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Retail in Europe is anything but straightforward. Highly saturated Western markets coexist with faster-growing economies in Central, Eastern and South-Eastern Europe, each following its own trajectory. Eurostat data reveal sharply diverging retail trade volume trends, suggesting significantly different growth paths across regions in 2026.

European shopping centers are undergoing a profound transformation. As demographic change, urban lifestyles, and the rise of preventative health converge, fitness, healthcare, and wellness uses are emerging as powerful anchors for retail destinations. A new report by CBRE shows that they are far from being niche add-ons.

Liliya Shaykhutdinova analyses how leading Asian vertical malls successfully drive footfall across multiple levels, and explores which of these principles can inspire European multi-storey malls.

Download our 110-page Online Special and discover the stories, trends, and data driving the next chapter of placemaking.

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.

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

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

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

Sep 24, 2025

New leader on the Spanish Grocery Scene: Mercadona soars

Sep 24, 2025

IPH Group to Take Over Center Management for City-Center Bergedorf in Hamburg

Sep 24, 2025

EDEKA achieves title “Best Food Retailer” in Germany in 2025

Sep 23, 2025

Rituals celebrating world-wide success and the opening of 1400th store

Sep 23, 2025

BIG Čačak by BIG CEE officially opened its Doors

Sep 22, 2025

LATEST ISSUE

PROJECTS, TRENDS AND STRATEGIES

Redevelopment of Westland Shopping Center at the Finish Line

AG Real Estate is on the verge of completing the extensive renovation and extension works it started in 2019 in Westland Shopping Center in Anderlecht (Belgium). The program includes the arrival of a large department store and a number of new retailers, the expansion of the Food & Beverage offer, and the creation of a leisure center of over 4,000 sq m.

First Outlet in Brussels is planned for 2023

TORG International will collaborate with Start Concept on leasing the first outlet in Brussels. Construction of the entire project is well advanced with an opening planned for late 2023.

Tbilisi Outlet Village in Georgia is set to open in spring 2023

Since the groundbreaking celebration in September 2021, construction of the 12,500 sq m phase 1 of Tbilisi Outlet Village has well progressed. The opening is now set for spring 2023.

Supersam Shopping Center in Poland gets transformed

Supersam, a shopping destination and office building in the city center of Katowice (Poland), is undergoing a transformation. The mixed-use property will be modernized and expanded.

MANAGEMENT

LATEST TRENDS IN ASSET AND CENTER MANAGEMENT

Gerald Kremer To Join The Management Board Of Union Investment Real Estate GmbH on April 1, 2024

Subject to the approval of the Federal Financial Supervisory Authority (BaFin), Gerald Kremer has been appointed as a new member of the Management Board of Union Investment Real Estate GmbH with effect from 1 April 2024.

Successful Year 2023 For Unibail-Rodamco-Westfield In The German And Austrian Region – The Company’s Leasing Strategy Continues To Work Out To The Full

Unibail-Rodamco-Westfield (URW) currently operates 21 assets in the German and Austrian region: 19 in Germany, eight of which are in the Group’s own portfolio, and two in Austria. Last year, a total of 714 rental contracts were closed for these 21 assets. The average vacancy rate for the core locations in the portfolio around Westfield Centro in Oberhausen, Ruhr Park in Bochum, as well as Westfield Shopping City Süd in Vösendorf in Greater Vienna and Westfield Donau Zentrum in Vienna, is less than two percent.

NEINVER appoints Isabel Coloigner Head of Leasing for Germany, France and the Netherlands

NEINVER has appointed Isabel Coloigner as Head of Leasing for the German, French and Dutch markets, a role that will see her continue to report directly to Joan Rouras, the Group’s Leasing and Retail Director.

ECE Takes Over Management For Another Shopping Center In Türkiye

ECE Marketplaces is expanding its management portfolio in Türkiye by another shopping center and is taking over the management of “Agaoglu Cekmeköy Park” in Istanbul with its national company ECE Türkiye.

OUTLETS

DEVELOPMENTS AND TRENDS IN THE OUTLET INDUSTRY

TORG International joins forces with Village Groupe to enter Indian outlet retail space

TORG International has signed a joint venture with Village Groupe to enter the Indian outlet market with a portfolio of a dozen sites.

La Torre Outlet Zaragoza in Spain celebrates its first anniversary

La Torre Outlet Zaragoza celebrated one year open to the public and to commemorate the special date, numerous activities and musical shows were announced that will take place until November 6.

Neinver achieves 5 Star Rating in 2021 GRESB Benchmark

Neinver is finalizing a new and ambitious environmental, social and governance roadmap for 2030 and ranks once again among the top 20% of the real estate industry.

VIA Outlets Rebrands Toward Digital Transformation

VIA Outlets, which owns 11 centers in nine countries, has recently celebrated the unveiling of its new corporate branding following an extensive rebranding undertaking.

RETAIL

STRATEGIES OF RETAILERS

FIVE TRAVEL RETAIL TRENDS SHAPING TOMORROW’S AIRPORTS

By 2035, Gen Y will account for the largest share of global spending on air travel, which is why travel retail must do everything it can to remain relevant to this target group. Millennials’ demand for experiences is also shaping their purchasing and travel behavior, forcing retailers to rethink their store design and marketing strategies. Together with the subsequent Gen Z – whose values are guided by topics such as digitalization, authenticity and sustainability – these generations are not only influencing retail in general, but also the concept of the airport of tomorrow.

The Largest KARL LAGERFELD Store in Poland Opens at Designer Outlet Warszawa

KARL LAGERFELD reopens at Designer Outlet Warszawa with one of its biggest outlet stores in Europe.

JYSK Enters Africa With First Opening In Morocco

JYSK opened the first two stores in Casablanca, Morocco. The opening not only establishes JYSK’s presence in Africa but also marks a significant milestone as the company expands into its 50th country.

NEINVER Brings New brands And Expanded Stores To Its Polish Portfolio

FACTORY outlet centers across Poland, operated by NEINVER, are gaining momentum with new store openings and significant expansions from long-standing retail partners. The latest updates to the brand portfolio, totaling nearly 2,200 sq m of added retail space, underscore outlet retail’s growing appeal and NEINVER’s commitment to supporting brand growth.

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THE LATEST PLACEMAKING NEWS

LATEST ISSUE

PROJECTS, TRENDS AND STRATEGIES

LATEST TRENDS IN ASSET AND CENTER MANAGEMENT

DEVELOPMENTS AND TRENDS IN THE OUTLET INDUSTRY

STRATEGIES OF RETAILERS

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