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Expansion

Regio Data’s annual retail chain expansion analysis brings Austria as an example, revealing that store networks are hardly growing any more, with retreat and consolidation dominating instead. Of the 732 retail chains from 24 sectors analyzed, many are putting on the brakes, and this trend is largely prevalent across the whole of Europe. However, there are also companies that are keen to expand. Online retailers and non-food discounters are squeezing out specialized retailers – with noticeable consequences for the retail landscape.

Owned and managed by VIA Outlets, Sevilla Fashion Outlet is not only an outstanding retail destination within Spain, but all over Europe. The remodelling of the outlet center that was finished at the end of 2023 has contributed to a large increase in visitor numbers and brand sales at the location, and continues to inspire the industry, as can be seen by its position as a finalist for ‘Best Refurbishment and Expansion Project’ at the 2024 MAPIC Awards.

Despite challenging conditions and rising costs, MK Illumination closed out 2024 with projected revenues of 168 million euros, up by 3 million against the previous year, and plans further expansion on three continents in 2025.

With the expansion of the Gebr. Heinemann Duty Free Shop in Terminal 1 of Vienna Airport, umdasch The Store Makers is once again setting new standards in travel retail. The shop, which opened in September, offers travellers not only a larger selection of products, but also a unique shopping experience that meets the highest demands in terms of aesthetics and functionality – and all this on a total area of around 2,000 sq m.

VIA Outlets enters the final weeks of 2024 at the MAPIC trade show in Cannes with leasing demand remaining strong and a slate of major expansion and refurbishment projects gathering pace. The major extension of VIA Outlets’ Sevilla Fashion Outlet in southern Spain, which opened towards the end of last year, also qualified as a finalist in the ‘Best Refurbishment and Expansion Project’ category of the prestigious MAPIC Awards 2024, among a field of 154 applications.

Tedi has been present in Belgium since last year, and now the non-food discounter is significantly expanding the number of its stores in the country through an insolvent fashion retailer.

Søstrene Grene is continuing its expansion in Germany with another branch opening in Augsburg on July 26. According to the company, more than 80 stores are to be in operation in Germany by the end of the month.

Gymshark is looking to open more stores globally as its first physical store on Regent Street in London has exceeded expectations and its second store at Westfield Stratford has just been opened.

Since opening in 2016, Avion has grown to become one of northern Sweden’s most popular destinations for retail, leisure, and food experiences. Now, the next step is being taken when Ingka Centres begins the first phase of the expansion of Avion Shopping. As Umeå grows, the meeting place will be expanded by 12,000 sqm with the goal of continuing to be a vibrant local meeting place with positive experiences in focus. The project is estimated to cost approximately 31 million euros and will be completed in autumn 2025.