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The new store showcases the latest winter 2013 collection from Bata
MUMBAI: Bata today opened its largest store in India at Viviana Mall, Thane-W. The store was inaugurated by Bollywood sensation, Alia Bhatt, Mr. Jack Clemons, CEO, Bata Shoe Organization and Mr. Rajeev Gopalakrishnan, Group Managing Director, Bata India were also present during the ceremony which was followed by the grand launch of the upcoming Autumn Winter Collection. Spread across 20,000 sq.ft, the store offers an extensive range of more than 2,500 styles of footwear and accessories like handbags, sunglasses, clutches, scarves.
Alia Bhatt along with other models unveiled the autumn winter collection with an exclusive ramp walk. Over 100 guests attended the fashion show which showcased this season’s latest looks and must-have pieces from Bata.
Speaking at the opening, Alia Bhatt, said, “I have always admired Bata as a brand and I am delighted to be associated with the launch of its largest store in the country. I have been a Bata customer since childhood and it has always stood by its promise of excellent quality at great value. The new store looks very appealing and I love the new youthful collection that Bata is offering for the upcoming season.”
Mr. Jack Clemons, CEO, Bata Shoe Organization, said: “We’re really excited about growing our presence with the opening of our biggest store in the country. Our new store really showcases an extensive range of Bata footwear and accessories. I am confident that with our new collection we will offer something truly special to our every customer shopping at the store.”
Speaking at the opening, Mr. Rajeev Gopalakrishnan, Group Managing Director, Bata India commented: “We are thrilled to open our biggest store in Viviana mall, Thane. Mumbai is an important market and also an exciting city for us to grow our business. Our objective is to make shoe shopping a more pleasurable affair for our consumers making high volume of merchandise available under one roof. Bata India is expanding its retail chain, opening atleast 100 stores every year in the same global format and are more than 4000 square feet average. These stores have enough space to present consumers with the largest variety of footwear designs and styles, with the best in class service.”
“Today’s evolved consumer has multiple footwear needs for specific purposes, like dress, sports, outdoor, comfort, party, sports casual etc. Our shoe line now is updated and improvised and is better segmented to adapt to the changing needs of the consumers. This segmentation is also reflected in the new large stores we are opening where we can display each segment much better for the ease of identification and shopping by the consumer.”
These new format stores offer a huge variety of shoes for men, women and children. Bata offers stylish and chic shoes for the women in charge, both while are in the office, or go out.
Bata has continued to focus on improvements in shoe designs through constant research and development. The footwear collection has been vastly improved during the years with the Company launching trendy and fashionable designs which has been well received by the modern day young customer. These new designs have resulted in earning Bata new customers as well as renewing the support among its loyal customer base. New products launched by the Company have resulted in serving many more customers.
Customers can now choose from the exquisite line of footwear ranging from ballerinas to wedges, flats to heels and glitter to sequins in stimulating colors and a fresh sense of opulence. For men, the new collection offers the best men’s boot styles, colorful loafers and youthful sneakers which are a sure way to add a bright spot to an everyday look.
The autumn winter collection also showcases a wide selection of bright pop colored accessories like bags, belts, and scarves etc. that will surely inject indulgence and add a dressier edge.With such a wide variety, new designs and great prices, Bata continues to be the customer’s Most Preferred Footwear Brand.
Bata, the largest retailer in the footwear industry, has been constantly expanding its retail presence in India and is planning to open 100 stores this year. In the last 5 years Bata India has opened over 350 new stores and completely renovated over 200 existing stores. Bata has over 1,250 stores in India and is continuing to increase its presence in Tier II & III markets across the country.
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Network18 Q4 revenue grows 9.7 per cent, EBITDA at Rs 30 crore
PAT improves to Rs 306.6 crore, margins steady amid cost pressures.
MUMBAI: Not all news is breaking, some of it is quietly improving. Network18 Media & Investments Limited appears to be doing just that, tightening losses and stabilising margins even as costs continue to weigh on the business. For FY26, the company reported revenue from operations of Rs 1,955.1 crore, up from Rs 1,896.2 crore in FY25, signalling modest top-line growth in a challenging media environment. Total income stood at Rs 1,978.2 crore, compared to Rs 1,913 crore a year earlier.
Profit after tax came in at Rs 306.6 crore for the year, a sharp turnaround from Rs 3,225.4 crore in FY25, largely reflecting the absence of large exceptional items that had inflated the previous year’s numbers. On a more comparable basis, the company’s operating performance showed signs of gradual stabilisation.
However, the quarterly picture remained under pressure. For the March quarter, Network18 reported a loss of Rs 53.1 crore, narrower than the Rs 98.1 crore loss in the same period last year, but still indicative of ongoing cost challenges.
Expenses continued to track high. Total expenses for FY26 stood at Rs 2,235.7 crore, up from Rs 2,197.8 crore in FY25. Key cost heads included operational expenses of Rs 765.9 crore, employee benefits of Rs 475.9 crore, and marketing, distribution and promotional spends of Rs 427.1 crore, underlining the continued investment required to sustain reach and engagement.
At an operating level, margins remained under strain. Operating margin stood at 2.33 per cent for FY26, marginally higher than 1.77 per cent in FY25, while net profit margin remained negative at -13.02 per cent, though improved from -14.89 per cent.
On the balance sheet, total assets rose to Rs 8,957.6 crore as of 31 March 2026, from Rs 8,317.5 crore a year earlier. Equity strengthened to Rs 4,958.7 crore, while borrowings increased to Rs 3,112.8 crore, reflecting a higher reliance on debt to support operations.
Cash flows told a mixed story. While financing activities generated Rs 83.9 crore, operating cash flow remained negative at Rs -24 crore, highlighting ongoing pressure on core cash generation. Cash and cash equivalents, however, improved to Rs 33.9 crore from Rs 1.8 crore.
The numbers point to a company in transition growing revenues, trimming losses, but still grappling with structural cost pressures. In a sector where scale often comes at a price, Network18 seems to be inching towards balance, one quarter at a time.
