Collective Brands to expand Payless chain-WSJ

Collective Brands Keds

Sept 3 (Reuters) - Footwear retailer Collective Brands Inc plans to expand its Payless ShoeSource retail chain into nine Middle East countries with franchise partner M.H. Alshaya, the Wall Street Journal reported.

The company will be franchising its stores for the first time.

"Consumers in the Middle East want the latest fashions and women, in particular, enjoy expressing themselves through shoes and accessories," the Journal quoted Collective Brands Chief Executive Matthew Rubel as saying.

M.H. Alshaya Co is the international franchise operator for such brands as Starbucks , The Body Shop and H&M , among others. (Reporting by Sweta Singh in Bangalore)