The company Bata announced in a press release on 29 September 2026 that it will gradually end footwear production next year at its plant in Dolní Němčí in the Uherské Hradiště District. It is its only factory in Central Europe. The decision will affect 92 employees. The brand will remain present in the country through its retail network.[1][2]
Reasons
According to the company, the operation, in which footwear has been made since 1970, is not profitable. The structure and capacity of the plant, built for mass production, do not match current demand. To become profitable it would have to focus on a different type of production, and the necessary investment would not be efficient at current volumes and prices. Board member Andrea Montagnoli said it had been a very difficult decision.[1][2]
The plant and the procedure
The factory has belonged to the company since 1992 and last year produced roughly 150,000 pairs of shoes for stores and other customers.[1][2] The company intends to wind down operations gradually in several phases. It is in contact with representatives of the municipality and the labour office, and is negotiating the terms of employees' departure with the trade union, for whom it has prepared a support programme to help them find new employment.[1] The company operates in some fifty countries and has around 6,000 stores.[1]
Related articles: Bata, Dolní Němčí
Chronology
- — Bata announced that it will end shoe production next year at its plant in Dolní Němčí, its only factory in Central Europe. ČTK / České noviny iROZHLAS
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Sources
- ČTK / České noviny — 29 September 2026
- E15 — 29 September 2026