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Credit: Messe Düsseldorf / C. Tillmann

Review of EuroCIS 2025: the most exciting innovations

This year’s EuroCIS focused on artificial intelligence, seamless check-out, and smart technologies. The presented solutions impressively showed how the retail industry will be positioned in the future. Generative AI enables more efficient processes, while automated checkout systems and digital shopping carts transform the shopping experience. Here, we present the most exciting approaches.

credit: Kaufland

TOP RULE OF KAUFLAND EXPANSION: THE QUALITY OF THE LOCATION IS DECISIVE

Kaufland’s success story is characterized by the balance between the advantages of standardization within a large group and regional integration. In an interview with ACROSS, Michael Hiese, Chief Real Estate Officer at Kaufland International, discusses the company’s growth strategy, his optimistic outlook, why location is more important than asset class, and what makes a Kaufland store truly distinctive.

credit: Kaufland

SHAPING THE FUTURE: HOW KAUFLAND IS DRIVING THE PROPERTY MARKET FORWARD WITH FLEXIBILITY AND PARTNERSHIP

Inflation, geopolitical crises, and a weakening economy have dominated the European markets for the past two years. While EU economic growth slightly increased in 2024, Germany, the largest economy, recorded a marginal decline. Despite persistent economic challenges, there are signs of cautious optimism: Slightly higher growth is expected in the EU in 2025, with strong momentum from the CEE and SEE regions, where countries such as Poland and Croatia are expected to achieve strong growth.

Sevilla Fashion Outlet, Spain. /// credit: ACROSS, VIA Outlets

Place Of The Week: Sevilla Fashion Outlet

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.

Rinascente department store, Florence, Italy. /// credit: ACROSS, Rinascente

Rinascente, “The Store of Craft” In Florence, Italy

With its history stretching back to the late 1800s, today, Rinascente has a collection of nine prestigious stores in Italy, occupying large historical buildings in the heart of the main cities. They are real references for the city and for an exclusive shopping experience. The brand’s store in Florence is a unique highlight among the nine stores, especially following its remodelling in recent years.

Credit: WESTFIELD SHOPPING CITY SÜD

Westfield Shopping City Süd, Austria: At Its Best, a Shopping Center Is People’s First Port of Call

Westfield Shopping City Süd has a clear mission: The center, located on the border of the Austrian capital of Vienna, will continue to be transformed into a true destination that expands its expertise in terms of brands, gastronomy, and entertainment while striving for the highest sustainability goals. Zsolt Juhasz, General Manager of Westfield Shopping City Süd, and his team have recently taken significant steps. At the same time, however, they still see potential for development, particularly in the area of service. In an interview with ACROSS, he explains how modern shopping center development can work successfully and why the most critical task will be to attract customers to centers in the first place.

credit: NextRivet

Data Sharing Begins with the Right Mindset

Data exchange in the shopping center industry is still in its infancy, states David Blumenfeld, Co-founder of NextRivet. While the benefits of data sharing between landlords and tenants are obvious, retailers are not enthusiastic about giving their landlords more insight into their business. For efficient data sharing, an honest and good lease relationship is essential. In this interview, Blumenfeld explains why data sharing is so important, but it requires a change in collaboration. Landlords are in the driving seat when it comes to data sharing. They have to prove the value of the data before demanding anything in return. The value of data is always the driving force.

credit: MALLCOMM

DATA SHARING – PUTTING COMMUNITY FRONT AND CENTER

“First, ask why!” That is the most important piece of advice that Mark Bruce, Data & Insights Director at Kinexio — formerly Mallcomm — can give. As data begins to redefine the retail experience, a key question that we must ask ourselves is: “Why should we share data?”. To many the idea of sharing data is clouded with questions around how it will be used, and what the implications will be. However, as businesses shape and implement their data strategies, there is a real opportunity to use data for good, especially in the landlord-tenant relationship and in order to maximize ROI.

credit: Coniq

Data Sharing = Data Caring?

In today’s digital age, with AI advancing at an unstoppable pace, consumers are becoming increasingly aware of both the incredible power and the significant risks of sharing their data with businesses. As a global leader in CRM and loyalty solutions, Ben Chesser has seen, firsthand, the profound impact data sharing can have – not only on businesses but on customers as well.

credit: ROS Retail Outlet Shopping

HOW DATA DRIVES OUTLET CENTER PERFORMANCE

In today’s fast-paced retail landscape, data is no longer just a luxury – it’s the foundation for staying competitive and future-ready. At ROS Retail Outlet Shopping, we understand that success isn’t just about collecting data; it’s about how we use that data to address challenges, boost performance, and spark growth.

credit: MPC Properties

DIGITAL TRANSFORMATION IN RETAIL: HOW WILL TRADITIONAL STORES REMAIN RELEVANT?

Opportunities for mutual growth and improvement are made possible by data sharing with tenants at shopping centers or multi-retailer locations, states Uroš Blagojević, Property Management Director at MPC Properties. Retailers and their tenants can synchronize strategies and develop complementary offers by sharing insights, such as aggregate customer demographics, peak shopping times, and purchase trends.

credit: HyperIn

DATA SHARING – THE CURRENCY OF TRUST IN COMMERCIAL REAL ESTATE

Shopping centers have evolved beyond physical spaces into dynamic digital ecosystems where every interaction generates valuable insights. The challenge isn’t just collecting data—it’s about using it responsibly to drive tenant success, states Jean Carlos Delgado, the Brand and Marketing Director of HyperIn. In this guest article, he explains the benefits and conditions of data sharing on the B2B and B2C levels and why trust is most important in all aspects.

“RETAIL REAL ESTATE WILL REMAIN A SIGNIFICANT PORTFOLIO COMPONENT OF FINANCIAL INVESTORS”

Retail real estate is back on the menu and continues to qualify as a significant portfolio component in the portfolios of institutional real estate investors, says Steffen Hofmann, Managing Partner at ambas. Even very large assets have proven eligible for transactions in the challenging investment market environment. Therefore, he is rather optimistic about the upcoming months. In this interview, he takes a look at the 2025 investment market.

“THERE IS A VIABLE SOLUTION FOR EVERY PROPERTY”

In an interview with ACROSS, Joachim Stumpf, Managing Director of BBE Holding and IPH Handelsimmobilien, analyzes the role of retail real estate in light of the current economic and social situation. His conclusion: “Advancing polarization is a key issue when it comes to discussing what options we have to counter the transformation in retail. Against that backdrop, we also need to rethink retail and locations. Despite all of the challenges, good and individual types of use can be found for all properties – but getting there can be painful.”

Lighting decoration in Basel, Switzerland. /// credit: MK Illumination

MK Illumination Continues To Grow Despite Global Challenges

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.

Italie Deux shopping center, Paris, France. /// credit: Ingka Centres, ACROSS

Place Of The Week: Italie Deux

Italie Deux, acquired by Ingka Centres in 2023, is one of the largest retail-led mixed-use destinations in Paris, France. With its acquisition, Ingka Centres aims to create hotspot that serves as a new meeting place for the neighboring community.

credit: Inga Centres

Ingka Centres: Retail Is and Will Be the Core of What We Do!

“We are a growth-minded company,” states Vasco Santos, Global Sales & Leasing Director at Ingka Centres. The Scandinavian-rooted, globally active company operates in Europe, China, the US, and is establishing its presence in India. Its main goal is to create meeting places that go beyond shopping and provide real, meaningful value to the community. Despite the company’s success, especially in China, Santos expresses its continuous commitment and appetite for the European market but also stresses that the local market can learn a lot from international examples.

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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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