Bata India Limited is in discussions with quick commerce companies to launch a 10-minute delivery service for footwear. The move aims to counter recent sales stagnation by leveraging dark stores to keep inventory and meet high-demand items quickly. “The next thing we will do is a 10-minute delivery. We are already in discussions and are on the verge of closing and will be activating it very soon,” stated Gunjan Shah, MD and CEO of Bata India Limited.
Currently, Bata offers a 72-hour delivery service for items not available in stores. Shah emphasised the importance of simplicity and inventory management in implementing this model, especially for items like school shoes which might not always be in stock.
Despite efforts such as store expansions, Bata’s revenue for the April-June quarter fell slightly to Rs. 944 crore from Rs. 958 crore in the previous quarter. Shah attributed this to a sluggish consumption environment influenced by elections and the heatwave. To attract new-age consumers, Bata is focusing on athleisure products and social media marketing. The company’s market share has remained flat due to rising competition from direct-to-consumer (D2C) brands.
Bata is also renovating stores to enhance the consumer experience, with 37 stores revamped last quarter. Shah noted that competition from D2C brands spurs innovation, stating, “Good competition is always good. It brings new ideas.”
Bata’s Chairman, Ashwani Windlass, noted that although India’s domestic economy has grown faster than the global average, discretionary consumer spending has declined, affecting the footwear industry. While premium products have experienced stronger sales, overall demand is still weak.
