Bata may acquire retailing rights of Cat footwear

Leading footwear and fashion accessory manufacturer Bata may now start retailing and distributing CAT footwear in India. Cat, a lifestyle brand with a heavy equipment heritage, was earlier being sold and distributed by Tata International after it formed a joint venture with America’s Wolverine Worldwide.

Wolverine Worldwide, owns around 16 footwear brands including Hush Puppies, Merrell and Harley-Davidson. It is also the licensee partner of the Caterpillar, US manufacturer of construction and mining equipment, which markets CAT footwear and apparel globally.

Of late, Bata is aggressively pursuing growth plans. To take on online competition, the company plans to introduce initiatives like ‘Click and reserve’, so that if a customer likes a certain pair of shoes then he or she can reserve it on the company’s website. In turn, the company will provide details on the nearest location where the customer can get hold of the shoes.

The brand is also working on reviving labels like Power, North Star and Hush Puppies that sell under its portfolio. By next year, Power products would be retailed across football and cricket categories apart from exclusive Power stores. The company may also introduce its outdoor brand Weinbrenner in India, which is performing well in Latin America.