VIA Outlets, owner-operator of 11 premium fashion outlet centres across Europe, is proud to announce its exceptional results in the 2025 GRESB Real Estate Sustainability Benchmark report. Not only has the group reached its highest ever score of 98/100, but it also achieved a 5-Star rating for the sixth consecutive year and was placed 1st in the ‘European Retail’ category.
As cities across Europe grapple with the challenges of climate change, shifting consumer behavior, and evolving urban needs, Redevco is positioning itself at the forefront of sustainable transformation. In the DACH region, we are demonstrating how a dual focus on ESG-led redevelopment and strategic tenant diversification can future-proof real estate assets – creating long-term value for investors, tenants, and communities alike.
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.
Serbia’s first lifestyle retail park, BIG Čačak, is now officially welcoming customers with 45 new stores and 500 parking spaces, offering a unique experience that combines shopping, gastronomy, and leisure.
The share of private consumption allocated to retail – rather than savings, services, or leisure – continues to decline across the European Union. In 2024, this trend persisted for the third consecutive year, with EU citizens spending just 32.6 percent of their disposable income in retail. Croatia recorded the highest share, with nearly every second euro spent in retail. These insights come from a new, free study published today by NIQ Geomarketing, offering a comprehensive overview of retail trends across Europe.
Retail and tourism are merging, as malls transform into destinations where visitors seek experiences, not just products. From Dubai Mall to Mall of America, the world’s shopping centers are reinventing themselves with entertainment, digital services, and personalized journeys. With innovations like SmartGifty, even regional players such as BTC City Ljubljana are proving how digital gift cards, loyalty programs, and smart platforms can turn retail hubs into tourist magnets. The future of shopping is experiential, digital, and sustainable. And it’s already here.
The Vienna-based company CC Real is today among the most significant, albeit so far relatively low-profile, players in the European retail real estate market. In an interview with ACROSS, founders Fabian Kaufmann and Sven Vorih, describe the journey from their beginnings in Croatia to their current expansion strategies in Europe and Australia. The discussion covers experiences in times of crisis, strategic partnerships, refurbishment successes, and the question of why CC Real still firmly believes in the future of retail.
“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.
KiK is set to close up to 400 of almost 2,400 locations in Germany, following reviews that mapped out the economically underperforming areas. However, existing markets abroad and domestically will continue receiving investments.
Having worked with the company for 6 years, Or Ackerman will now as CEO of G City Europe. With his experience and esteemed qualifications such as CPA and MBA with specialization in financial management, Ackerman will oversee G City Europe’s next chapter on the Polish Market.
After just 15 months, the optimistic venture of Le Big TamTam in the Hanseviertel Hamburg, Germany, has come to an abrupt halt. The food court, launched in July 2024 with the promise of transforming a neglected basement rotunda into a vibrant gastronomic destination, is now closed, at least temporarily, as the management reassesses the concept.
Urban Outfitters has opened a new 745 sq m store in Metrocentre’s Red Mall, joining Zara, Mango, and Stradivarius after a record-breaking summer for fashion sales. The latest addition reinforces the centre’s status as the North East’s go-to destination for global brands.
BIG CEE will officially open Serbia’s first lifestyle retail park – BIG Čačak – on September 18. Covering 16,500 sq m and representing an investment of €25 million, the project introduces a diverse mix of well-known domestic and international brands, along with leisure and entertainment facilities designed for all generations.
In 2025, after more than a quarter of a century of dedicated service to Europe’s retail real estate community, the European Shopping Places Trust (ESPT) will close its books. For the professionals, students, researchers, and industry leaders touched by its work, this moment is less an ending than a milestone. This is a chance to reflect on what has been achieved and the legacy that will endure.
VIA Outlets has appointed Marianne Wesselo as the new Regional Business Director (RBD) for its Central Region, responsible for overseeing Batavia Stad Fashion Outlet (the Netherlands), Landquart Fashion Outlet (Switzerland), and Zweibrücken Fashion Outlet (Germany). Marianne is part of the VIA Outlets’ Executive Leadership Team and reports directly to Johan Bergenthal, Chief Operating Officer.
RX France has announced the appointment of Nicolas Boffi as the new Director of MIPIM, the global urban festival. An engineer and urban planner by background, Boffi has over 20 years of experience in real estate and urban development, working across project management, business development and public affairs.
İnegöl Shopping Mall’s cultural and community-focused initiative, From Tradition to Future, has achieved global recognition, earning four Stevie Awards at the 22nd Annual International Business Awards. The project, developed and managed by Fiba Commercial Properties, received two Gold and two Silver awards, highlighting its impact on corporate responsibility and community engagement.
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 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.
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.
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.
The Sustainable Retail Index (SRI) Association, providing comprehensive insights on retailers’ sustainability, is gaining broader industry support.
The Sustainable Retail Index (SRI) Association, launched by URW and Ingka Centres in February 2026, has expanded its industry coalition with Sonae Sierra joining as a General Member and the Polish Council of Shopping Centres (PRCH) becoming a Partner. The additions bring the association’s membership to six organizations, including Ingka Centres, Unibail-Rodamco-Westfield, WWF France and […]
UK retail group Frasers Group has acquired the intellectual property of Scottish sports retailer Greaves Sports, according to a statement published by Greaves Sports.
