Search Results for: outlet

The demands placed on brick-and-mortar retailers have intensified significantly: Experiences, clear positioning, and top-quality levels are no longer optional, but mandatory. “Only those who provide a sense of clarity stand a chance of survival.” Christoph Andexlinger, CEO of SES Spar European Shopping Centers, speaks with ACROSS about the realignment of traditional shopping centers, the power of regional retailers, and why mid-range segment retailers will only have a future, if they are uncomprisingly clearly positioned.

The winners of the 2025 Solal Marketing Awards were announced at an outstanding gala event at fashionable leisure venue Fabryka Norblina in Warsaw. The live event was the first celebration of the most effective and innovative marketing campaigns in the shopping center industry since the pandemic. A record-number of entries in eleven distinct categories were received, with finalists joining the event from countries right across Europe, Canada and South Africa.

FREY officially broke ground on Malmö Designer Village, a flagship retail destination set to become Scandinavia’s largest premium outlet shopping village upon its opening in 2027. The ceremonial groundbreaking event in Löddeköpinge, Kävlinge Municipality, brought together leaders from FREY, ROS Retail Outlet Shopping (part of the FREY Group), development and construction partners, and representatives of the local community.

A quiet but profound shift is transforming the retail industry across Europe: while luxury and discount segments thrive, many mid-tier retailers—once considered the backbone of the high street and shopping centers—are struggling to stay afloat. This growing polarization is not merely a passing trend; it is a structural shift that reflects changing consumer behaviors, economic realities, and the need for clear market positioning. But if you take a closer look, you will see that it is not the middle that is dying, but only mediocrity. What is emerging is a new middle ground between luxury and discount, determined by one thing alone: relevance.

The coronavirus pandemic, in particular, has shown retail real estate operators who is a reliable rental partner, says Oleg Krüger, Senior Director of Expansion at Takko Fashion. The discount fashion retailer is growing against the market trend and is pursuing ambitious growth targets. In an interview with ACROSS, Krüger explains the new role of discounters in European retail and how Takko is positioning itself strategically in a polarized retail landscape.

What will drive consumers in 2025? Why are the boundaries between discount and luxury blurring? How does a simple purchase become a meaningful experience? In this interview, consumer researcher Monika Koller from WU Vienna University of Economics and Business discusses emotional value dimensions, contradictory consumption patterns, and the challenge of creating genuine added value in a dynamic consumer landscape.

Let’s take a quick glance beyond the borders of Europe, as many markets hold much more promise than we might think. As businesses contemplate the next steps in their growth strategies, the question arises: when will we see new store openings in countries like Iraq, vibrant dining establishments in Pakistan, and ventures marked with flags in Tanzania or Kenya? Furthermore, why do Bangladesh, India or Saudi Arabia often remain absent from many brands’ master development plans? After years spent in international development, attending countless business meetings and conferences, Will Odwarka, Founder and CEO of Heartatwork Hospitality Consulting, and Member of the ACROSS Advisory Board, presents a candid perspective on this matter: Our collective bias and judgment often deter us from exploring these promising markets.

In close collaboration with Westfield London, MK Illumination UK curated an immersive public art trail under MKxART’s debut project “HERE WE GLOW”, featuring two internationally acclaimed artists: Liz West (UK) and Angelo Bonello (Italy). By connecting Westfield with two of the most respected public art talents in Europe, MKxART helped to position the center as a cultural destination beyond retail.

With over 120 international and Polish fashion and lifestyle brands, a vibrant F&B offering and a prime urban location, Designer Outlet Kraków launched with a celebratory ceremony hosted by KG Group and ROS Retail Outlet Shopping—marking a significant milestone for premium outlet shopping in southern Poland.

Florentia Village Istanbul is Turkey’s first luxury designer outlet combined with a modern full price retail park creating a unique hybrid retail concept. Located next to Istanbul Airport, the outlet aims to set a new benchmark for retail, leisure and entertainment in the region through its scale, accessibility, attention to detail, service and innovative dual-concept structure.

Malmö Designer Village is an upcoming premium outlet village in Löddeköpinge, Sweden, uniquely positioned to serve both Swedish and Danish markets. Now under the leadership of FREY Group (following the acquisition of the project from UK developer Rioja Estates in 2024), it marks FREY’s first outlet development and a significant expansion of its open-air retail portfolio. Over 3.8 million visitors within 90-minutes and 10+ million tourists fall within its reach, including the major population centers of southern Sweden and the Copenhagen metropolitan area. With all necessary planning permissions secured and no objections, construction began in mid-2024.

With the acquisition of Designer Outlet Berlin just last week, and the upcoming opening of ROS Retail Outlet Shopping’s new location in Kraków, Poland, the current projects under ROS and FREY are a testament to their vision as well as the segment’s potential. In an interview with ACROSS, Thomas Reichenauer, Co-Founder and Managing Director of ROS, goes into detail about their current high-profile projects on the outlet market, where they see further potential, and the advantages brought by the merger between ROS and FREY as they aim to become the market leaders in Europe.

At Main-Taunus-Zentrum (MTZ), one of the largest and most successful shopping centers in Germany, ECE Marketplaces has realized a new destination within the center being a further development of the open structure and providing an additional USP of the center. In the middle of the open-air shopping center in Sulzbach near Frankfurt am Main, the new “Food Garden” creates a lively new urban center with a high quality, varied gastronomy offering in five free-standing restaurant buildings for a total of eight restaurant concepts, inviting outdoor terraces, and attractive green spaces.