Unibail-Rodamco-Westfield (URW) is continuing to drive transformation in the retail sector, announcing the international expansion of its Westfield Grand Prix in France, UK, Spain, Germany and Austria. The competition, which was founded in 2007 in France to find the most promising and innovative retail concepts, will now focus on sustainable businesses.
In each region, winners of the Westfield Grand Prix will be selected by a panel of experts, with one chosen by the public through votes cast by visitors to Westfield centers. Winners will receive a lease of up to one year, free of charge, in a Westfield center to test their concept across a large customer base, along with tailored support from URW experts and a dedicated advertising plan developed by the retail media agency Westfield Rise. The program is open to sustainable concepts and start-ups across retail, leisure, dining, entertainment, health & wellbeing, and services, whose solutions facilitate more responsible consumption and sustainable living.
“The new edition of the Westfield Grand Prix is a key initiative in our ambition to support the development of the future of sustainable retail. We want to create a platform to highlight sustainable concepts, an ambition we share with our customers – 80% of whom tell us that sustainability plays a key role in their purchasing decisions. The competition will enable us to find new, talented entrepreneurs and facilitate their success through the strength of the Westfield centers and through access to the millions of visitors who come through our doors”, says Anne-Sophie Sancerre, Chief Customer & Retail Officer.
“Young and unusual concepts are very important for the attractiveness of our retail and lifestyle destinations in order to offer our guests variety and a new experience”, adds Paul Douay, Director of Operations Austria & Germany. “Sustainable offers, whether in ecological or social terms, have played an important role for years, and do even more now and in the future. The Westfield Grand Prix is an optimal opportunity to cooperate with such brands and concepts. We are looking forward to the Grand Prix and that we are also participating this year with the Austria / Germany region and are specifically calling on brands and young companies to apply here.”
