Report

SES Spar European Shopping Centers held its ground again in 2025, navigating a challenging environment for brick-and-mortar retail. Austria’s market-leading shopping mall operator built on its strong prior-year performance and further consolidated its position.

VIA Outlets continued its strong growth trajectory in 2025, setting new records in brand sales and footfall. Previous investments in its ‘3R Strategy’ of remodeling, remarketing, and remerchandising fed through to individual center performance along with the continued outlet-retail dynamism in European tourism-driven markets.

NEPI Rockcastle NV, Europe’s third largest listed retail real estate company by portfolio value (€8.2 billion), achieved its highest-ever distributable earnings of €441 million, up 6.7% on the prior year, and net operating income (NOI) of €618 million, an 11.2% increase.

German retail is proving resilient in a challenging economic environment, yet the sector continues to undergo significant structural change. This is the conclusion of the retail section of the ZIA Spring Real Estate Report 2026, prepared by BBE Handelsberatung in cooperation with the IPH Group.

Festive celebrations are proving to be a powerful driver of retail performance, according to new analysis from CACI, the data specialists focused on people and place. The company’s latest insights reveal that Christmas light switch on events significantly boost consumer spending, increase dwell time, and attract shoppers from a wider catchment area.

As the retail landscape continues to evolve, convenience is emerging as the key driver of success. Shoppers are increasingly drawn to brands that make buying products a quick and effortless experience, whether online or in-store. GlobalData’s latest research highlights which retailers are likely to gain the most in 2025

To millennials and Gen Zers, wellness has become a daily, personalized practice rather than a set of occasional activities or purchases. McKinsey’s latest Future of Wellness survey finds that distinct consumer segments are catalyzing demand for goods and services in wellness subcategories.

In addition to its function as a supplier to the population, retail is increasingly taking on the role of entertainment. Concepts built around customer experience and gastronomy are now essential components of shopping centers, shows the latest shopping center report on Germany from the EHI Retail Institute.

Over the past twelve months, there has been significant progress toward sustainability in the European shopping center landscape. According to the latest RegioData analysis, a clear trend has emerged: an increase in environmental certifications and a decline in non-certified buildings. This not only highlights the transformation in the construction industry but also underscores the growing importance of ecological standards.

Retail outlet centres have seen a significant leap in retail and leisure brand growth in the past years with general sector growth set to continue, according to the Ken Gunn European Outlet Industry Review which ranks Europe’s top performing outlet centres and brands as well as the most improved.

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.

The shopping habits of Europeans are undergoing significant changes, which in turn are reshaping the retail landscape. While some countries continue to focus on large-scale shopping centers, other regions are making substantial progress, reveals RegioData’s latest report. A look at the current shopping center density in Europe reveals a pronounced north-south and west-east divide. Even within individual regions, there are significant differences in retail space density per capita.

No other European country has more mega shopping centers than Spain. Of the total 640 shopping centers in Spain, 74 have a leasable area of 50,000 sq m or more. The total leasable area of Spanish mega centers amounts to approximately 4.1 million sq m. Germany, on the other hand, currently has “only” 48 such mega centers but boasts a larger number of mid-sized shopping centers between 30,000 and 50,000 sq m.

Most European consumers remain wary about the economy in the third quarter, but their sentiment is improving slightly, reports McKinsey as part of its latest ConsumerWise research.

According to Savills research „European Grocery Market 2024“ the European grocery sector has a positive growth outlook for the coming years. Improving consumer confidence, inflation slowly returning to target rates and a forecasted rise in retail sales bode well for consumers, retailers and investors alike. In Europe, the highest growth in retail sales in 2025 is expected in the Czech Republic and Belgium, with a 6% increase anticipated in both countries.

In recent years, leisure expenditures and household income in Austria have changed significantly. Leisure activities like dining out and entertainment have gained considerable importance in the retail and real estate sector as well.

The need for convenience and variety has become paramount. Food halls are increasingly diversifying their offerings and have emerged as a perfect fit for the modern consumer. They have evolved into social hubs, fostering an environment that encourages socialising and meaningful connections, reveals Cushman & Wakefield in its latest Food Halls of Europe Report.

During the second quarter of 2024, there were eight new retail completions with the development pipeline comprising approximately 400,000 sq m in the Polish retail market. This indicates healthy supply levels amid unwavering occupier demand and strong retail sales, shopping center footfall and turnover figures, shares Cushman & Wakefield in its latest analysis.