Bata India Q2 profit jumps 17.6 per cent

KOLKATA: India's largest footwear retailer, Bata India posted 17.6% jump in net profit at Rs 61.94 crore for the second quarter ending June 30, 2013 on back of 13.6% growth in sales at Rs 572.13 crore as compared to the same period last year.

Commenting on the results, Bata India group managing director Rajeev Gopalakrishnan said the robust quarterly performance reflects Bata's strong understanding of consumer need.

""We expect to benefit from our aggressive retail expansion, newer designs and newer product ranges. We are confident our momentum will accelerate in line with our expectations as we move through the year,"" said Gopalakrishnan.

Bata is launching its new autumn festive collection, which includes a full range of footwear along with accessories to cater to the needs of the next-generation.

The company also plans to open some 100 new stores this year spread over an average of 3,000 sq ft. This quarter, Bata has opened 15 new stores in prime shopping locations in markets like Mumbai, Delhi, Bangalore, Chennai, Hyderabad and Bangalore.