Fashion chain Gap is to close 19 stores in the UK and Ireland as the coronavirus pandemic continues to take its toll on the high street, while a distribution centre in Rugby remains at risk. Gap did not offer any detail on which stores will close or how many jobs would be lost as a result. But unlike big high street names that have disappeared from the high street for good during the pandemic – such as TopShop and Debenhams – Gap said it would still have more than 50 stores in the UK and Ireland. Gap, which also owns Banana Republic, was forced to close stores worldwide due to the pandemic, with a net 204 stores shutting their doors permanently during 2020. The pandemic has claimed a string of well-known high street fashion chains, as lockdown measures led to deserted high streets and accelerated a trend towards online shopping.

Source: The Guardian June 09, 2021 18:56 UTC