The Gap aims to fill a space in the market

US clothing retailer The Gap is to create 30 new UK outlets this year. The chain is looking to increase its share of the UK clothing market, which is currently below 1 per cent.

There are currently 58 Gap stores in the UK and 52 Gap Kids, the outlet for two-14-year-olds, which includes Baby Gap.

In addition to the recently opened Sheffield store, the new shops, which are designed in-house, will be located in Nottingham, Slough, Gateshead’s Metro Centre and a number of other unconfirmed areas.

The company is also due to open its first “out of town” store at Fosse Park in Leicester a 930m2 site which will compete alongside Next and Marks & Spencer.

A Gap spokeswoman reveals that the company plans to open a minimum of 30 stores each year for at least the next two years. “We opened the first Gap in the UK in 1987 and now have over 100 stores, so obviously our growth will be accelerated over the next few years,” she says.