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Münchner Handelsimmobilientag 2025: Spotlight on Polarization and the Future of Retail Real Estate, Munich, Germany /// November 11th

On November 11, 2025, Munich will once again become the hub of the retail real estate industry as the 16th Münchner Handelsimmobilientag (MHIT) opens its doors. Under the guiding theme “City. Space. Direction. How Polarization Shapes New Retail Formats and Locations”, the conference will gather leading experts, investors, and practitioners to debate the transformative forces reshaping Europe’s retail landscape.

credit: Sonae Sierra

Sonae Sierra signs agreement to acquire Unibail-Rodamco-Westfield’s German third party real estate management business

Sonae Sierra, a vertically integrated real estate company and a leading player in the European Shopping Center space, has signed an agreement with Unibail-Rodamco-Westfield to acquire its German business unit dedicated to the management of shopping centers for third parties – Unibail-Rodamco-Westfield Real Estate Management (“URW REM”). The transaction is subject to approval by the relevant competition authorities.

NEPI ROCKCASTLE ACHIEVES 12.1% GROWTH IN H1 NET OPERATING INCOME – PORTFOLIO SURPASSES €8BN FOR FIRST TIME IN COMPANY’S HISTORY

NEPI Rockcastle N.V., Europe’s third largest listed retail real estate company by portfolio value, achieved a 12.1% growth in NOI (net operating income) year-on-year in the first half (H1) of 2025 to €307 million as a result of the large acquisitions completed in 2024 and a continued improvement in the existing portfolio through active asset management, despite a challenging macroeconomic background.

credit: Expo Real

Expo Real Carves Out More Space for Retail Real Estate at New Hall B3

At the upcoming Expo Real 2025 in Munich (October 6–8), retail real estate takes center stage: a redesigned layout in Hall B3 promises better visibility and connectivity, while keynote addresses and panel talks—including a session on AI‑powered customer loyalty—underscore the industry’s forward-looking agenda.

credit: SES

New life for historic site: SES Breaks Ground on €28 Million S-PARK Varaždin Retail Development

Austria-based developer SES Spar European Shopping Centers has launched construction of its latest project in Croatia: a modern retail park on the historic former Varteks textile factory site in Varaždin. Scheduled to open in 2027, the €28 million investment will include the region’s first Interspar hypermarket, 12 shops, restaurants, and services across 11,500 square meters.

credit: FREY

FREY Group accelerates in Europe: Five Italian premium outlet villages join ROS Retail Outlet Shopping’s portfolio

French retail real estate group FREY has cemented its position among Europe’s top three outlet operators with a €410 million acquisition of three flagship shopping villages in Italy. Backed by a €650 million strategic partnership with Cale Street, the deal brings Franciacorta (Lombardy), Valdichiana (Tuscany), and Palmanova (near Trieste) under FREY’s umbrella, adding 90,000 sq m of retail space and 11 million annual visitors to its portfolio.

credit: Stratosferica

Urban Optimism in Action: The Utopian Hours Festival in Turin, October 17-19, 2025

ACROSS Magazine speaks with Giacomo Biraghi, co-founder of Stratosferica and one of the driving forces behind the Utopian Hours festival, a one-of-a-kind international gathering in Turin that reframes how cities are celebrated, studied, and shaped. In this interview, Biraghi discusses the ethos behind the event, its approach to urbanism, the evolving role of retail real estate, and how Turin is benefitting directly from this growing global platform.

credit: Alexa

POP MART Debuts First German Store at Berlin’s ALEXA

Berlin’s ALEXA shopping center has just become a paradise for collectible lovers as POP MART opens its very first German retail store, bringing coveted designer toys and exclusive limited editions to the heart of the capital.

credit: MEC

MEC Leases 74,000 sq m of Retail Space in First Half of 2025

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.

credit: NEINVER

NEINVER Appoints David Hernández as New Sustainability Manager

NEINVER, a leading European company in the development, investment, and management of outlet centres, has announced the appointment of David Hernández as its new Sustainability Manager. His appointment forms part of the company’s evolving ESG strategy – an essential pillar of its business model and a key driver of its decarbonisation roadmap.

credit: Balfin

BALFIN Group: Shaping the Future of Real Estate in the Western Balkans and Beyond

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.

credit: MK ILLUMINATION

BETWEEN DISCOUNT AND LUXURY: WHY RETAIL DESTINATIONS NOW DEPEND ON EMOTION – AND HOW LIGHT MAKES ALL THE DIFFERENCE

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.

credit: HyperIn

PEOPLE POWER: THE UNTAPPED ESG VALUE IN RETAIL REAL ESTATE

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.

credit: umdasch

A new dimension for travel, enjoyment and shopping: umdasch realises Smartseller store at Nuremberg Airport

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.

credit: Fiba

BEYOND THE MID-MARKET SEGMENT: HOW FIBA CP NAVIGATES THE GLOBAL RETAIL DIVIDE

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.

credit: Eurofund

GRADUAL CHANGE: THE NEW MID-RANGE BETWEEN LUXURY AND DISCOUNT CONCEPTS

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.

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Shaping Spaces: Top Placemaking Projects of 2025
Across the globe, developers and architects are reimagining what it means to create “retail space.” The projects featured in this special edition, selected by leading industry experts, represent more than just successful developments; they are blueprints for the future of how we live, shop, and connect.
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