Bata South Africa

What Bata South Africa does

Bata South Africa is the local operating subsidiary of the global Bata Group, a footwear company founded in 1894 and the world's largest shoe manufacturer by volume. In South Africa the business operates a four-channel model comprising company-owned retail stores, the bata.co.za e-commerce platform, wholesale distribution, and export into SADC markets. Locally manufactured footwear is produced at the Loskop factory at a capacity of approximately 3.3 million pairs per year, providing vertical integration that insulates the business from currency volatility and import duty exposure.

The company sells a multi-brand portfolio — Bata, Power, Safari, Tomy Takkies, Bata Comfit, Toughees, Bubblegummers, American Cup and Bata Industrials — across six core segments: Ladies, Men, Kids, Industrial, Schools, and Wholesale/Export. Pricing ranges from R119 entry-level product to R3000+ at the premium end, positioning Bata as a mass-market player with selective premium offerings. Recent product investment includes the XoRise+ comfort technology integrated into the Power brand, and the relaunch of Tomy Takkies in the children's category.

Revenue is generated through retail sell-through, wholesale and B2B accounts (schools and industrial safety footwear), e-commerce transactions supported by delivery partner Pargo and payment processor Peach Payments, and SADC export volumes produced at Loskop. The company also runs the long-standing Bata Children's Program (since 2011) as a community initiative. The local entity employs approximately 70 people, with scale economics, sourcing, and design capabilities drawn from the parent group's global infrastructure of 5,300 stores.

Name

Bata South Africa

Legal name

Bata South Africa (PTY) LTD

Website

https://bata.co.za

Company type

Private

Founded year

1894

Operating status

Operating

Short description

Bata South Africa is the local subsidiary of global footwear manufacturer Bata Group, operating multi-channel retail, wholesale, e-commerce, and SADC export distribution supported by local manufacturing at the Loskop factory. It serves mass-market consumers across Ladies, Men, Kids, Industrial, and Schools segments through a multi-brand portfolio.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Consumer Footwear Retail

NAICS

Footwear Manufacturing (3162), Shoe Retailers (4582), Footwear Merchant Wholesalers (424340)

SIC

Footwear, (No Rubber) (3140), Retail-Shoe Stores (5661)

akta.pro primary industry

Athletic Footwear Manufacturing (Running/Training/Court) (IMAOAIAA)

akta.pro secondary industries

Athletic Footwear & Sport Apparel Retail (CRAMABAC), Children’s & Infant Footwear Manufacturing (IMAOAIAH), Children’s & Baby Footwear Retail (CRAAADAF)

Keywords

• Footwear retail
• School shoes
• Athletic footwear
• Safety boots
• Wholesale distribution

Headquarters

HQ city

La Lucia, KwaZulu-Natal

HQ country

South Africa

HQ region

Africa

Offices4 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Hardware or Manufacturing

Cost components

Supply Chain, Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Infrastructure

Revenue model

1. Footwear Retail Sales: Direct-to-consumer sales of branded footwear including Bata, Power, Safari, Tomy Takkies, Bata Comfit, Toughees, Bubblegummers, and American Cup through owned e-commerce and retail stores
2. Wholesale Distribution: B2B wholesale distribution to retail stores, distributors, resellers, corporate suppliers, and specialty footwear boutiques
3. Gift Vouchers: Digital gift card sales available in denominations from R100 to R1000

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion3 records

Distribution channels5 records

Marketing channels4 records

Core offering

Bata South Africa manufactures and retails branded footwear across women's, men's, and children's categories, including formal, casual, athletic, school, industrial safety, and adventure styles. The company sells through owned retail stores, an e-commerce platform at bata.co.za, wholesale distribution to third-party retailers, and export partnerships to SADC countries. Local production at the Loskop factory in KwaZulu-Natal produces Toughees school shoes, gumboots, and safety shoes at a capacity of 3.3 million pairs annually.

