ECE signed approximately 1,250 lease contracts covering more than 350,000 sqm across its managed shopping center portfolio during the first half of 2026. In Germany alone, the company concluded around 850 lease agreements for more than 250,000 sqm of retail space.
According to ECE, leasing activity was driven by continued expansion from established retail partners including New Yorker, TK Maxx, H&M, as well as the Bestseller and Inditex groups. The company also reported growing demand from international concepts such as Xiaomi, Miniso and Swedish fashion retailer Lager 157.
ECE also identified several broader leasing trends shaping the market, including the cross-border expansion of international retailers, continued growth among non-food discounters such as Action, Woolworth and Normal, increasing demand for innovative food and beverage concepts, and new market entries by international fashion brands.
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