1894		The T.&A. Bata Shoe Company is registered in Zlin, Czechoslovakia by the siblings Tomáš, Anna and Antonín Bata. Innovative from the beginning it departs from century old traditions of the one-man cobblers’ workshop.
	1895		Antonin leaves the Company to join the army, his sister Anna follows shortly after to get married. Tomas Bata takes over the company leadership alone.
	1897		Tomas introduces the ”Batovka”, the first fabric shoe and with it production mechanization.
	1905		Production reaches 2,200 pairs per day, produced by 250 employees. Constant innovation of footwear to meet customers’ needs. T.Bata’s motto is “ Our customer is our Master”
	1909		First export sales and first sales agencies in Germany, in the Balkans and in the Middle East. Bata shoes are of excellent quality and are available in more styles than had ever been offered before. Demand grows rapidly.
	1917		Sales reach 2 million pairs per year produced by 5000 employees. Advanced production equipment is imported. As the Company prospers so do the communities where it operates. Bata creates stores, builds housing, schools and hospitals near factories.
	1922		Following the first world war currencies are devalued and consumer purchasing power is at an all time low. Bata cuts shoe prices by 50%; stores are flooded with customers forcing the industry to follow the lead.
	1925		The “Bata system” organizes operations in autonomous workshops with employee profit sharing introduced since 1923. Each one in the company is an entrepreneur. The Bata School of Work founded. It provides rigorous education and practical training to future Bata managers.
	1929		Introduction of customs tariffs. Bata responds by building factories in Swiss, Germany, England, France, Yugoslavia, Poland, Holland, the USA and India By the early 1930s, Bata is the world’s leading footwear exporter.
	1932		At the time of Tomas Bata’s tragic death in a plane crash the company intensifies diversification into the production of tires, aircrafts, bicycles, machineries. Still a young man, Thomas J Bata, his son, convenes the 1st international congress of young Bata people.
	1939		Bata operates 63 companies in various industries but footwear remains the core business with 60 million pairs sold per year in more than 30 countries.
	1940		Part of the Company management under the leadership of Thomas J. Bata starts to operate from Batawa, near Toronto, Canada.
	1945		All Bata companies in Eastern European countries are nationalized by communist governments. The Company starts rebuilding itself from the remaining entities located outside Eastern Europe.
	1960s		The Company’s headquarters are officially relocated in Toronto under the leadership of Thomas J Bata. The Company expands its international reach through new factories serving local markets.
	1970s		Private labels are created to be marketed to new customer segments: Bubblegummers, Power, Marie Claire, North Star.
	1980s		Retail excellence is becoming even more important. Bata develops a variety of retail concepts such as Bata city stores, large format stores and sport concept stores.
	1989		Following the political changes the Bata Company is invited to return to the Czech Republic where the Company remains a symbol of national pride and achievement.
	1990s		Creativity, product innovation and research for higher quality levels lie at the core of Bata product development policy. The result is the international high standard Bata Premium collection.
	1995		Partnerships develop in Eastern Europe. Bata stores reopen in Russia, Poland, Croatia, Slovenia.
	1999		To adjust to the market evolution Bata undertakes a major reorientation from manufacturing to designing, marketing and distribution.
	2001		Thomas G Bata, founder’s grandson becomes the Group’s chairman. A new international structure is implemented around 4 meaningful business units (MBUs) to give more focus to the business and gain synergies within each region, especially in sourcing and product development.
	2002		As part of re-inventing its core competencies, Bata Shoe innovation Centres open around the world to focus on the development of shoes with exclusive comfort technology features and designs.
	2004		New steps in China with the opening of the Bata procurement centre in Guanzhou and a distribution partnership for the opening of Bata retail stores.
	2006		Start of the 262 acres Riverbank township construction to modernize the Batanagar factory complex, near Kolkata. It is expected to be completed by 2011 with 2500 modern housing for employees, a large hospital, a school, an IT park, a hotel and residential flats along the riverside. Launch of the Branded Business Division to consolidate our existing worldwide branded business activities into a leading industrial and professional footwear company.

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