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Search Results for: european retail – Page 16

How retail technology and increasing digitalization are changing retail and the shopping center industry.

According to Stephan Austrup, Head of Retail in Germany at TH Real Estate, omni-channeling and digitalization are key drivers of change. In all acquisitions and in business plans for existing portfolios, he therefore considers the impact of this change on retail formats, retailers’ required floor plans, and whether the property provides the necessary layout flexibility.

According to a recent report by Cushman & Wakefield, the sales area of European retail parks will increase by 50% more in 2016 than in the previous year. This growth is due mainly to developments in France, Italy, and the UK.

Since McDonald’s opened its first UK restaurant in Woolwich in 1974, Europe has had a taste for all things American, fueled in part by the exposure we have to US brands on film or TV. The enthusiasm and success rate for US retailers expanding into Europe is mixed, however.

Digital technology, compelling customer experiences and the right leisure and dining opportunities lie at the heart of intu’s strategy to create the best and most relevant shopping destinations for retailers and consumers.

Unsurprisingly, project development in the country has been interrupted. But in Kiev alone, about 20 malls with around 1 million sq m of GLA are currently at various stages of completion, possibly opening in 2017-2018, according to UTG.

Amsterdam The Style Outlets plans to open its doors in 2017. With this project, Neinver takes a further important step in its growth strategy in the outlet sector.

Henrike Waldburg, Head of Investment Management Shopping Center at Union Investment Real Estate GmbH, tells ACROSS about her most recent coup, the acquisition of the shopping center “Palladium” in Prague and why acquisitions are currently easy to finance.

Hammerson and its partners in VIA Outlets, APG, Meyer Bergman, and Value Retail, have acquired three further centers for their newly created venture established to take advantage of further growth in the European outlet sector. Purchased from The Carlyle Group, the Freeport Portfolio of outlets includes Alcochete in Portugal, Kungsbacka in Sweden, and Excalibur in the Czech Republic.

Retail warehousing in Europe has evolved rapidly as a trading format over the last 30+ years and now accounts for a significant share of both retail floor space and sales volumes. Although retail warehouses were initially developed to service the needs of “bulky goods” retailers, the attraction to shoppers of easy access and convenient free parking soon registered with other retailer groups. Increasingly, fashion, footwear, sports, and household goods retailers have committed to out-of-town formats where planning conditions permit.

The quality of the retail offer presented by a shopping center is the route to leveraging customer preference. It is therefore key to retailer success. The art of leasing is central to our business.

Cushman & Wakefield’s new ‘Main Streets Across the World’ report places London’s New Bond Street at the top of the global ranking – ahead of Milan’s Via Montenapoleone and New York’s Fifth Avenue. The report also confirms broad-based resurgence of Europe’s prime shopping miles.

In the retail real estate sector, bold moves are reshaping the European landscape. Recent landmark transactions, including FREY/ROS, Sonae Sierra, and Unibail-Rodamco-Westfield, signal the start of a new investment cycle. At the same time, several companies are embarking on remarkable expansion journeys, positioning themselves for long-term growth. In this interview, Steffen Hofmann, Managing Partner at ambas, explains why now is the right moment to “think big”, what drives corporate M&A strategies in retail, and how these shifts are redefining market opportunities across Europe.

Designer outlet shopping is no longer considered a niche retail format. It has become a resilient growth story within the global retail real estate sector. Combining premium brands with guaranteed year-round value – outlets typically offer 30–70% savings on merchandise – drawing in shoppers who are increasingly value-conscious but still aspire to purchase luxury and lifestyle labels.

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.

With a dynamic mix of shopping malls, retail parks, hotels, and residential developments, BALFIN Group is setting new benchmarks for real estate in Southeast Europe. In this exclusive interview, the company’s Vice President of Real Estate Asset Management, Csaba Toth, outlines BALFIN’s growth strategy, from expanding its footprint across the Balkans to entering mature Western markets. He explains how the group is redefining retail, embracing digital innovation, and why its integrated approach makes BALFIN a one-stop gateway for international investors and retail brands eyeing this fast-growing region.