The concept of what constitutes a good “brand” is not always clear in a retail context, let alone within the shopping center world. It is tempting, and indeed quite common, simply to refer to a brand by name – the world’s great brands such as Apple, Coca-Cola, Louis Vuitton etc. are instantly recognized by name. But what’s in a name and what makes a great brand?
As the retail and shopping center climate continues to heat up across Europe and ongoing investment strongly suggests that the future looks promising, it is vital that we remain clear on what it is that really drives our market: the people within it.
NEPI Rockcastle NV, Europe’s third largest listed retail real estate company by portfolio value, has appointed Marius Barbu as Chief Operating Officer (COO) with effect from 1st April 2026, to succeed Marek Noetzel, current COO and CEO-designate.
John Hadden, CEO of Alshaya Group and long-time resident Will Odwarka know how to do business in Dubai. At the ACROSS Study Tour they explained, what they say retailers really need to understand.
Will Odwarka and Jonathan Doughty are back with a new episode of their “F&B Insights” in the ACROSS DISCUSS series. This time they highlight a decisive shift in how restaurant operators, landlords, and developers must work together in a rapidly changing market.
Patron Capital, a leading pan-European institutional investor, and Mindston Capital, a French asset management company, announce the completion of the acquisition of Nailloux Outlet Village, the only outlet centre in the south-western quarter of France and a strategic shopping destination located between Toulouse and Carcassonne.
Union Investment announced the profitable sales of Palladium shopping center in Prague, a landmark asset acquired for the UniImmo: Deutschland fund in 2015. The buyer is the largest real estate fund of REICO Erste Asset Management, making the transaction the largest commercial property deal ever recorded in the Czech market.
NEPI Rockcastle NV, Europe’s third largest listed retail real estate company by portfolio value, reports strong operational resilience across the portfolio which supported continued growth through the third quarter (Q3) of 2025.
CC Real’s transformation of ITIS recognised with two awards – the flagship retail destination in East Helsinki has been honoured for excellence in customer experience and strategic repositioning.
One of Europe’s most significant privately owned real estate companies, Redevco is strengthening its retail real estate arm by acquiring the 10,000 sqm large Vimbuch Center in Bühl, Germany. The retail destination is now revitalized and fully leased to REWE, Penny, Rossman and 11 other tenants for long-term.
ECE wins the contract for the management, further development, and repositioning of another shopping center in Turkey: the Adapalm Shopping Center in Adana.
Will Odwarka and Jonathan Doughty make one thing unmistakably clear: data is no longer a support tool in Europe’s F&B sector but the engine running the whole machine.
Shopping centers are more than just places to shop – they are lively marketplaces that help shape the life and atmosphere of both city centers and district centers with their diverse mix of industries and tenants and their wide range of services. Here are some prime examples from ECE’s center portfolio for that.
A €5 million investment in Austria’s largest indoor fun park strengthens the repositioning of Center West Graz as a leading leisure and entertainment destination.
Commercial advantage belongs to those who move with insight, not instinct: As much of Europe’s real estate market cools, the Nordics are bucking the trend, driving growth not through location alone, but by redefining value around experience, insight, and resilience. A new framework, the “Modern CRE Algorithm”, shows how smartly designed tenant experiences and data-driven intelligence are turning properties into thriving ecosystems.
What if your shopping center could predict which tenant would fail three months before they knew it themselves? What if empty walls and busy corridors could generate as much revenue as the stores beside them? What if finding the perfect pop-up tenant took minutes instead of months?
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.
Transformation in lieu of new construction: Marco Gösling, Managing Director Business Unit Construction Solutions at umdasch The Store Makers, provides insight into the growing significance of general contracting, the challenges associated with renovating existing buildings, and why sustainability is no longer merely a trend. Projects such as the ”Kämmerei” in Düsseldorf and ”Le big TamTam” in Hamburg demonstrate how technical expertise, environmental awareness, and architectural quality go hand in hand.
MEC’s new Business & Project Development department underscores its commitment to the future of retail real estate. Instead of pure administration, the focus is now on holistic location development – strategic, practical, and market-oriented. Head of the unit, Jörg Wege, explains how vision meets everyday business, why hands-on expertise matters, and how this drives MEC’s growth.
Starting in January 2026, IPH Group will assume responsibility for center management at City-Center Bergedorf in Hamburg. The mandate from Principal Asset Management also covers commercial and technical property management, in addition to leasing, which IPH has handled since March 2025.
“When the tenant thrives, the asset survives” is an old saying in retail real estate leasing management. But survival is only the baseline – the ambition must go further. Not just to “survive” – the asset should “fly.” But what will it take in 2025 for an asset to take off? For this cover story, 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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