News Headline
Bata launches a new range in the ‘Power’category
NEW DELHI: Buoyed by the success of the ‘Power’ brand, which is witnessing an increase of 15 per cent quarter on quarter, India’s largest manufacturer and marketer of footwear products Bata India Limited today announced the launch of a new range in the ‘Power’ category and that it would move its headquarters to Gurgaon, on the outskirts of Delhi from Kolkata.
The company has also introduced, for the first time, what it calls a
`revolutionary product’ in the field of comfort footwear: Reverso.
According to Bata India Ltd MD Stephen J Davies, “The launch of the new range is part of our overall strategy to be future ready and face competition head on. The emphasis is also on presenting a contemporary and trendy brand image, which translates to both its product and corporate culture.”
Though recognised as a household name in India, a financially beleaguered Bata has managed to capture 24 per cent market share in the organised footwear market. The company is now looking at a turnover of Rs.8,400 million by the end of next year.
As a step towards rejuvenating the Bata brand, the company is repositioning itself as a market driven, fashion conscious lifestyle brand with an emphasis on service and production.
The company recently introduced international styles and trends for women, men and kids, which have gone a long way in providing a trendy and contemporary image to the company.
Revamping its marketing operations, Bata India has introduced the concepts Flagship, City, Family and Bazaar stores that cater to different segments of the market. Further, to capture the retail boom prevailing in the country, the company has decided to move its headquarters to Gurgaon this year.
The company’s conscious decision to cleanse its wholesale business by building relationships with credit-worthy buyers and converting three of its wholesale depots to ‘cash-n-carry’ on a trial basis has started to show positive result.
In a bid to improve its logistics and distribution system, Bata has made investments to the tune of Rs.20 million in the current year. Large investments have also been made in the area of IT to integrate approximately 150 stores on a real-time basis.
Pointing out that a recent restructuring of the company’s retail division is expected to add a fresh impetus to the vision of continuing to be a truly global retailer, Davies said that offering products to today’s fashion conscious youth as well as people from all walks of life is a challenge.
Today, Bata today sells over 60 million pairs of shoes annually throughout India and in overseas markets such as the USA, UK, Europe, Middle East and Far East.
The company also markets international brands like Weinbrenner, Hush Puppies, Dr Scholls, Reebok, Adidas, and Azaleia. The other most popular Bata brands include Power, Marie Claire, Bata School Shoes, Sandak, Bubblegummers, Bata Hawai and Bata Industrial.
NEW DELHI: Hamdard Laboratories gathered a cross-section of India’s achievers in New Delhi on Friday, handing out the Hakeem Abdul Hameed Excellence Awards to figures who have left their mark across healthcare, education, sport, public service and the arts.
The ceremony, attended by minister of state for defence Sanjay Seth and senior officials from the ministry of Ayush, celebrated individuals whose work blends professional success with a sense of public purpose. It was as much a roll call of achievement as it was a reminder that influence is not measured only in profits or podiums, but in people reached and lives improved.
Among the headline awardees was Alakh Pandey, founder and chief executive of PhysicsWallah, recognised for turning affordable digital learning into a mass movement. On the sporting front, Arjuna Awardee and kabaddi player Sakshi Puniya was honoured for her contribution to the game and for pushing women’s participation onto bigger stages.
The cultural spotlight fell on veteran lyricist and poet Santosh Anand, whose songs have echoed across generations of Hindi cinema. At 97, Anand accepted the honour with characteristic humility, reflecting on a life shaped by perseverance and hope.
Healthcare honours spanned both modern and traditional systems. Manoj N. Nesari was recognised for strengthening Ayurveda’s place in national and global health frameworks. Padma shri Mohammed Abdul Waheed was honoured for his research-backed work in Unani medicine, while padma shri Mohsin Wali received recognition for his long-standing contribution to patient-centred care.
Education and social development also featured prominently. Padma shri Zahir Ishaq Kazi was honoured for decades of work in education, while former Meghalaya superintendent of Police T. C. Chacko was recognised for public service. Goonj founder Anshu Gupta received an award for his dignity-centred rural development initiatives, and the Hunar Shakti Foundation was honoured for empowering women and young girls through skill development.
The Lifetime Achievement Award went to former IAS officer Shailaja Chandra for her long career in public healthcare and governance, particularly in the traditional systems under Ayush.
Speaking at the event, Hamdard chairman Abdul Majeed said the awards were a tribute to those who combine excellence with empathy. “These awardees reflect Hakeem Sahib’s belief that healthcare, education and public service must ultimately serve humanity,” he said.
Minister Seth struck a forward-looking note, saying India’s young population gives the country a unique opportunity to become a global destination for learning, health and wellness by 2047.
The ceremony also featured the trailer launch of Unani Ki Kahaani, an upcoming documentary starring actor Jim Sarbh, set to premiere on Discovery on 11 February.
Instituted in memory of Unani scholar and educationist Hakeem Abdul Hameed, the awards have grown into a national platform that celebrates those building a more inclusive and resilient India. For one evening at least, the spotlight was not just on success, but on service with substance.
