Can Bata find favour among the young and stylish Indians again?

It was a cold, foggy winter morning in

Gurugram

, home to some of the largest corporates in the country. As one enters Bata’s new headquarters in Sector 15, a pointed thought crosses the mind: Is this really the nerve centre of a 100-year-old company? For, it looks more like a sneaker studio; there are shoes everywhere — on walls, tables, even in corridors — a riot of colour, styles, and intent.

The space feels bold, contemporary, and restless — a visual cue that this is a brand trying to move fast.
And the man pushing this change is Gunjan Shah, a former Britannia executive who took charge of Bata India as managing director and CEO in 2021. Shah wants every employee to see shoes before they see the screens flashing excel sheets. “That’s the heart of the business,” Shah says smilingly.