Bata: A story of Purpose, Power and Poise
My Dear Shareholders,
I sincerely hope that you and your loved ones are in good health and cheer.
It is always a privilege to address you, on behalf of this esteemed organisation that
has created its mark in the history of India, with its Purpose, Power and Poise. While
being powered by the strong legacy of Bata Shoe Organization (BSO), our parent entity and
its core values, we at Bata India are driven by passion for technology and modern trends.
Our conviction helped us demonstrate exceptional poise despite global volatility due to
geopoliticial conflicts, strained with geo-economic fragmentation.
Through thoughtful strategies and robust execution, your Company achieved volume led
growth consistently since the last two quarters of FY 2024-25, while the overall domestic
environment remained cautionary, with dampness in the discretionary consumer spending,
having significant bearing on the Footwear Industry. We are responding to the current
challenges with the same conviction that was validated multiple times over the past 9
decades.
We are seeding for the future with our brands, products and innovations. Our commitment
to leading the way, fuels our drive to anticipate trends and continue to deliver
pioneering products that resonate with the evolving preferences of our cherished
customers.
Our expansive product portfolio and retail presence, the largest in the footwear sector
in India, provide us with adaptability in navigating dynamic market conditions and
evolving customer trends.
The ferment of these initiatives is transforming Bata faster than ever, laying the
ground for a reinvented corporation. From supply chain to distribution channels, to
marketing and innovation, every pillar of our business is transforming to be future-ready.
Franchise Outlets for the first time- a significant retail footprint milestone for us
We launched several unique campaigns and fostered partnerships with new-age icons and
Indian Actors to attract shoppers and connect with customers.
Your Company has implemented 'Zero Base Merchandising' to reduce retrieval time,
improve availability and enhance customer experience. We have undertaken Customer First
Transformation project to improve store availability in line with Best in class, reduce
inventory days and generate operational costs efficiency.
The competitive ability of your Company is attributable to the human capital we have
nurtured.
We also have immense confidence stemming from our fortress balance sheet -
characterised by high liquidity, zero debt and the ability to withstand uncertainity. Our
commitment to shareholders is reflected in the dividend payout of 200% as interim dividend
and 180% as final dividend.
Your Company engaged with over 5,500 students through CSR activities and over 6,200
hours devoted by employees under impactful volunteering initiatives.
Our existence rests on three strong pillars : Environmental Stewardship, Social
Accountability and Governance Structure.
Our efforts in shaping the agenda for sustainability gathered momentum in FY 2024-25
through our work in the environmental, social and governance (ESG) space.
Two of our directors, Mr. Akshay Chudasama and Mr. Ravindra Dhariwal completed their
respective tenures. They have made very substantial contributions to the growth and
governance of the Company.
We extend our gratitude to our employees, business partners, consumers and communities
whose support kept Bata agile and resilient.
Your trust and confidence in us continue to inspire us.
| Warm regards, |
| Ashwani Windlass |