Next and Gap have announced a joint venture to manage the latter’s UK and Ireland operations.

Under the new partnership, Gap’s ecommerce business will join Next’s Total Platform, while Gap shop-in-shops will be opened in some Next stores.

Next will own 51% of the joint venture, while Gap will own 49%.

The partnership is set to launch in 2022, with click-and-collect options also available in Next stores.

The news comes after Gap launched a strategic review into its UK business last year and closed its physical stores.

Next chief executive Lord Wolfson said: “Next is delighted at the prospect of its Total Platform supporting Gap on the next stage of development of its world-renowned brand in the UK and Ireland.”

Gap chief executive Mark Breitbard added: “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.”

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