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Christine Hager has been appointed to the management board of Sierra Germany GmbH with immediate effect, succeeding Jorge Morgadinho. A seasoned executive and real estate expert, Hager has been part of the leadership team since Sonae Sierra took over the property management division in 2022, and she reports directly to the executive board of Sonae Sierra in Portugal.

MEC, a leading specialist in the management of retail properties, remains on its growth trajectory in the first half of 2025. The company signed a total of 124 new and renewed lease agreements across its portfolio, covering approximately 74,000 sq m of retail space. A standout success story is the Halle Center Peißen, where MEC has demonstrated its comprehensive management and implementation capabilities.

Austria’s largest shopping center operator, SES Spar European Shopping Centers, has taken a close look at the satisfaction of its retail, gastronomy, and service partners. The results of a new survey show high marks across the board, especially for local center management and the company’s strong image.

Hospitality Collection (RHC) is the key anchor tenant for the exclusive fine dining and bar offering at the waterfront of the urban quarter. Together with Unibail-Rodamco-Westfield (URW), interior fittings for the two future food & beverage and event hotspots have started. The South American restaurant ‘Elemente’, which was specially designed for the location, and the rooftop venue ‘Air Bar 13’ will bring cosmopolitan appeal directly to the river Elbe. The concepts are scheduled to open in the first quarter of 2026.

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.

The retail world is undergoing radical realignment. Discounters thrive through efficiency. Luxury brands shine with immersive storytelling. In between, the middle market is eroding. Locations that don’t tell a compelling story are losing relevance. MK Illumination sees this polarization not as a crisis, but as a creative opportunity. Where emotion enters the equation, value returns – and light is the most powerful medium for creating that emotional connection.

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.

Opened at the beginning of April, the new 1,100 sq m Smartseller store offers travellers an innovative duty-free shopping experience combined with high-quality food and beverage offerings and a sense of regional identity. The Store Makers at umdasch took on the entire project management for the store construction and ensured a smooth and high-quality implementation with the delivery and installation of furniture, light sculptures and catering elements.

Retail is no longer defined by the mid-market segment. Across the globe, a growing divide is reshaping the sector: Luxury brands are thriving on exclusivity and immersive experiences, while discount retailers are rapidly expanding through pricing power and operational scale. Mid-market players – the dependable heart of shopping centers – are being squeezed out, explains Yurdaer Kahraman, CEO and Board Member of Fiba Commercial Properties.

From the rummage table to the feel-good factor: Discount concepts are no longer stigmatized, and luxury concepts are booming. That’s not to say that mid-range concepts are disappearing, but if you want to survive somewhere between the two poles, you’d better deliver. In an interview with ACROSS, Olaf Ley, CEO of Germany Retail at Eurofund, describes the most important changes in consumer behavior in recent years and provides insight into the developments concerning the Rhein-Ruhr Zentrum (RRZ) in Mülheim, Germany, as well as Eurofund’s expansion plans.

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.

Travel retail is an industry in transition, driven by a resurgence in travel activity, new consumer expectations, technological innovations, and a growing demand for sustainable concepts. Michael Ripfl, Sales Director for Nordics & Travel Retail at umdasch The Store Makers, provides an in-depth insight into current developments, long-term trends, and specific project examples. It becomes clear that what once began as the “sale of spirits and tobacco” has now evolved into a complex interplay of retailtainment, locality, and an innovative customer approach.

When international retailers scout new markets, SES Spar European Shopping Centers is often their first port of call. The latest market entries – including KIKO Milano and Fashion&Friends in Slovenia, and the global debut of HIGGINS in Vienna – confirm SES’s position as a launchpad for brands with global appeal. With high foot traffic, premium locations, and standout architecture, SES centers continue to attract major players in retail looking to make a strong first impression.

A radical transformation: As traditional retail declines and department stores shutter, cities are reimagining these spaces as vibrant hubs of leisure, culture, and community. From immersive entertainment in London to rooftop farms in Antwerp, this shift reflects more than just changing consumer habits – it’s reshaping urban life itself, explains Herman Kok, Associate Partner at DISCvision. Discover how tomorrow’s cities are turning shopping into experience, and malls into modern agoras.

In a market flooded with mega malls and flashy upgrades, Mercator Center Belgrade is quietly setting a new standard. With a focus on community relevance, practical offerings, and steady modernization, this urban retail hub proves that consistency, not spectacle, drives real success. Jovan Ćirić, Retail Leasing Director at MPC Properties, explains why this neighborhood favorite may be Belgrade’s most future-ready shopping center.

The demands placed on brick-and-mortar retailers have intensified significantly: Experiences, clear positioning, and top-quality levels are no longer optional, but mandatory. “Only those who provide a sense of clarity stand a chance of survival.” Christoph Andexlinger, CEO of SES Spar European Shopping Centers, speaks with ACROSS about the realignment of traditional shopping centers, the power of regional retailers, and why mid-range segment retailers will only have a future, if they are uncomprisingly clearly positioned.

EDGE certification is a key part of Kaufland’s bold plan to slash CO₂ emissions across its vast real estate portfolio. From triple glazing to heat recovery systems, Dominik Uhe, Head of Investor Relationship Management at Kaufland International describes how a data-driven approach is transforming Kaufland’s properties into models of green retail – and why Kaufland believes sustainability starts with the building itself.

Hamburg-based real estate developer HBB has once again been recognized as Germany’s top retail developer, receiving the prestigious European Real Estate Brand Award for the third year in a row. The accolade highlights HBB’s strength in innovation, sustainability, and brand resilience in a rapidly evolving market.

The winners of the 2025 Solal Marketing Awards were announced at an outstanding gala event at fashionable leisure venue Fabryka Norblina in Warsaw. The live event was the first celebration of the most effective and innovative marketing campaigns in the shopping center industry since the pandemic. A record-number of entries in eleven distinct categories were received, with finalists joining the event from countries right across Europe, Canada and South Africa.