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ACROSS

Retail

STRATEGIES AND EXPANSION PLANS OF RETAILERS

credit: Avison Young

Retail Parks Everywhere? – Polish Investment Market Report by Avison Young

Poland’s retail parks have grown from outskirts experiments in the 1990s to over 290 large hubs nationwide. Changing consumer habits and investor confidence are turning them into versatile destinations beyond just convenience shopping. Investment market report created by Avison Young allow details insights into major trends through a comprehensive analysis.

credit: MEC

“IF YOU WANT TO SHAPE THE FUTURE, YOU HAVE TO UNDERSTAND THE PRACTICAL SIDE OF THINGS”

MEC’s new Business & Project Development department underscores its commitment to the future of retail real estate. Instead of pure administration, the focus is now on holistic location development – strategic, practical, and market-oriented. Head of the unit, Jörg Wege, explains how vision meets everyday business, why hands-on expertise matters, and how this drives MEC’s growth.

credit: InformaBTL

New leader on the Spanish Grocery Scene: Mercadona soars

Recent calculations reveal that Mercadona has achieved significant success in the first eight months of 2025, taking the lead in the grocery sector of Spain. Capturing larger shopping baskets as well as a higher shopper penetration, are the main reasons behind Mercadona’s success.

credit: BIG CEE

BIG Čačak by BIG CEE officially opened its Doors

Serbia’s first lifestyle retail park, BIG Čačak, is now officially welcoming customers with 45 new stores and 500 parking spaces, offering a unique experience that combines shopping, gastronomy, and leisure.

credit: Lidl

Lidl reports struggles with Expansion in Belgium

The international discounter is facing challenges in the region, as Lidl Belgium did not generate profit the previous year. To correct and enhance their financial results, the company plans on addressing the issue, investigating the main cause for failure.

credit: Carrefour Group

Carrefour celebrates first Spanish Airport Store opening

Carrefour City outlet is now welcoming customers with fresh and ready-to-eat foods, drinks, snacks, milk, coffee as well as pantry staples at its location in Terminal 2, Barcelona-El Prat Airport. What is more, the outlet offers local Catalan products as part of the selection too.

credit: Foot Locker

DICK’S finalizes $2.4 billion Foot Locker takeover

DICK’S Sporting Goods has completed its $2.4 billion acquisition of Foot Locker, emerging as a new global sports retail leader. The deal is set to strengthen DICK’S presence across North American, European, Asian and Australian regions, as well as retaining Foot Locker and its family of brands, including Kids Foot Locker, Champs Sports, WSS and atmos.

credit: MEC

MEC Leases 74,000 sq m of Retail Space in First Half of 2025

MEC, a leading specialist in the management of retail properties, remains on its growth trajectory in the first half of 2025. The company signed a total of 124 new and renewed lease agreements across its portfolio, covering approximately 74,000 sq m of retail space. A standout success story is the Halle Center Peißen, where MEC has demonstrated its comprehensive management and implementation capabilities.

credit: MK ILLUMINATION

BETWEEN DISCOUNT AND LUXURY: WHY RETAIL DESTINATIONS NOW DEPEND ON EMOTION – AND HOW LIGHT MAKES ALL THE DIFFERENCE

The retail world is undergoing radical realignment. Discounters thrive through efficiency. Luxury brands shine with immersive storytelling. In between, the middle market is eroding. Locations that don’t tell a compelling story are losing relevance. MK Illumination sees this polarization not as a crisis, but as a creative opportunity. Where emotion enters the equation, value returns – and light is the most powerful medium for creating that emotional connection.

credit: umdasch

A new dimension for travel, enjoyment and shopping: umdasch realises Smartseller store at Nuremberg Airport

Opened at the beginning of April, the new 1,100 sq m Smartseller store offers travellers an innovative duty-free shopping experience combined with high-quality food and beverage offerings and a sense of regional identity. The Store Makers at umdasch took on the entire project management for the store construction and ensured a smooth and high-quality implementation with the delivery and installation of furniture, light sculptures and catering elements.

credit: Fiba

BEYOND THE MID-MARKET SEGMENT: HOW FIBA CP NAVIGATES THE GLOBAL RETAIL DIVIDE

Retail is no longer defined by the mid-market segment. Across the globe, a growing divide is reshaping the sector: Luxury brands are thriving on exclusivity and immersive experiences, while discount retailers are rapidly expanding through pricing power and operational scale. Mid-market players – the dependable heart of shopping centers – are being squeezed out, explains Yurdaer Kahraman, CEO and Board Member of Fiba Commercial Properties.

credit: Eurofund

GRADUAL CHANGE: THE NEW MID-RANGE BETWEEN LUXURY AND DISCOUNT CONCEPTS

From the rummage table to the feel-good factor: Discount concepts are no longer stigmatized, and luxury concepts are booming. That’s not to say that mid-range concepts are disappearing, but if you want to survive somewhere between the two poles, you’d better deliver. In an interview with ACROSS, Olaf Ley, CEO of Germany Retail at Eurofund, describes the most important changes in consumer behavior in recent years and provides insight into the developments concerning the Rhein-Ruhr Zentrum (RRZ) in Mülheim, Germany, as well as Eurofund’s expansion plans.

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.

From Fashion to Leisure: Transforming Shopping Spaces for Tomorrow’s Cities

A radical transformation: As traditional retail declines and department stores shutter, cities are reimagining these spaces as vibrant hubs of leisure, culture, and community. From immersive entertainment in London to rooftop farms in Antwerp, this shift reflects more than just changing consumer habits – it’s reshaping urban life itself, explains Herman Kok, Associate Partner at DISCvision. Discover how tomorrow’s cities are turning shopping into experience, and malls into modern agoras.

credit: Westfield

Westfield Donau Zentrum Boosts Fashion Line-Up with Stradivarius, Pull&Bear, and More

Westfield Donau Zentrum, the Austrian capital’s largest shopping and entertainment center, continues to reinforce its position as a retail powerhouse with a major expansion of its fashion portfolio. The center welcomes international brands Stradivarius, Pull&Bear, New Yorker, and Pepe Jeans to its ever-growing mix, setting new benchmarks in the local retail landscape.

Credit: MIOMIR MILIĆ

MERCATOR CENTER BELGRADE: STEADY GROWTH, LOCAL  RELEVANCE, AND A PROVEN URBAN LIFESTYLE MODEL

In a market flooded with mega malls and flashy upgrades, Mercator Center Belgrade is quietly setting a new standard. With a focus on community relevance, practical offerings, and steady modernization, this urban retail hub proves that consistency, not spectacle, drives real success. Jovan Ćirić, Retail Leasing Director at MPC Properties, explains why this neighborhood favorite may be Belgrade’s most future-ready shopping center.

credit: umdasch

umdasch is rethinking the Car Showroom: How Placemaking Is Shaping the Automotive Sector

How are design, technology, and sustainability transforming the automotive trade from traditional showrooms to digitally connected spaces? The recently published ninth edition of inSites – a special publication by umdasch – titled “From Showroom to Brand Room”, explores which emerging trends are overturning traditional retail concepts, why the quality of stay has become a must-have, and why integrating digital touchpoints is essential.