"Bata India aims to expand its Zip Business Model (ZBM) to a footprint of 800 stores by December 2026."

Bata India is strengthening its retail strategy by making Zero-Based Merchandising (ZBM) the cornerstone of its store operations, with plans to roll out the model across 800 outlets by December 2026—more than double the number of stores currently operating under the system.

ZBM is a company-led initiative aimed at decluttering stores and optimising product assortments to improve customer experience and operational efficiency.

The footwear major currently operates over 2,000 stores across India, including around 700 franchise outlets. The company plans to significantly expand its franchise network, targeting a doubling of franchise stores over the next two to three years.

Outlining the company’s growth roadmap, Badri Beriwal, Chief Strategy Officer and Chief Business Development Officer at Bata India Ltd, said the retailer is adopting a “twin-engine” expansion strategy. “We are pursuing a twin-engine growth strategy—company-owned stores in metros and Tier-1 and Tier-2 cities, and franchise-led expansion across Tier-3 and Tier-4 towns,” Beriwal said. “Franchise stores are nearly 700 today, and the idea is to double that in the next two to three years.”

The expanded adoption of ZBM is expected to support Bata India’s aggressive retail growth plans while ensuring consistent store formats and improved merchandising efficiency across its nationwide network.