Next agrees deal with Gap clothing
Next plc has signed a deal to work as a franchise partner with the Gap brand – but said there were no plans to help its UK stores.
The two businesses have created a joint venture – 51 per cent owned by Next and 49 per cent by Gap – to run Gap’s business in the UK and Ireland.
New York-listed Gap Inc will continue to produce clothing ranges for the brand but the deal will see Next take over the day-to-day operations of Gap in the UK and Ireland.
Gap will be able to utilise Next’s UK and Ireland store network of around 500 stores. The deal will not see the return of Gap’s high street branches after the US retail giant announced earlier in the year that it would leave the UK high street for good as part of a shake-up designed to help the group return to sustainable growth.
Mark Breitbard, president and chief executive officer of Gap Global, said: “Gap is partnering with Next, one of the UK’s leading online clothing retailers, to amplify our omnichannel business and meet our customers in UK and Ireland where they are shopping now.”
