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Sustainability

With the book Modern Retail Management, Dr. Johannes B. Berentzen and Dr. Philipp Hoog present an outstanding collection that takes an in-depth look at the pressing issues of today’s – and tomorrow’s – retail landscape. Featuring 24 thought-provoking chapters by 36 leading experts, the book offers a rare blend of academic insight and practical guidance. From digital transformation and omnichannel strategy to sustainability and AI, this forward-looking volume equips readers with the tools and ideas needed to thrive in a rapidly evolving sector. Essential reading for anyone looking to shape the future of retail.

Stureplan is an extraordinary quarter, currently undergoing a major redevelopment. The work on revitalizing the neighbourhood is now in full swing, which, once finished, will house Stockholm’s most exclusive offices and international top-tier shopping locations, along with 20 new restaurants and expanded services. Sture’s new refurbishment project is set to finish in 2026.

In 2025, the recovery of Europe’s grocery retail market is expected to gain momentum. CEOs in Europe are slightly more optimistic than they were last year despite the next few years remaining challenging, with low volume growth and sustained pressure on profitability, points out a new study by McKinsey & Company.

The purchase and subsequent return of clothing articles due to their potentially wrong right size or fit is an everyday headache for consumers as well as fashion e-retailers. To reduce returns and make the purchases more accurate, Munich-based startup Sizekick uses artificial intelligence and exact body measurements, while also boosting retailers’ conversion.

Westfield Shopping City Süd is taking the next big step in its sustainability efforts: Austria’s largest and most diverse shopping center has been awarded “Better Places Certification”, the first comprehensive sustainability standard for shopping centers that also covers environmental and social aspects.

The recently opened Wonderwoods in Utrecht, the Netherlands, stands out for its unique combination of living, working and leisure in a unique urban green oasis, setting a new standard for urban development. This mixed-use project in Utrecht’s Beurskwartier district brings nature and urban dynamics together in two iconic towers with 75,000 plants and shrubs and 300 trees forming a one-hectare vertical forest.

As several tons of fruit and vegetables never find their way to the supermarket shelf due to their shape and color, the Austrian startup Afreshed is putting them to good use by specializing in the rescue and delivery of organic fruit and vegetables.

NEINVER has begun the refurbishment of Las Rozas The Style Outlets, a landmark retail outlet center to the northwest of Madrid, owned by Neptune, a joint venture between NEINVER and TIAA, Nuveen’s parent company. The 3-million-euro renovation project will update the center inside and out, transforming it into a more modern and inviting space while remaining true to its trailblazing spirit as Spain’s first outlet center, established 29 years ago.

The time has finally come: the new giant shopping mall Westfield Hamburg Überseequartier has opened. The Mayor of Hamburg Peter Tschentscher, URW CEO Jean-Marie Tritant and Theda Juliane Mustroph, General Manager of Westfield Hamburg-Überseequartier, symbolically cut the ribbon. With the 100,000 sq m mall and a promising gastronomy and entertainment concept, URW wants to set new standards in Hamburg.

The Nordic Real Estate Forum 2025, held March 20 in Tallinn under the theme “New Normal in Real Estate,” examined the critical intersection of technology and sustainability in commercial real estate. Key discussions revolved around geopolitical uncertainties, infl ation, and shifting investment strategies, but one theme stood out across panels: technology’s role in enabling ESG compliance and operational efficiency.

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.

2024 was another year of solid growth for FREY with a profit from recurring operations going up by 28,1 percent and a sales growth of almost 29 percent to 191.3 million Euros. The growth of the specialist in open-air shopping centers has made this impressive growth step especially since entering the outlet market with the acquisition of ROS Retail Outlet Shopping. An important part of the expansion strategy is the signing of Designer Outlet Center in Berlin for 230 million Euros.

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.

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.

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.

With the ever-increasing number of ecolabels in the market, it’s a daunting task for consumers to find the truly sustainable products. To improve product credibility and compliance with sustainable practices, BetterChoice offers data-driven solutions that empower consumers and businesses with the tools and information they need to make sustainable choices.