Actress Ritabhari Chakraborty inaugurated the revamped, premium Bata store at the historic Grand Hotel

Bata, India’s most trusted footwear brand, today unveiled its revamped Grand Hotel store in Kolkata, marking a significant milestone in its retail journey and reinforcing its longstanding association with the city. Also known as 0001 Grand Hotel, the store is Bata’s first retail outlet in India and among the top three stores nationally, holding deep emotional value within the brand’s retail footprint of over 90 years. The refreshed space now reflects Bata’s evolving retail vision, bringing together premiumisation, elevated in-store experiences, and a strong sense of legacy in a contemporary format. Kolkata and Batanagar have been central to Bata India’s growth story.

The Grand Hotel store revamp draws from this rich legacy and translates it into a modern, immersive retail experience that reflects both continuity and progress. Moreover, Kolkata contributes nearly 50 percent of its east business and around 6 percent of its national turnover. The milestone also reflects this strategic focus, now offering a more premium and engaging retail experience with curated merchandising and a dedicated premium zone. Currently generating around ₹9 crore in revenue, the store is expected to grow to ₹10 to ₹11 crore over the coming year. Marking the occasion with a strong cultural moment, popular actor and regional icon Ritabhari Chakraborty visited the store, bringing a festive and celebratory energy to the launch. Bata highlights her strong influence, deep understanding of the region, and the genuine connection she shares with local audiences, making her a natural fit for the brand in this market.

Commenting on the milestone, Gunjan Shah, CEO, Bata India, said, “As consumer expectations evolve, we are reimagining retail experiences across our network. The Grand Hotel store revamp is part of a broader strategy to elevate our retail footprint through premium environments, sharper in-store experiences, and stronger consumer engagement. Kolkata remains a key market, with Batanagar standing as a powerful symbol of our regional legacy. This transformation reflects our commitment to investing in markets that have shaped our heritage while building for the future. Looking ahead, Bata India plans to add 25–30 new stores across the East over the next year, spanning COCO and FOFO models, with a strong focus on West Bengal, including emerging markets and the hills.”

Echoing the sentiment, Badri Beriwal, Chief Strategy Officer and Chief Business Development Officer, Bata India said, “The East continues to be one of our most important growth corridors, with Kolkata at the centre of this strategy. The Grand Hotel store revamp reflects how we are redefining retail in high-impact markets. This format will play an important role in shaping the next phase of our retail expansion,” The revamp is supported by Bata India’s ‘Customer First’ supply chain initiative, which focuses on ensuring consistent product and size availability along with faster replenishment across stores. Speaking on the topic, “At Bata, we believe that the quality of the in-store experience is closely linked to the strength of the supply chain that supports it. The ‘Customer First’ initiative is designed to ensure that every customer who walks into a Bata store finds what they are looking for, every single time. For a store of this scale and significance, this commitment is essential,” said Anjan Kundu, Head of Supply Chain, Bata India.

Strengthening its connection with the region, Bata India also announced that its Durga Pujo 2026 festive collection will make its national debut in Kolkata. This will be supported by advance inventory planning and a locally relevant campaign featuring a prominent regional face, to be revealed closer to the season.