Archive · 18 Aug 2026
Bata India extends Zero Base Merchandising to 900 stores
Bata is a very famous shoe company.
It wants people to easily find shoes they like in its stores.
So each Bata store will choose shoes that people in that area want.
The company calls this special plan Zero Base Merchandising.
More than 800 stores already do this.
By the end of 2026, more than 900 stores will do it.
This makes stores less crowded with shoes and easier to explore.
Bata is also making sure popular shoes are in stock.
The boss of Bata says the company is working hard and feeling hopeful.
Bata also decided to give its shareholders extra money as a reward.
Bata India plans to extend its Zero Base Merchandising (ZBM) strategy to more than 900 stores by the end of 2026.
ZBM, already operating in more than 800 stores, tailors store assortments to local demand and reduces clutter.
The plan was announced at Bata India's 93rd annual general meeting on Tuesday, where chairman Ashwani Windlass described FY 2025-26 as a year of purposeful transformation.
In-store availability in India improved by 8%, and inventory freshness rose from the mid-70% range to around 90%.
The company approved a final dividend of 180% and is modernising brands including Hush Puppies, Power, Floatz and Comfit.
- Who
- Bata India, led by chairman Ashwani Windlass
- What
- Extending its Zero Base Merchandising strategy, which tailors store assortments to local demand, to more than 900 stores by end of 2026
- When
- Announced at the 93rd annual general meeting on Tuesday; target set for the end of 2026
- Where
- India
- Why
- To respond to local consumer demand, reduce store clutter, improve product availability and adapt to changing shopping behaviour amid a challenging external environment
- Company
- Bata India
- Strategy
- Zero Base Merchandising (ZBM)
- Stores under ZBM
- More than 800 now; over 900 by end of 2026
- Brand outlets
- More than 2,000, plus over 775 franchise stores
- Omnichannel-enabled stores
- More than 1,000
- In-store availability improvement
- 8% in India
- Inventory freshness
- Rising from mid-70% to about 90%
- Final dividend
- 180%