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With a stable footfall, successful leasing activity and consistent developments, Berlin’s Gropius Passagen concludes a truly successful year in December.

Matt Slade, Retail Director at Quintain, reflects on the year 2025 through the example of London Designer Outlet.

VIA Outlets announced today that Fitch Ratings has reaffirmed VIA Outlets B.V.’s Long-Term Issuer Default Rating (IDR) and senior unsecured rating at ‘BBB+’.

The global luxury and premium sector has risen to new record strength. Brand Finance’s latest Luxury & Premium 50 ranking shows the world’s top brands reaching a combined USD 317 billion in brand value.

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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THE LATEST PLACEMAKING NEWS

Retail Market Survey in Croatia: Konzum and Studenac take the Lead

Oct 14, 2025

“TÜRKIYE’S RETAIL REAL ESTATE OUTLOOK FOR 2025”

Oct 13, 2025

HOW MONETIZATION STRATEGIES ARE EVOLVING WITH TECHNOLOGY

Oct 13, 2025

BALFIN GROUP: SHAPING THE FUTURE OF REAL ESTATE IN THE WESTERN BALKANS AND BEYOND

Oct 10, 2025

Equilis opens a new chapter with the appointment of Laurent Tirot as CEO of the European group.

Oct 10, 2025

LATEST ISSUE

PROJECTS, TRENDS AND STRATEGIES

“CREATING VIBRANT LIVING SPACES”: TURNING KING CROSS ZAGREB INTO CROATIA’S MOST MODERN SHOPPING DESTINATION

Renovating existing buildings and reducing new construction is the order of the day. Christoph Andexlinger, CEO of SES, uses the example of KING CROSS Zagreb to explain how the company is developing the established, aging center into a state-of-the-art mall with a high quality-of-stay via a complete refurbishment, thereby elevating it to the next level of success.

Place of the Week: Westfield Hamburg-Überseequartier is on the home stretch

Unibail-Rodamco-Westfield celebrates topping-out ceremony at Westfield Hamburg-Überseequartier with more than 300 guests. There is enough reason to celebrate: The Pre-letting rate in retail, food & beverage and leisure is at 85 percent

PLACE of the Week: Forum Gdańsk – A best performer with further potential

Although NEPI Rockcastle has only acquired Forum Gdańsk nine month ago, it is already one of the company’s darlings. In the first quarter of 2023, the center grew by 40 percent in sales compared to the previous year. The Forum Gdańsk can now finally exploit its full potential.

Place of the Week: MERLATA BLOOM LIFESTYLE CENTER – AN INNOVATION CASE STUDY

Nhood is scheduled to open an innovative Shopping Center in fall 2023. Merlata Bloom aims to be a smart and innovative place that combines technology and sustainability, entertainment and services, everyday life, and retail. Retail, gastronomy, and lifestyle are the conceptual components that shape the project.

MANAGEMENT

LATEST TRENDS IN ASSET AND CENTER MANAGEMENT

Angelus Bernreuther Takes On The Role Of Head Of Business Development At DEFAMA

Angelus Bernreuther has been appointed as a new member of the management team at Deutsche Fachmarkt AG (DEFAMA). In his new position, he will assume the role of Head of Business Development and will lead the transaction business of the publicly listed holder of retail properties.

MEC Leases 65,000 Sq M Of Retail Space In The First Half Of 2024

The letting level at MEC remains very high in the first half of 2024. The retail real estate specialist concluded over 110 new and follow-up leases with a total area of 65,000 sq m during this period.

Two new members: Silvio Kirchmair and Michael Hiese join the ACROSS Advisory Board

The ACROSS Advisory Board is thrilled to welcome its newest members, umdasch CEO Silvio Kirchmair and Michael Hiese, Chief Real Estate Officer, Kaufland International.

METRO portfolio with over 200,000 square meters will be managed by CBRE in the future

The international real estate service provider CBRE has won a mandate for the commercial and technical property and asset management for a real estate portfolio of METRO PROPERTIES GmbH & Co. KG. CBRE will also provide letting services as part of the agreement.

OUTLETS

DEVELOPMENTS AND TRENDS IN THE OUTLET INDUSTRY

“OPTIMIZATION AND RENEWAL ARE THE KEY STRATEGIES FOR ALL OUTLET PLAYERS”

All outlet players have worked hard to improve their attractivity, engage new retailers, offer more exciting Food & Beverage formats, provide more premium hospitality services and realize strong marketing campaigns, states Caroline Lamy, CEO of Magdus and the CL Outlet Consulting company. In this interview, she gives an overview of the European Outlet market.

