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Regular-article-logo Saturday, 03 May 2025

NEW BOSS CHARTS BATA REVIVAL PLAN 

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TT Bureau Published 08.11.01, 12:00 AM
BY SUTANUKA GHOSAL   Calcutta, Nov. 7:  Reeling under losses in the third quarter, shoe major Bata India Ltd has drawn up a plan that the company hopes will put it on the road to recovery. Under new managing director Fernando Garcia, the company has adopted a fivepoint turnaround strategy. It has also de cided to focus on volumes and will outsource shoes from China, Indone sia and Singapore for marketing them in India. Confirming the move, senior vicepresident M. J. Z Mowla said the company is optimistic that these steps will enable it tide over its troubles and start making profits. As part of its restructuring, the company plans to revamp the entire merchandising setup, introduce changes in the distribution network, reshuffle its management structure and control expenditure. For the third quarter ending September 30, Bata India registered a net sales of Rs 150.97 crore,while losses stood at Rs 4.45 crore. Bata India recently witnessed a major reshuffle at the top, with Chandu Morzaria stepping down as managing director. He will, howev er, continue as the regional executive of Bata Shoe Organisation (BSO) companies in Asia and as the senior executive vicepresident and execu tive director of commercial services of Bata headquarters, Canada. Morzaria assumed charge as managing director in January last. Garcia will now report to Morzaria along with CEOs of other Bata companies in the subcontinent like Bata Pakistan, Bata Sri Lanka and Bata Bangladesh. The appointment of Garcia allows Morzaria to concentrate on his role as the regional executive for Bata companies in Asia. The company is facing stiff competition from the unorganised sec tor, which controls about 70 per cent of the total shoe market. .We are not feeling the heat from the local or regional brands. In the branded seg ment,Bata is still the market leader. But the unorganised sector is giving us a tough time.We are meeting the challenge by revamping the retail network in the metros and smaller towns,.Mowla said. However, he did not agree that Bata was losing market share, espe cially in northern and western India. .Our sales are almost the same in all places,.Mowla said.   
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