Bata India switching on to large format stores

KOLKATA: Leading footwear retailer and manufacturer Bata India will have only standardised large-format stores in its network within the next 4-5 years, said group managing director Rajeev Gopalakrishnan in Kolkata on Wednesday.

Over the last few years, Bata India has repositioned its stores by opening large-format stores, renovating its stores and closing down small ones.

"The smaller 500-1000 sq ft stores are no longer viable. We have closed down 83 such stores across the country, and relocated them or opened bigger ones. We have another 100-odd small stores across the country, and are targeting 20-30 of them every year," said Mr Gopalakrishnan, speaking on the sidelines of the East India Retail Summit in the city.

Earlier this month, Bata India had announced that it will be opening 70 large-format flagship stores this year as per their global format.

The company will also be stressing on employee training through inhouse training programmes on the lines of those conducted across Bata global systems. "At any given point we gave 20-30 people training. We trained 300 people last year," said Mr Gopalakrishnan.