Factsheet 2b: case study: the structure of Gap's supply chain

The following case-study shows the length and complexity of the supply chains of major brands, in this case Gap. It is taken from 'Bridging the Gap: a look at Gap’s supply chain from the workplace to the store', Women Working Worldwide (2003). The study represents a typical garment supply chain, and is not intended to single out GAP for criticism.

Based in San Francisco, Gap has over 3,000 stores throughout the world, employs 150,000 workers and in 2004 had sales of nearly 16.3 billion US dollars. As a retailer, Gap focuses on design, merchandising and branding. It does not manufacture any of the products it sells. In 2003, it was buying from over 3,000 companies in approximately 50 countries...



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