Product overview

Bata South Africa operates as a diversified footwear retailer offering multiple sub-brands across distinct market segments. The core Bata brand provides ladies, men's, and children's footwear spanning heels, sandals, formal shoes, sneakers, boots, and trainers. Supporting sub-brands include Tomy Takkies (women's canvas sneakers since 1964 with women-empowerment focus), Power (athletic/sportswear with XoRise+ technology launched 1971), Safari by Bata (100% genuine leather African adventure brand), Bata Comfit (comfort-focused footwear), Bata Industrials (safety/work boots), Toughees (local school shoes with 6-month warranty), and Bubblegummers (kids' footwear). The company also offers Bata Gift Vouchers. Bata SA serves over 1 million consumers daily across 5,300 stores globally, with local manufacturing at the Loskop factory producing 300,000 shoes per month.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Tomy Takkies: South Africa's Original Canvas sneaker brand launched in 1964. Specially designed for women, addressing comfort needs for Southern Africa's dry climate. A team led by and made up of mostly women, with proceeds from Womenkind supporting women and girls across South Africa.
• Power
• Safari by Bata
• Bata Comfit
• Bata Industrials
• American Cup
• Bubblegummers
• B-First

Products and services

• Bata Ladies Collection Core ladies footwear line featuring comfortable women's shoes, sandals, heels, boots, and casual styles designed for everyday wear with modern design and reliable Bata comfort.
• Bata Mens Collection Men's footwear range including formal shoes, boots, slip-ons, and casual styles with a focus on classic craftsmanship and modern comfort technology.
• Bata Kids Collection Children's footwear covering younger boys, younger girls, older boys, and older girls with various styles including sandals, sneakers, and boots.
• Tomy Takkies South Africa's original canvas sneaker brand launched in 1964, designed by women for women. Features iconic black and white canvas sneakers and trend-forward styles. Proceeds from Womenkind support organizations uplifting women and girls across South Africa.
• Power Athletic and sport-inspired footwear brand launched in 1971, combining advanced technology with modern design. Offers sport, fitness, and sport-inspired footwear and apparel with features like XoRise+ technology for 25% more energy return.
• Safari by Bata African adventure brand crafted from 100% genuine leather (nubuck, oily, or waxy leather). Embodies the spirit of adventure, diversity, and authenticity with styles including Chelsea boots, Vellies, and slip-on pumps for men, women, and children.
• Bata Comfit Comfort-focused footwear line deliberately designed for foot health with supportive technology across four collections. Features versatility, quality, and styles that work with any wardrobe for day-to-day and long-term wear.
• Bubblegummers Kids' footwear brand featuring playful designs for children with styles including sandals, sneakers, and boots with fun, colorful aesthetics appealing to younger customers.
• American Cup Footwear brand offering sneakers and casual styles with athletic-inspired designs for the South African market.
• Bata Industrials Industrial and safety footwear line producing work boots and safety shoes including the Helix Ultra Boot series and safety-rated options like the Avenger Safety Boot, featuring reinforced construction and protective features.
• Toughees School shoe brand manufactured locally at the Loskop factory in KwaZulu-Natal since 1977. Features injection-molded construction renowned for strength and durability. Comes with 6-month guarantee against manufacturing defects.
• Bata Gift Voucher Digital gift card available in denominations from R100 to R1000, allowing recipients to choose from a wide range of Bata footwear styles. Valid for gifting purposes with electronic delivery.

Quantifiable outcome

• Over 1 million consumers served daily across global store network
• +3 more outcomes

Segments8 records

Ideal customer profiles5 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Integration4 records

Feature2 records

Partnerships

Three partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• PargocoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorPargo serves as Bata South Africa's collection point partner for e-commerce orders, allowing customers to collect parcels at designated pickup locations across South Africa. This partnership enables flexible delivery options with free collection for orders over R500 and R50 flat rate for smaller orders.
• Peach PaymentscoreTechnology or IntegrationPayment processing partner for Bata's e-commerce platform, enabling multiple payment methods including Debit Card, Credit Card, Payflex, and Mobicred for South African consumers.
• SADC Countries Export PartnersminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorInternational distribution partners across Southern African Development Community (SADC) countries. Bata products produced in South Africa are SABS compliant and qualify for duty-free export to these markets.

Scale indicators7 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Market position

Competitive moat4 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

Compliance10 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles2 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Bata South Africa