The number of visitors to Germany’s retail locations in city centers, shopping centers and retail parks declined dramatically as COVID-19 took hold around the end of February. But Germany’s retail scene has been recovering since the end of the lockdown, although retail locations in mid-sized and especially smaller metropolises have fared significantly better than those in larger metropolitan areas. This is apparent in visitation frequency numbers, which GfK has been compiling since the beginning of this year.

This year’s EXPO REAL in Munich is taking place as a hybrid event from October 14 to 15, 2020.

Katrin Gögele-Celeda has been appointed Country Manager Operations for Austria as of August 2020. In her new role, she will oversee IMMOFINANZ‘s local operating business.

BIKE-DROP – a new pop-up concept, offering convenient, safe and secure bike parking – is opening its first location in London’s West End, after signing a trial deal for 6 months with The Crown Estate for two separate units.

How to shape the future!

Real estate investment manager ECE Real Estate Partners has set up a new preferred equity fund backed by a portfolio of three German neighbourhood shopping centres with a market value in excess of EUR 500 million.

CECONOMY AG and the MediaMarktSaturn Retail Group are pushing ahead with the transformation of the Group. Both companies have made significant operational progress in recent years in digitization, the expansion of the Services & Solutions business and in improving cost efficiency, amongst others.

As per December 2020, Jessica Janssen from Lucerne will assume the function of Head
of Center Management of the Mall of Switzerland in Ebikon.

Sloane Stanley announces The Sustainable Pop-Up, has launched at 320 King’s Road, within Chelsea’s iconic shopping destination; whilst sustainable clothing and lifestyle brand, Vilshenko, have upsized to a 1,298 sq ft unit at 336 King’s Road.

Sports company PUMA has appointed Ben Hughes as General Manager for the United Kingdom, Ireland and Benelux (UKIB) with immediate effect. In this role, Ben takes over from Paul Spencer, who has assumed the position as PUMA’s Regional Sales Director Europe.

Further 50% of retail space in Limbecker Platz shopping centre already let until at least 2025.

Hammerson has announced that Haidilao, China’s largest hot pot restaurant chain, has selected Bullring for its first site in the UK outside of London. The 8,073sq ft restaurant will join Brown’s and Wagamama in St Martin’s Square, and is set to launch in early 2021.

Wereldhave has taken notice of FNG fashion group brands (Didi, Expresso, Miss Etam) filing for bankruptcy following the bankruptcy of parent company FNG Group in Belgium.

Markus Gratz has taken on his new role as Center Manager of McArthurGlen Designer Outlet Salzburg on March 1, 2020.

New urban district development scheduled for 2022 completion – KGAL Investment Management GmbH & Co. KG has acquired the Perlach Plaza development in Munich for 250 million euros.

Principal Real Estate Europe, Principal Global Investors’ European platform for real estate investments, acting as asset and transaction manager of the SCPI NOVAPIERRE
Allemagne 2 Fund managed by PAREF Gestion, has advised on the acquisition of two retail properties.

World-leading beauty brand M·A·C Cosmetics has officially launched its 2,654 sq ft retail space at Liverpool ONE, serving as the brand’s new flagship location in the city.

BNP Paribas Real Estate Investment Management (REIM) Germany acquired a retail property in Kiel for French real estate mutual fund BNP Paribas Diversipierre.

Outlet retailing proves resilient as Affinity signs Next 23,500sq ft new leasing during lockdown.

After a fruitful collaboration that began in 2018 on the Brussels II warehouses in Anderlecht, AG Real Estate and Brussels start-up Skysun have decided to extend their partnership to the Office & Retail activities of the real estate subsidiary of AG Insurance.

The project partners Art-Invest Real Estate, Dukelease, and ECE jointly celebrated the completion of the structural work and the successful course of the “101 on Cleveland” apartment building project in London’s West End.

Supermarket Income REIT announces the acquisition of a Morrisons supermarket in Telford from Santander Trustees Limited for £14.3 million (excluding acquisition costs), reflecting a net initial yield of 5.0%.

The International Council of Shopping Centers (ICSC) announced the winners of its 2020 Visual Victories Awards. INGKA Centres received four prizes, including two Gold winners for their MEGA Meeting Places.

The John Lewis Partnership Trust for Pensions has appointed Sarah Bates as Chair of the Trustee from 1 August 2020 and replaces Dame Jane Newell, who has stepped down after being Chair since 2013.