News – India
Posted by footwearglobal on June 22, 2008, Sunday
Bata India sells “Hawai” Brand
The ‘Hawai’ brand of slippers, popular in the 1970’s and 80’s has been sold to Brazilian company, Sau Paolo Alparagatas SA for an estimated Rs3.91 cr
Kolkata: Footwear company Bata India Limited has sold its popular mass brand, ‘Hawai’ to Sau Paolo Alparagatas SA, a Brazilian company for an estimated Rs3.91 crore.
PM Sinha, chairman of the company confirmed the news and said that the Hawai brand of slippers were being imitated by numerous local manufacturers and this was the main cause for the decision to sell out.
On account of declining margins on a brand that was a must have for all middle class consumers in the 1970’s and 80’s and stiff competition from local manufacturers and even Chinese imports, the company took the decision of exiting this category of products.
Meanwhile, Bata India has announced the decision to open 240 new stores during the course of three years.
Source: livemint.com
