Bata Founder's Day: Celebrating unity with a global workforce

This collective drive and sense of purpose have become defining attributes of Bata’s company ethos. Founder's Day celebrates Bata’s rich heritage, the values that have shaped it into a renowned brand, and the achievements it has made as a global company.

Celebrating Bata's heritage and shared values

Founder's Day marks the anniversary of Bata’s foundation. The Bata Shoe Company was founded by Tomáš Baťa in 1894 in Zlín, Czechoslovakia. A truly original thinker, Tomáš Baťa revolutionised the local shoe industry by using canvas instead of leather to make quality shoes more accessible and improved working conditions through innovative production – such as introducing steam-driven machine manufacturing, inspired by American assembly line systems.

Tomáš Baťa's groundbreaking approach to industrialisation led to the creation of 16 self-sufficient factory towns worldwide between the late 1920s and 1945, across Europe, and with further expansions in India, Canada, the USA, and Brazil. These towns – inspired by American, British, French, German, and Soviet models and designed to decentralise production from Zlín and penetrate foreign markets – showcased integrated and self-sufficient infrastructure, including retail, canteens, and childcare facilities, cementing his legacy in industrial urban planning.

Strategically located in agricultural regions with ample resources, Baťa's towns aimed to ensure material security and happiness for employees.

During World War I, Bata became a major military supplier and expanded rapidly. In the post-war economic crisis, Tomáš Baťa cared for his Zlín workers by providing food and clothing in exchange for a temporary pay cut and implemented profit-sharing and performance-based incentives.

By the early 1920s, Bata was known worldwide for its innovations in production, global supply chains, and pricing. Today, Bata continues to embrace its heritage of pioneering achievements and remains dedicated to innovation and making a positive impact in the footwear industry.

On Founder’s Day, Bata employees worldwide gather to remember the journey and the hard work of its founders. It has also become an opportunity to take pride in Bata’s diverse workforce, with its array of talents, backgrounds, and experiences.

Lorraine Dyer, Bata South Africa's country manager, says: "As we prepare to commemorate our 130th anniversary on Founder's Day, we are filled with a deep sense of pride and gratitude. This milestone occasion will bring together our employees, customers, and communities in a shared celebration of our core values.”