Can Bacca Bucci Take On Puma & RedTape In India’s Growing Sneaker Space?

India is the second-largest footwear manufacturer in the world, yet the mid-premium category has remained largely untapped, with mass-market brands priced below INR 1,000 and premium global labels dominating the above INR 5,000 range. 

This pricing gap and lack of stylish-yet-affordable options led Natwar Agrawal and Anuj Nevatia to launch Bacca Bucci in 2015. What started as a solution to a personal struggle for quality footwear at a fair price has now grown into a disruptive homegrown D2C brand, competing with the likes of Puma, RedTape, and Woodland.

Bridging The Footwear Gap With Quality & Affordability

Bacca Bucci has positioned itself as a mid-premium footwear brand, offering a diverse range of sneakers, boots, athleisure wear, and formal shoes. The brand’s USP lies in delivering high-quality craftsmanship at an accessible price point. Unlike many competitors relying on overseas sourcing, Bacca Bucci’s in-house manufacturing ensures better quality control, cost efficiency, and faster go-to-market capabilities.

With a catalogue of 3,500 SKUs, Bacca Bucci also goes beyond footwear, offering accessories like t-shirts, belts, and wallets, catering to a broader lifestyle segment. Sustainability remains a key focus, with eco-friendly, plastic-free packaging and responsible material sourcing.

Scaling Growth With Digital-First Strategies

Bacca Bucci has leveraged Amazon, Flipkart, and Myntra to fuel its expansion. The D2C brand utilises data-driven insights, exclusive collections, and targeted promotions to maximise visibility and customer engagement. By integrating with multiple fulfillment centers, Bacca Bucci ensures faster deliveries and better inventory management, a key advantage in a competitive ecommerce landscape. 

The brand saw a 60% growth in its D2C segment in 2024, contributing to an overall 30% increase in revenue.

Celebrity endorsements from Rannvijay Singha and Rohit Saraf, along with a strategic collaboration with Warner Bros. for a licensed sneaker collection, have propelled brand awareness and customer loyalty.

Milestones & The Road Ahead

Bacca Bucci has seen an impressive 42.6% revenue growth, jumping from INR 47 Cr in FY23 to INR 67 Cr in FY24. The brand also made significant strides in industry rankings, climbing from 41st place to 31st on the FAST42 list.

Bacca Bucci aims to achieve INR 95 Cr in revenue by FY25. By 2026, it plans to establish itself as a household name for quality footwear in India. Going ahead, the brand intends to expand its product range, set up physical retail stores, and explore international markets to strengthen its position in the D2C footwear industry.

[Authored By Pooja Yadav]