Bata to focus on women and kids segment

Kolkata, May 30 (IANS) Footwear maker and retailer Bata India Wednesday said it would focus on the women and kids segments for business growth and invest about Rs.450 million over the next three years to modernise factories for increased productivity.

"We are going to invest Rs.150 million in each year over the next three years continuously, which will modernise our factories at Batanagar as well as at Bangalore. These are all to upgrade our factories and machineries to improve productivity," Managing Director Rajeev Gopalkrishnan told reporters after the company's Annual General Meeting here.

Gopalkrishnan said the thrust areas of the company would be women and kids segments.

"Today, ladies' segment gives us 22 percent of our total business and kids section contributes about 10 percent. In the new stores we are opening, the ladies' contribution will be much more higher. We are giving a lot of focus to the trendy, colourful and more contemporary shoes," he said.

This year, the company would open 140 new stores.

Bata India has around 400 stores in smaller cities and towns, and garners about 30-40 percent of its total sales from these places.

"Last year we have opened 146 new stores, of which 60 were in tier II and III cities. This year we have already opened 73 stores and out of that 30 are in tier II and III cities," said Gopalkrishnan.

The footwear major spends about Rs.750 million every year to open new retail stores. It is planning to open 20 Hush Puppies stores every year.