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BATA
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Provide shoes for its customers at every step of their lives
Zlin, August 1894. The small town in Czechoslovakia (now Czech Republic) witnesses the founding of Bata Shoe Organisation (BSO). Tomas Bata introduces mass production in footwear manufacturing.
Today, BSO is the undisputed and unrivalled leader in the footwear industry, world-wide.
With more than 62 manufacturing units, BSO's manufacturing and marketing activities are carried out in more than 60 countries covering all the continents. It employs more than 57000 people and operates 4458 company-owned stores worldwide. It also has 100,000 independent retailers and franchisees.
It annually produces 170 million pairs and sells around 270 million pairs of footwear. That mean a 100,000 customers per day.
Incorporated as Bata Shoe Company Private Limited in 1931, the company went public in 1973 when it changed its name to its present form. Its first factory at Batanagar became operational in 1936. At its five factories-Batanagar, West Bengal (1936); Bataganj, Bihar (1942); Faridabad, Haryana (1951); Peenay, Karnataka (1988); Hosur, Tamil Nadu (1994)- the company manufactures quality leather, rubber, canvas and PVC shoes in wide-ranging designs and styles at affordable prices. Bata India has two tanneries-one at Batanagar and the other at Mokamehghat in Bihar (1952). The latter is the second largest in Asia.
Batanagar factory is the first Indian shoe manufacturing unit to receive the ISO 9001 certification in 1995.
Meeting Customers' demands
The company today operates over 1500 Retail outlets spanning the entire length and breadth of the country. It has 27 Wholesale depots, serving more than 300 wholesalers.
It sells more than 60 million pairs of shoes annually. And markets international brands, like Hush Puppies, Dr. Scholls, Lotto and Nike.
Popular Brand
Bata continues to remain a household name in India, meeting the needs of changing. Producing and selling footwear for every walk of life. Bata is one of the five most popular brands in the country according to A & M magazine's recently held sixth annual survey of India's top brands.
Bata is also Indian children's favourite brand, according to New'98 Generasians, the largest and most comprehensive survey of children in the Asia Pacific region.
People come first
For the more than 15000 employees, training programmes ensure upgradation of skills. Development of management abilities is constantly encouraged and monitored. Human Resources Development programmes help motivate people into thinking beyond the national experience by exposing them to International courses and assignments abroad.
Export
Bata India has been winning the Chemicals and Allied Products Export Promotion Council's (CAPEXCIL) `Top Export Award' for rubber and canvas footwear for the past 23 years.
Bata continues to be a net foreign exchange earner for India, exporting more than 4 million pairs of footwear. The Company's major customers are in the USA, the UK, Europe, Middle and Far East, Kenya, South Africa and Canada.
Research and Development and Energy conservation
Bata's Research and Development activities are being carried out in key areas of product, process and material development. The emphasis is on solid waste utilisation to create a pollution-free work environment.
The installation of energy luminaries and energy audit are some of measures taken for energy conservation.
A fluidised bed combustion boiler has been recently installed at our Batanagar factory.
Environment
As a good corporate citizen, the company is committed to better environment management. The two effluent treatment plant-at Batanagar and Mokamehghat-ensure a pollution-free Ganga. Planting of trees are routinely carried out and encouraged in all its units. Its factory at Bangalore won the first prize for best maintained Buildings and garden in 1992. The award was given by Peenya Industrial Association, Bangalore.
Product design
International designers and technicians conduct advanced product research and establish demanding quality control procedures. The focus is on introducing new and exciting products which are competitively priced and given value for money. Whether it is new product or design, Bata's strength lies in worldwide global presence. While the local companies are self governing, each one benefits from its link to the international organisation.
Looking towards the future
Always ahead in new design, new features, new products, Bata will strive to remain a household name in the country. A relentless search will continue for better quality and pursuit of excellence.
Bata aims to provide shoes for its customers at every step of their lives.
Contributed by
Special Correspondent
Calcutta
BATA
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