Designer Outlet Kraków forges ahead: open shell to be finished by March

The construction of Designer Outlet Kraków is at an advanced stage, with the building reaching the open shell phase. Located in Kraków’s city center at one of the most popular arteries in the city, Designer Outlet Kraków will benefit from a catchment area of almost 5 million inhabitants and a great tourism potential. The opening is planned for spring 2025.

VIA Outlets ACHIEVES Brand RECORD SALES OF 1.36 BILLION EUROS in 2023

VIA Outlets brand sales soar by over 11.5% to a record 1.36 billion Euro in 2023 driven by a 7.5% jump in footfall and extensive remodelling and remerchandising projects across the portfolio

We talk about guests; not about customers!

In its 25th anniversary year, the Designer Outlet Parndorf celebrates the most successful year in the location’s history. ACROSS spoke to Mario Schwann, General Manager Designer Outlet Parndorf, about the return of international visitors, why maximum service orientation almost like in a first class hotel is the be-all and end-all, and what trends and developments are taking place at the location.

RETAIL

STRATEGIES OF RETAILERS

CC Real Has Reinvented One Of Helsinki’s Most Iconic Shopping Destinations

The extensive redevelopment of the ITIS Shopping Center in Helsinki has now been successfully completed. With an investment of 60 million euros, CC Real has fundamentally repositioned the center by the end of 2024 and transformed it into a modern, future-proof urban destination.

Shopping Centers Of Today Are Important Leisure Destinations

In addition to its function as a supplier to the population, retail is increasingly taking on the role of entertainment. Concepts built around customer experience and gastronomy are now essential components of shopping centers, shows the latest shopping center report on Germany from the EHI Retail Institute.

GRANTHAM DESIGNER OUTLET VILLAGE DOUBLES DOWN ON SUSTAINABILITY AT ONE OF THE BEST PHYSICAL LOCATIONS IN EUROPE

Commanding one of the best locations in the UK, the Grantham Designer Outlet Village is to become one of the top 10 outlet destinations in the country upon completion. The outlet will follow the very successful blueprint developer Rioja Estates created at Malmö Designer Village when it comes to sustainability, brands and customer experience.

ACQUISITIONS AND OPERATIONAL IMPROVEMENTS FUEL OUTSTANDING RESULTS FOR NEPI ROCKCASTLE IN Q1

NEPI Rockcastle achieved a robust 12.6% increase in net operating income to 152 million euros in the first quarter (Q1) 2025 versus Q1 2024, driven mainly by the two large acquisitions in Poland in the second half of 2024 as well as several active asset management initiatives on existing portfolio.

FOOD & BEVERAGE / LEISURE

LATEST TRENDS

New ‘food hall of the future’ at Potsdamer Platz in Berlin

Brookfield Properties has concluded a strategic deal with Manifesto Market to join the redesigned Potsdamer Platz in Berlin. Both were supported by ECE Marketplaces. Manifesto will operate a flagship food hub of 4,400 sq m.

Liverpool ONE welcomes coffee operator bean as permanent tenant

The retail-led, mixed-use complex in Liverpool’s city center has added the coffee operator Bean. The brand has opened a permanent space on Manesty’s Lane having relocated from its pop-up on South John Street.

Newly umdasch shopfitted Julius Meinl on Vienna’s Graben reopened

After several months of renovation work, the traditional Viennese gourmet food store Julius Meinl on the prestigious Graben in Vienna presents itself in new light in the middle of the exclusive pedestrian zone.

Dining and working in the sky? Views beyond the crisis.

In a critical period for HoReCa, office or mixed-use projects, recent investments are adding new flavors and attractive or innovative functions to revive the pulse in key submarkets of Bucharest. Can dining or working with sky views make flexible working or meetings more appealing?

PROPTECH

RETAIL TECHNOLOGY

The Future Began Yesterday

The technological challenges that brick-and-mortar retail faces – a deliberately critical scenario.

Always at your service!

Shopping centers gain their competitive edge with innovative support options that bind customers to them and motivates these customers to return.

“Every decision maker in the industry is interested in speaking with us”

The Norwegian Boostcom Group is a world-leading PropTech supplier for shopping centers. In an interview with ACROSS, CEO Peter Tonstad explains how he manages to reach up to 80% of mall visitors.

Everyone Needs to Be Aware of What is Happening, When, and Why

Dutch company Chainels’ platform provides the tools that are necessary to reach and engage mall stakeholders.

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