With the opening of its revamped Grand Hotel store in Kolkata, Bata, the most reputable footwear brand in India, celebrated a major turning point in its retail history and strengthened its long-standing ties to the city.

The store, also called 0001 Grand Hotel, is one of the top three stores in the country and Bata’s first retail location in India. It has a strong emotional connection to the brand’s more than 90-year retail history. Bata’s evolving retail vision is now reflected in the updated space, which combines premiumization, improved in-store experiences, and a strong sense of legacy in a modern format.

The success of Bata India has been largely attributed to Kolkata and Batanagar. To create a contemporary, immersive shopping experience that embodies both continuity and advancement, the Grand Hotel store renovation takes inspiration from this rich history. Additionally, Kolkata accounts for about 6% of its national turnover and nearly 50% of its eastern business.

This strategic focus is also reflected in the milestone, which now offers a more upscale and captivating shopping experience with carefully chosen merchandising and a special premium area. The store’s current revenue of about Rs 9 crore is predicted to increase to Rs 10 to Rs 11 crore in the upcoming year.

Popular actor and local icon Ritabhari Chakraborty visited the store to commemorate the event with a powerful cultural moment, infusing the launch with joy and celebration. Bata emphasized that she is a perfect fit for the brand in this market because of her significant influence, in-depth knowledge of the area, and sincere relationship with local audiences.

Speaking at the event, the actress said that Bata is more than a store for her. It is like an emotion. She was glad to be a part of the Bata store re-launch event.

Bata India is backing its brand overhaul with a Customer First supply chain strategy, designed to guarantee that the right products and sizes are always in stock through a more responsive replenishment system.

To deepen its regional roots, the company also revealed that Kolkata will serve as the national launchpad for its Durga Pujo 2026 festive line. This localized push will be reinforced by proactive inventory management and a dedicated marketing campaign featuring a well-known regional celebrity, whose identity will be shared as the festive season approaches.

For more details, visit www.bata.com/in.

Priyanka Dutta