Greaves Sports said its Glasgow flagship store on Gordon Street and online business will continue to operate under the existing brand. Customers were also informed that gift cards and loyalty points remain valid. Neither company disclosed financial details or outlined future plans for the business. The acquisition follows Frasers Group’s continued expansion across the UK […]
EXPO REAL is expanding its profile to include investable infrastructure. The event is also further developing its “Transform & Beyond” innovation platform.
EXPO REAL 2026 will expand its profile with the launch of InfrastructureNow, a new forum dedicated to investable infrastructure. The event, taking place in Munich from 5 to 7 October, will bring together the real estate and infrastructure sectors to discuss investment opportunities in energy, digital and social infrastructure, alongside financing models, partnerships and regulatory […]
The 14-year long partnership has once again been prolonged.
MK Illumination has renewed its partnership with RLI Connect Global for a fourteenth consecutive year and will once again serve as the event’s Official Networking Lounge Partner at the 2026 edition in Newcastle upon Tyne. Headquartered in Austria, MK Illumination develops lighting and experience concepts for retail, mixed-use, hospitality and public destinations. The company operates […]
Rents remained stable in most parts of Germany, Munich and Hamburg showed a strong momentum.
Rental levels for logistics properties in Germany remained largely stable during the first half of 2026, according to a new market analysis by REALOGIS. Across the 33 logistics markets surveyed, prime rents for new-build logistics space held steady at an average of €7.58/sqm/month, while minimum rents edged up by 0.3% to €6.40/sqm/month. Prime rents for […]
NEPI Rockcastle continues portfolio optimization with expansion in Poland.
NEPI Rockcastle is expanding Karolinka Shopping Center in Opole, Poland, with an 11,000 sqm extension that will add 30 new retail units, a new underground parking garage and a modernized façade. Construction is scheduled to begin later this autumn following the approval of building permits. The project will increase the center’s gross leasable area to […]
ECE signed approximately 1,250 lease contracts covering more than 350,000 sqm across its managed shopping center portfolio during the first half of 2026. In Germany alone, the company concluded around 850 lease agreements for more than 250,000 sqm of retail space. According to ECE, leasing activity was driven by continued expansion from established retail partners […]
Despite a complex macroeconomic and political landscape, the fundamentals of the Romanian retail market remain solid. This is reaffirmed by sustained developer appetite, the continued expansion of international brands, and the resilience of domestic consumption.
Romania’s real estate investment market recorded a transaction volume of €253 million in H1 2026, according to CBRE Romania. While overall investment declined 35% year on year, retail emerged as the dominant asset class in the second quarter, accounting for around 80% of the €102 million invested during the period. CBRE expects a strong recovery […]
The letting underlines momentum across Redevco’s £518m UK retail park portfolio, which is now 96% let.
Redevco’s Chelmer Village Retail Park in Chelmsford has been selected for Waitrose’s newest store, marking a significant milestone for both Waitrose and the scheme’s owner, Redevco and taking the park to fully let. The new store is Waitrose’s latest, comprising approximately 10,055 sq ft, including a 7,000 sq ft sales area, alongside two dedicated trolley […]
Vukile Property Fund, has entered the Italian market, acquiring an inaugural €115m portfolio of three shopping centers. It has established Esperia Properties as its new Italian holding company.
Vouth African retail real estate investor Vukile Property Fund has entered the Italian market with the acquisition of three shopping centers for €115 million, establishing Esperia Properties as its new investment platform for future growth in the country. The portfolio comprises Le Due Valli in Turin, Le Centurie in Padua and Quarto Nuovo in Naples. […]
AFI has finalized the €282 million purchase of six retail parks from MAS in Romania, forming the seven-asset AFI Value Park network with over 155,000 sqm of GLA.
AFI has completed the €282 million acquisition of six retail parks in Romania from MAS, marking the largest retail park transaction in the country’s history. The properties in Baia Mare, Bârlad, Ploiești, Roman, Sfântu Gheorghe, and Zalău will now operate under the newly launched AFI Value Park brand, joining AFI Value Park Arad, which opened […]
IPH Group leased a total of 47,000 square meters of retail space through new leases and renewals in the first half of 2026.
A total of 154 lease agreements were signed, roughly 60 percent of which were renewals. That marks a 26 percent increase in lease agreements compared to the first half of 2025. “The leasing market is proving considerably more stable than it was just a few years ago, despite ongoing macroeconomic uncertainty in Germany. At the […]
Rabanne announces the appointment of Olivier Rousteing as Creative Director, marking a significant new step in the Maison’s evolution.
Rooted in the pioneering vision of Paco Rabanne and strengthened by the Maison’s continued expansion across fashion and beauty, Olivier Rousteing’s arrival opens a new phase of creative development. Under his creative direction, Rabanne will continue to expand its universe, reinforcing the dialogue between fashion, beauty and innovation while remaining true to its spirit of […]
Poland’s H1 2026 investment market hit €3bn across 66 deals, the strongest in a decade. Retail led with 34% share, driven by major portfolio transactions including Posnania, Vendo Parks, and Auchan/Ceetrus deals.
