Advertisement

opening

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.

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.

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.

FREY officially broke ground on Malmö Designer Village, a flagship retail destination set to become Scandinavia’s largest premium outlet shopping village upon its opening in 2027. The ceremonial groundbreaking event in Löddeköpinge, Kävlinge Municipality, brought together leaders from FREY, ROS Retail Outlet Shopping (part of the FREY Group), development and construction partners, and representatives of the local community.

Bulgaria’s high-performing retail market was highlighted at NEPI Rockcastle’s third Retailers Day held recently in Sofia. More than 150 representatives from leading international retailers and industry partners gathered for a full day of insightful presentations on the Group’s new greenfield shopping centre project to be developed in the city of Plovdiv, international retail trends and global macroeconomic perspectives.

With over 120 international and Polish fashion and lifestyle brands, a vibrant F&B offering and a prime urban location, Designer Outlet Kraków launched with a celebratory ceremony hosted by KG Group and ROS Retail Outlet Shopping—marking a significant milestone for premium outlet shopping in southern Poland.

Fashion chain ARKET, which is part of the H&M Group, is opening its first flagship store in Vienna on May 16, 2025. The opening of the first store also marks the brand’s entry to Austria.

Las Vegas welcomed its first two Aldi stores in the presence of a large number of expectant consumers, which shows the retailer’s success with its popular brand strategy in the local market. The debuting stores opened as part of Aldi’s 9 billion euro expansion strategy in the country.