Bata closes historic Czech footwear factory after 56 years

Bata has closed its footwear production facility in Dolní Němčí, located in the eastern Czech Republic, after 56 years of operation. This facility was the brand’s last remaining manufacturing plant in Central Europe.

The factory, which had been producing shoes since 1970 and part of the Bata group since 1992, produced approximately 150,000 pairs of footwear for the brand’s stores last year. The closure will affect 92 employees.

Andrea Montagnoli, a member of the Bata board, stated that the decision was difficult but necessary because the large-scale production structure no longer meets current market demands. Montagnoli noted that while a shift to a different production model could potentially restore profitability, the required investment would not be efficient given current production volumes and purchasing price outlooks.