Bata India partners One Source to strengthen corporate reputation strategy

Bata India has appointed integrated marketing consultancy One Source to lead its next phase of corporate reputation building. The partnership will focus on strengthening Bata India’s corporate narrative, enhancing leadership visibility and driving strategic stakeholder communication across media, industry and business audiences.

Announced in Gurugram on December 16, 2025, the collaboration is designed to support Bata India’s ongoing transformation and reinforce its position within India’s evolving retail and lifestyle landscape. One Source will work closely with the company to sharpen messaging around its business priorities, long-term vision and leadership perspective.

With a legacy spanning more than 90 years in India, Bata has built trust across generations while continuing to evolve its business model. In recent years, the company has focused on innovation across product design, modern retail formats, digital integration and customer experience. These efforts are supported by a renewed emphasis on youth-led branding, omnichannel expansion and product diversification, positioning Bata for its next phase of growth in the footwear and lifestyle category.

The partnership with One Source aims to bring greater consistency and clarity to how Bata India communicates this transformation. The consultancy will support the development of a cohesive corporate story that reflects the brand’s heritage while clearly articulating its future direction. This includes highlighting leadership thinking, business milestones and strategic initiatives relevant to key stakeholders.

Badri Beriwal, chief strategy and business development officer at Bata India, said the company is at an important point in its journey. “Bata India is undergoing an exciting transformation across product design, retail experience, and consumer engagement. As we expand our footprint and evolve our brand, strategic and consistent communication becomes vital,” he said. Beriwal added that the partnership with One Source would help shape a unified corporate narrative and deepen engagement with media, customers and industry stakeholders.

From a communications perspective, the mandate reflects a growing focus among established Indian brands on structured reputation management and leadership visibility. As competition intensifies and consumer expectations shift, corporate storytelling has become an important lever in building credibility beyond marketing and product communication.

Sandeep Rao, managing director at One Source, said the consultancy would focus on reinforcing Bata’s reputation through storytelling aligned with its evolving priorities. “Bata is a brand that commands trust and affection across generations. We are honoured to support their strategic communication goals at such a pivotal time in their growth journey,” he said. Rao noted that the focus would be on leadership visibility and a sharp corporate narrative that reflects both legacy and change.

One Source operates across offices in Delhi, Mumbai and Bangalore, servicing Indian and global market leaders across sectors including BFSI, construction, manufacturing, plastics and packaging, business consulting, ICT and the start-up ecosystem. The consultancy’s integrated approach combines corporate communication, reputation management and strategic marketing advisory.

For Bata India, the appointment signals a structured approach to managing its corporate voice as it balances scale, heritage and innovation. By aligning its communication strategy with business transformation, the brand aims to strengthen long-term stakeholder trust while remaining relevant to new audiences.

The partnership underscores the increasing role of integrated communication consultancies in supporting large consumer brands as they navigate growth, reinvention and heightened scrutiny across public and industry platforms.