By Paulina Brzeszkiewicz-Kuczyńska, Research and Data Manager at Avison Young The beginning of 2026 was highly encouraging, with H1 transaction volume aligning with the highest levels recorded in Poland in the past decade, with a total investment volume of €3 billion across 66 transactions. Each of the market sectors recorded deals exceeding €100 million, while […]
Victoria Leeds, the lifestyle destination owned and operated by Redical, announced that British premium steak restaurant, The Cut & Craft, completed the £1.5m expansion of its Leeds restaurant.
Leeds///UK – Located in Victoria Quarter, the historic district of Victoria Leeds, The Cut & Craft now spans 12,375 sq ft and includes the addition of two private dining rooms on the first floor, a new luxurious bar area, alongside a dedicated stage on the ground floor to cater to late-evening entertainment and live music. The reinvestment […]
Rituals Cosmetics will start one of Europe’s largest retail transformations in August, renewing 1,500 boutiques across 30 countries with an investment of €40 million.
Unique to this operation is the combination of scale and speed: instead of renewing the boutique concept in phases over several years, Rituals will elevate 1,500 boutiques in just 30 working days. The transformation coincides with the introduction of many new collections, which require a spacious, more premium presentation with furniture that reflects the renewed […]
Frasers Plus Braehead is entering a new phase of investment-led growth, with significant new leisure operators, major retailer refurbishment and continued enhancement activity reinforcing its position as one of Scotland’s leading retail and leisure destinations.
The momentum is anchored by the forthcoming arrival of international leisure operator SuperPark, set to open this Summer. The highly anticipated experiential attraction marks one of the destination’s most significant leisure investments in recent years and reflects the continued evolution of its family-focused and experience-led offer. The opening forms part of a wider program of […]
Prague’s Westfield Černý Most welcomes Douglas, Cropp, HEAVY TOOLS, YOYOSO, Fielmann, Bliss Flowers and Miramira as retail line-up continues to grow.
Westfield Černý Most in Prague has added several new brands to its tenant mix over the past few months, with Douglas, Cropp, HEAVY TOOLS, YOYOSO, Fielmann and Bliss Flowers opening stores at the centre, and Miramira joining most recently, according to operator Unibail-Rodamco-Westfield (URW). Among the openings, Douglas has introduced its newest store concept at […]
PUMA reshapes its leadership and business units for 2026, here’s what the numbers say about its reset strategy so far.
By Dora Pusztai The last few years riddled with economic hardships have been inevitably challenging for the retail sector as well. Such a climate pushes brands to revise their existing strategies or explore new directions, starting from scratch. The sports company PUMA has experienced their fair share of economic challenges in recent years, and therefore […]
lululemon has officially entered Romania through its franchise partnership with Arion Retail Group, marking the company’s fourth new market entry in 2026, with the opening of first Viennese store scheduled for this summer.
Located at Băneasa Shopping City, one of Bucharest’s leading retail and lifestyle destinations, the new store in Romania introduces local guests to the brand’s innovative athletic and lifestyle products. Opening day on June 5 featured a high-energy in-store experience, including a live DJ, gifting activations, and local brand partnerships. By mid-June 2026, there will be […]
The one-year agreement, signed on 5 June, covers the temporary letting of retail spaces and outdoor areas at properties across Poland.
The Nhood team in Poland continues to consistently expand its unique Specialty Leasing service portfolio for retail property owners, setting itself apart in the Polish market. In line with its international strategy, the company offers clients expert services based on an in-depth analysis of each location and its surroundings, and develops solutions that help property […]
Sports company PUMA has appointed experienced industry leader Marcia Dos Santos as Vice President BU Core, effective 15 July.
Marcia has more than 20 years of experience in the sports industry and joins PUMA from Nike, where she most recently served as Vice President Merchandising Women’s EMEA. In this newly created role, she will report directly to Chief Brand Officer Maria Valdes. “Throughout her career, Marcia has delivered strong commercial results across regions and product […]
Neil Slater to step down after leading Redevco since 2023.
COFRA Holding AG today announced that Neil Slater will step down as Chief Executive Officer of Redevco, COFRA’s real estate business, to take up the role of CEO at Link Real Estate Investment Trust (Link REIT), one of Asia’s largest real estate investment trusts. Neil’s departure from Redevco will take effect on 31 January 2027. […]
Global Mutual, asset manager of Frasers Plus Designer Outlet Leeds, has secured Belstaff as the latest premium retailer to join the destination, further strengthening its fashion line-up and marking another strategic letting as it continues to enhance the centre’s brand mix.
One of Britain’s most recognizable heritage fashion brands, Belstaff has opened with a curated selection of its signature jackets, apparel and accessories, bringing its distinctive premium offering to shoppers across Leeds and the wider Yorkshire region. The latest letting reflects the continued appeal of Frasers Plus Designer Outlet Leeds to premium retailers and reinforces the […]
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