Corporate News
The newly refurbished Bata store at the Hilton Hotel in Nairobi. PHOTO | COURTESY
By MUGAMBI MUTEGI
In Summary
- Bata Kenya has secured 800 square metres of space in the upcoming Two Rivers and Garden City malls.
- Managing director Alberto Errico says the company wants to increase the number of its stores from the current 140.
Footwear retailer Bata Kenya plans to open 25 new
stores across the country within a year in an expansion plan that has
seen it book space in the upcoming Two Rivers and Garden City malls.
The Limuru-based firm has secured 400 square metres of space
in each of the two shopping complexes that are currently under
construction in Runda and Ruaraka respectively.
Managing director Alberto Errico says the company wants to increase the number of its stores from the current 140.
“The shopping malls coming up across the country
are evidence of commerce evolution which is supported by a middle class
which prefers to shop in one place,” he said.
“We plan to have a presence in all shopping malls
that have a suitable size and location. However, we will still continue
opening standalone outlets in towns.” Last year the firm opened a total
of 35 stores in the country.
Bata is putting the final touches to what it says
will be its biggest outlet in Africa— an 11,000 square metre store to be
situated opposite Jevanjee Gardens, along Muindi Mbingu Street.
This large format store is part of the firm’s
strategy to open branches whose ample size will see them display their
commodities better and give customers more space to shop.
Bata on Friday started selling Clarks, Skechers,
Naturalizer and Nike international brands of shoes at their remodelled
Hilton Hotel branch with plans to stock them in at least 10 other
stores.
The firm is sourcing Clarks and Skechers from
regional retailer Nakumatt Supermarkets, the local franchise holders of
the British and American brands respectively.
Naturalizer is being imported directly from the
American manufacturer while Nike footwear is being supplied by a local
franchise holder.
“We have decided to stock these well-known international brands in order to give our customers a wider choice,” Mr Errico said.
“We were already stocking some global brands like Hush Puppies but this is the first time we are selling shoes like Skechers.”
Bata Kenya manufactures about 30 million shoes at
its Limuru factory annually and imports about 1.5 million from its
sister companies in countries like Pakistan and Bangladesh.
Their expansion drive comes even as the Economic
Survey 2014 shows that the leather sub-sector grew by only 0.3 per cent
last year and production of finished leather shoes went down by 0.4 per
cent.
