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NIQ Geomarketing study: European retail in 2024 and 2025

The share of private consumption allocated to retail – rather than savings, services, or leisure – continues to decline across the European Union. In 2024, this trend persisted for the third consecutive year, with EU citizens spending just 32.6 percent of their disposable income in retail. Croatia recorded the highest share, with nearly every second euro spent in retail. These insights come from a new, free study published today by NIQ Geomarketing, offering a comprehensive overview of retail trends across Europe.

credit: Stratosferica

Urban Optimism in Action: The Utopian Hours Festival in Turin, October 17-19, 2025

ACROSS Magazine speaks with Giacomo Biraghi, co-founder of Stratosferica and one of the driving forces behind the Utopian Hours festival, a one-of-a-kind international gathering in Turin that reframes how cities are celebrated, studied, and shaped. In this interview, Biraghi discusses the ethos behind the event, its approach to urbanism, the evolving role of retail real estate, and how Turin is benefitting directly from this growing global platform.

credit: umdasch

Digital, local, sustainable: the new DNA of travel retail

Travel retail is an industry in transition, driven by a resurgence in travel activity, new consumer expectations, technological innovations, and a growing demand for sustainable concepts. Michael Ripfl, Sales Director for Nordics & Travel Retail at umdasch The Store Makers, provides an in-depth insight into current developments, long-term trends, and specific project examples. It becomes clear that what once began as the “sale of spirits and tobacco” has now evolved into a complex interplay of retailtainment, locality, and an innovative customer approach.

Thomas Reichenauer, Co-Founder an Managing Director of ROS Retail Outlet Shopping (left); Designer Outlet Berlin, newly acquired by FREY and ROS (right). /// credit: ROS Retail Outlet Shopping

Acquisition of Designer Outlet Berlin: Strategic Step for FREY and ROS to Become European Market Leaders

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.

Opening Westfield Hamburg Überseequartier / credit: URW

A new meeting place for the people of Hamburg: Grand Opening of Westfield Hamburg

The time has finally come: the new giant shopping mall Westfield Hamburg Überseequartier has opened. The Mayor of Hamburg Peter Tschentscher, URW CEO Jean-Marie Tritant and Theda Juliane Mustroph, General Manager of Westfield Hamburg-Überseequartier, symbolically cut the ribbon. With the 100,000 sq m mall and a promising gastronomy and entertainment concept, URW wants to set new standards in Hamburg.

Montse Ortega is Head of Visual Merchandising & Experience at NEINVER. /// credit: NEINVER

THOUGHTFUL VISUAL MERCHANDISING TRANSFORMS OUTLET EXPERIENCES

Retail spaces must go beyond static displays and generic signage. Montse Ortega states that a well-executed VM strategy orchestrates movement, builds anticipation, and influences purchasing decisions. NEINVER’s Visual Merchandising & Experience expert explains how thoughtful Visual Merchandising enhances engagement, drives sales, and creates a shopping experience that customers want to return to.

Design of Vila do Conde Porto Fashion Outlet's extension in Portugal (left), and Johan Caspar Bergenthal, COO and member of the Executive Board at VIA Outlets (right). /// credit: VIA Outlets

“PERFORMANCE IS THE DECIDING FACTOR FOR OUR LEASING STRATEGY”

The focus is always on the success that can be achieved together: Johan Caspar Bergenthal spoke with ACROSS Magazine about the success factors driving VIA Outlets and the industry in general. In addition to the consistent growth generated by VIA Outlets’ 3R strategy, the former shopping center industry executive cites the close collaboration with brands, something he hadn’t experienced before during his time in the full-price retail world.

Left-to-right: Castel Guelfo The Style Outlets in Bologna, Italy, and José María Escobar the Technical Director at NEINVER. /// credit: NEINVER

REVITALIZING RETAIL: NEINVER’S COMMITMENT TO MODERNIZING OUTLET CENTERS

Outlet centers are evolving to enhance customer experience, with renovations playing a key role in transforming shopping into a social experience. NEINVER, a leading outlet developer, investor, and operator, is actively advancing its plan to modernize the portfolio with refurbishments completed or underway across its Spanish and Italian portfolio. ACROSS spoke with José María Escobar, NEINVER’s Technical Director, to learn more about the latest and upcoming renovation projects.

credit: McArthurGlen

Frey Accelerates Growth In And Through The Outlet Segment – also with the signing of Designer Outlet Center in Berlin

2024 was another year of solid growth for FREY with a profit from recurring operations going up by 28,1 percent and a sales growth of almost 29 percent to 191.3 million Euros. The growth of the specialist in open-air shopping centers has made this impressive growth step especially since entering the outlet market with the acquisition of ROS Retail Outlet Shopping. An important part of the expansion strategy is the signing of Designer Outlet Center in Berlin for 230 million Euros.

credit: CEO of Heartatwork Hospitality Consulting//URW/rock&stars digital

F&B-concept @ Westfield Hamburg-Überseequartier: Is there a light at the end of the tunnel – and is it in Hamburg?

“Westfield Hamburg-Überseequartier could emerge as a refreshing beacon of culinary innovation and diversity”, states Will Odwarka, F&B-expert, founder and CEO of Heartatwork Hospitality Consulting and member of the ACROSS Advisory Board. He takes a close look at the recently announced differentiation of the F&B offering at Hamburg’s new shopping destination. With this diverse concept he is positive that Hamburg will be able to show the power of food to cultivate community spirit.

credit: Kaufland

TOP RULE OF KAUFLAND EXPANSION: THE QUALITY OF THE LOCATION IS DECISIVE

Kaufland’s success story is characterized by the balance between the advantages of standardization within a large group and regional integration. In an interview with ACROSS, Michael Hiese, Chief Real Estate Officer at Kaufland International, discusses the company’s growth strategy, his optimistic outlook, why location is more important than asset class, and what makes a Kaufland store truly distinctive.

credit: Kaufland

SHAPING THE FUTURE: HOW KAUFLAND IS DRIVING THE PROPERTY MARKET FORWARD WITH FLEXIBILITY AND PARTNERSHIP

Inflation, geopolitical crises, and a weakening economy have dominated the European markets for the past two years. While EU economic growth slightly increased in 2024, Germany, the largest economy, recorded a marginal decline. Despite persistent economic challenges, there are signs of cautious optimism: Slightly higher growth is expected in the EU in 2025, with strong momentum from the CEE and SEE regions, where countries such as Poland and Croatia are expected to achieve strong growth.

CEO PERSPECTIVES 2025 – When the Tenant Thrives, the Asset Flies
What will it take in 2025 for an asset to take off? For this special, we asked leading figures in the European retail real estate sector what they see as the most significant current challenges, as well as the solutions needed, for retail assets not just to survive but to prosper.
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