You're reading: Gap looks to expand further, plans Ukraine, Serbia stores

Gap Inc plans to open stores in Serbia and Ukraine, as the company keeps working on its strategy to grow internationally as domestic sales soften.

The company is working through new agreements with existing franchise partners, and will open stores in the cities of Belgrade and Kiev this year, Gap said in a statement on May 13.

The stores will sell the Gap, GapKids and babyGap brands, said the company, which also operates the Old Navy and Banana Republic chain.

Gap has relied increasingly on franchisees to raise its presence overseas. As of January, Gap had 178 franchise-operated stores abroad, up from 136 a year earlier.
Gap now has franchise agreements in 28 countries, and plans to double its number of franchise stores to 400 by fiscal year 2015.

Even abroad, Gap has been looking to revitalize sales. In fiscal 2010, sales at its stores overseas open at last a year rose only 1 percent.