Bata India targets 900+ Zero Base Merchandising stores by end-2026

At its AGM, Bata India outlined a retail overhaul spanning localized merchandising, fresher inventory, omnichannel fulfilment and hyperlocal delivery. The footwear retailer has rolled out Zero Base Merchandising across 800+ stores and aims to exceed 900 by end-2026.

— Source published Tue, 18 Aug, 2026, 20:13 IST · First seen Tue, 18 Aug, 2026, 21:01 IST · Source NDTV Profit

What happened

Bata India approved a 180% final dividend and outlined a retail overhaul focused on product innovation, omnichannel and hyperlocal delivery, localized

Key facts

  • 180% final dividend
  • more than 2,000 brand outlets
  • over 775 franchise stores
  • more than 1,000 omnichannel-enabled stores
  • around 70% of stores offer hyperlocal delivery
  • ZBM rolled out across more than 800 stores
  • ZBM targeted for over 900 stores by end-2026
  • in-store availability improved 8%
  • inventory freshness increased from mid-70% to around 90%

Why this matters

Bata’s omnichannel overhaul raises the strategic value of capabilities in demand sensing, localized merchandising, inventory optimization and last-mile delivery partnerships.

What to watch

  • Comparable-store sales growth and sales per square foot after ZBM rollout.
  • Gross-margin trend, markdown rate and inventory aging or inventory turns.
  • Online sales mix, click-and-collect adoption and ship-from-store fulfilment share.
  • Store-level stock availability in core sizes and cancellation rates for digital orders.
  • Evidence that franchisees and smaller-city stores can sustain the operating model.
  • Capex, technology and delivery-cost commentary relative to productivity gains.
  • Expand zero-base merchandising to franchise and lower-tier-city stores using cluster-level demand models.
  • Increase SKU, size and color localization by city, store format and customer cohort.
  • Integrate store inventory more deeply with online ordering, click-and-collect and hyperlocal delivery.
  • Tighten replenishment cadence and reduce aged inventory through targeted markdowns and inter-store transfers.
  • Use refreshed assortments and local availability data to support higher CRM, app and loyalty engagement.