Bata India has crossed the 700 franchise store mark, the company announced, signalling a significant push to deepen its retail footprint in smaller Indian cities and towns through its partner-led growth model.
The milestone underscores the growing role of franchising in Bata’s expansion playbook, with roughly 70% of its franchise outlets located in Tier 2, 3 and 4 markets — regions where demand for branded footwear is on the rise but large-format organised retail has traditionally been limited. Franchise channel now accounts for over 35% of Bata India’s total retail network of 1980 stores.
The company says it now plans to double its rate of new franchise store openings, betting on smaller cities to drive its next phase of growth.
Commenting on the milestone, Badri Beriwal, Chief Strategy Officer and Chief Business Development Officer, Bata India, said, “The franchise model has become a strong pillar of our retail expansion strategy because it brings together the strengths of both partners. Our franchise partners bring deep local market understanding and on-ground operational efficiency, while Bata brings strong brand equity, consumer trust, and a wide portfolio. This allows us to grow with speed and discipline, especially in markets beyond metros where branded footwear demand is rising steadily.”
For prospective franchise partners, Bata is pitching an entry investment of Rs 35–40 lakh — a relatively accessible threshold for small business owners and entrepreneurs looking to align with an established national brand. For Bata itself, the model offers faster market penetration with lower capital outlay compared to company-owned stores.
Bata India currently operates a network of over 1,900 stores — a mix of company-owned and franchise outlets — and sells close to 50 million pairs of footwear annually. The company serves around 250,000 customers every day and counts itself as India’s largest footwear retailer and manufacturer. Its retail presence is further extended through thousands of multi-brand outlets and an omni-channel setup spanning its direct-to-consumer platform and major e-commerce marketplaces.
With close to a century of presence in India, Bata is using its franchise expansion to balance national brand scale with hyperlocal execution — a strategy it sees as key to reaching consumers across price points and geographies.
