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PROJECTS, TRENDS AND STRATEGIES

LATEST TRENDS IN ASSET AND CENTER MANAGEMENT

With malls, retail parks, hotels, and housing projects, BALFIN Group is setting new standards in Southeast Europe. In this interview, Vice President Csaba Toth outlines the expansion from the Balkans to Western markets and explains why digital innovation and an integrated approach make BALFIN a prime partner for investors and brands.

The huma shopping center in Sankt Augustin is a unique development in the German retail sector: An established center has been successfully combined with a fully-fledged outlet area for the first time. ACROSS spoke with Dr. Maximilian Gutsche, Managing Director of the Jost Hurler Group, and Lars Jähnichen, Managing Director of the IPH Group, about the background, implementation, and market success of this model, as well as how it could be replicated elsewhere.

DEVELOPMENTS AND TRENDS IN THE OUTLET INDUSTRY

In a retail landscape shaped by converging pressures – shifting consumer habits, selective brands, ESG demands, and digital integration – outlet centers are evolving from simple points of sale to strategic brand platforms. NEINVER CEO Daniel Losantos explains why tenant success is now the ultimate asset advantage and how a data-led, experience-driven approach can turn complexity into lasting performance.

With a growing list of premium brands already in legal discussions, Grantham Designer Outlet Village continues to gather momentum ahead of its scheduled opening in 2028. The 164 million Euro project, led by outlet specialists Rioja Estates and its partner, Buckminster Estates, will be located on a new purpose-built junction directly off the A1, the third busiest road in the UK. With 750 m of frontage to the A1 it will be directly visible to more than 17 million passing vehicles every year making it one of the best outlet locations in the UK.

STRATEGIES OF RETAILERS

LATEST TRENDS

As the retail landscape continues to evolve, convenience is emerging as the key driver of success. Shoppers are increasingly drawn to brands that make buying products a quick and effortless experience, whether online or in-store. GlobalData’s latest research highlights which retailers are likely to gain the most in 2025

Internationally renowned top chef Thomas Bühner is opening a new dining concept at Westfield Hamburg-Überseequartier – right on the waterfront with a view of the river Elbe. Unlike his restaurants in Düsseldorf and Taipei, the focus in Hamburg is not on fine dining, but on a modern, cosmopolitan all-day dining and bar experience that emphasizes accessibility and joie de vivre.
With this step, Bühner is consciously opening a new chapter – straightforward, inspiring and with international spirit. The opening is planned for the first half of 2026. Further details on the concept will follow – but one thing is already clear: Hamburg can look forward to a new culinary narrative.

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.

After just 15 months, the optimistic venture of Le Big TamTam in the Hanseviertel Hamburg, Germany, has come to an abrupt halt. The food court, launched in July 2024 with the promise of transforming a neglected basement rotunda into a vibrant gastronomic destination, is now closed, at least temporarily, as the management reassesses the concept.

RETAIL TECHNOLOGY

ESG is everywhere in commercial real estate – on investor slides, in procurement tenders, in board-level commitments. However, while the environmental and governance pillars are well-institutionalized, the social side often remains vague, difficult to quantify, and harder to activate. That gap caught my attention, states Jean Carlos Delgado, Brand and Marketing Director, HyperIn Inc.

Market analysts show that retail is becoming increasingly polarized: Consumers are shifting toward either high-end experiences or low-cost purchases, leaving mid-market retailers struggling. This divide affects both retailers and locations — with vibrant city hubs thriving while smaller towns face challenges.

PLANS OF INVESTORS AND OWNERS

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.

BIG CEE has signed a financing agreement with the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD) worth 100 million euros. BIG CEE will use the funds for its development in the Balkans to build three new retail parks in Serbia, further expanding its network. In addition, part of the funds will be allocated to refinancing two existing retail parks.

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