Gap launches its first Hungarian store in Etele Plaza through franchise partnership

Gap, the American casual clothing and accessories brand, today announces its entry into the Hungarian market through a franchise partnership with Ganeta Pannónia Kft. The brand will be introduced to customers through Gap-branded stores in the country, beginning with the opening of a Gap freestanding store in Etele Plaza September 2021.

Launching in Buda’s largest shopping centre, the Gap store will open on September 17 in the Etele Plaza with the brand’s Fall 2021 collections for men, women, kids, toddlers and infants. Gap continues to build on its heritage grounded in denim and is committed to producing well-made and responsibly produced styles. The 350 square meter store will offer a wide variety of these elevated essentials including denim, t-shirts and hoodies as well as the brand’s signature logo products for the whole family.

Following the store opening, Ganeta Pannónia Kft will also launch a Gap standalone e-commerce website by the end of 2021, increasing access to the brand through a new consumer touchpoint and providing an omni-channel offering to customers within Hungary.

“We are excited to continue growing the Gap business in key international markets through our partner-based model. Partnering with regional experts like Ganeta Pannónia Kft allows us to amplify and deliver our relevant, purpose-driven brands to new and existing customers around the globe,” said Adrienne Gernand, Head of Gap Inc. Strategic Alliances, Licensing and Real Estate.

Etele Plaza, developed by Futureal will feature nearly 1,300 parking lots. The most advanced location and navigation system will facilitate parking in the building by indicating empty spaces, it will also help customers to find the chosen stores or services through a mobile application. In the inner space an interactive LED display media interface will add to the uniqueness of the centre. The complex is being developed under Futureal’s Stay Safe initiative designed to respond to the changing market demand due to the pandemic.

“We are very proud to have chosen Etele Plaza as the site for Gap as a famous global brand to enter the Hungarian market. The shopping and entertainment centre’s outstanding location, visibility, digital and architectural solutions as well as its incredible service environment create an exceptional customer experience that is crucial for high profile tenants,” outlined Márk Balástyai, Project Director of Etele Plaza.

Realised in the meeting point of the Kelenföld railway station, underground line 4 and the approach section of M1-M7 motorways, Etele Plaza can be accessed in just 10 minutes from downtown. The immediate catchment area of the new centre is one of the most densely populated areas of Budapest, where some 235,000 people live.