorsteps.

The share of online sales, through its own portal and third-party e-tailers, is estimated at around five to six per cent, according to Bata officials.

Bata India is expanding its e-commerce footprint by ramping up its presence in online marketplaces, allowing delivery in over 1,300 cities and rolling out home delivery from more than 900 stores.

The shoemaker has rolled out an option for its customers to shop from the comfort of their homes via WhatsApp chats with employees in their neighbourhood stores, the officials added