Mumbai, Aug. 12 -- Total operating expenditure increased by 3.6% to Rs 774.98 crore in Q1 FY27 over Q1 FY26, primarily due to higher finished goods purchases (up 12.2% YoY) and higher other expenses (up 12.9% YoY).

Profit before tax in Q1 FY27 stood at Rs 85.90 crore, down 22.6% from Rs 70.07 crore in Q1 FY26.

The company stated that continued focus on operational efficiency, disciplined cost management and sharper execution across channels, enabled operating cash profit of Rs 216.6 million for the quarter, reflecting an increase of 7.6% over the previous year.

The board of Bata has also announced an interim dividend of Rs 25 per share, amounting to Rs 321.3 million.

Gunjan Shah, managing director and CEO, Bata India, said: "Continuin...