Borovo
Borovo is a Croatian footwear company founded in 1931 in Borovo near Vukovar by Czech industrialist Tomáš Baťa. It makes leather and rubber footwear, including the Startas sneaker and the Borosana shoe.
| Founded | 1931 |
|---|---|
| Founder | Tomáš Baťa |
| Headquarters | Vukovar, Croatia |
| Best-known brand | Startas |
| Website | borovo.hr |
What is Borovo?
Borovo is a footwear manufacturer headquartered in Vukovar, Croatia. Production began on 7 June 1931, when the Czech industrialist Tomáš Baťa opened a shoe factory in the village of Borovo on the outskirts of Vukovar; rubber goods followed from 1933.
History
After the Second World War the factory was nationalised as the Borovo Rubber and Footwear Factory, and from 1947 to the late 1980s it was the largest producer of footwear and rubber goods in its region. The war halted operations in 1991 and destroyed many buildings. Management worked from Zagreb between 1992 and 1997, with production in Donji Miholjac, before returning to Vukovar in 1998.
Products and positioning
- Startas: a sneaker launched in 1976 for table tennis, later the company's biggest brand and the official shoe of the 1987 Summer Universiade
- Borosana: a shoe developed in 1968 for special purposes by a team led by orthopaedist Branko Strinović
- Boromina: a modernised Borosana released in 2008
Distribution
Borovo is active in leather and rubber footwear production, wholesale, retail and foreign trade.
Why it matters
Borovo links the Bata industrial legacy with one of the Balkans' best known heritage sneakers.
Frequently asked questions
Where is Borovo from?
Borovo is a Croatian footwear company based in Vukovar.
Who founded Borovo?
Borovo was founded in 1931 by the Czech industrialist Tomáš Baťa, who started footwear production near Vukovar.