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credit: McArthurGlen

Frey Accelerates Growth In And Through The Outlet Segment

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.

credit: CEO of Heartatwork Hospitality Consulting//URW/rock&stars digital

F&B-concept @ Westfield Hamburg-Überseequartier: Is there a light at the end of the tunnel – and is it in Hamburg?

“Westfield Hamburg-Überseequartier could emerge as a refreshing beacon of culinary innovation and diversity”, states Will Odwarka, F&B-expert, founder and CEO of Heartatwork Hospitality Consulting and member of the ACROSS Advisory Board. He takes a close look at the recently announced differentiation of the F&B offering at Hamburg’s new shopping destination. With this diverse concept he is positive that Hamburg will be able to show the power of food to cultivate community spirit.

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.

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.

Outlet Village Sofia design (left), Stoyan Kolev, CEO of Trinity Capital (right). /// credit: Trinity Capital, Atelier Serafimov Architects

TRINITY CAPITAL BULGARIA: “WE ARE DEVELOPING NOT ONLY AN OUTLET, BUT A POWER-SHOPPING DESTINATION”

Trinity Capital is one of Bulgaria’s most prominent developers and owners of retail real estate. After developing retail parks and acquiring shopping centers, the company is now entering the market for designer outlets and planning Bulgaria’s first outlet village in Sofia, which will be in the direct vicinity of the largest retail park in the Balkans, which belongs to Trinity as well. Stoyan Kolev, CEO of Trinity Capital, explains why Bulgaria is ready for an outlet, his plans for the location, why the combination of outlet and retail park makes sense, and why entertainment and gastronomy are essential keys to more footfall.

Elke Moebius, Director EuroCIS at Messe Düsseldorf GmbH (left), EuroCIS 2024 (right). /// credit: Messe Düsseldorf, C. Tillmann

EuroCIS 2025: The Most Important Trends And Innovations For The Retail Sector

EuroCIS 2025 in Düsseldorf promises pioneering innovations for the retail sector under the motto “Go Beyond Today”. The focus will be on topics such as artificial intelligence, smart stores and cybersecurity in order to make the retail sector safer and more efficient. Visitors can look forward to the latest technologies, exciting presentations and international exhibitors. In an interview, Elke Moebius, Director EuroCis at Messe Düsseldorf GmbH, provides exciting insights into the focal points of this year’s event.

VPS technology in use at Singapore's Changi Airport. /// credit: HyperIn

HyperIn: Asia Leads the Way in AR Wayfinding

Across Asia, Visual Positioning System (VPS) technology utilizing augmented reality (AR) wayfinding is transforming how people navigate complex commercial spaces. From shopping malls and airports to mixed-use developments, digital navigation is evolving beyond static maps—offering real-time, interactive experiences through mobile devices.

Premier Outlet Centre, Budapest, Hungary (left); Giles Membrey, Managing Director of Rioja Estates Ltd and member of the ACROSS Advisory Board (right). /// credit: Rioja Estates, Premier Outlet Centre

“CO-OPERATION BETWEEN ALL STAKEHOLDERS IS THE MOST IMPORTANT THING WHEN IT COMES TO OUTLETS.”

The European outlet market is saturated; there are only a few white spaces. Rioja Estates is one of the most experienced European pre-developers and, as such, the first authority to decide whether a location can work. Together with ACROSS publisher Reinhard Winiwarter, Giles Membrey examines the outlet market in 2024 and explains why all players should urgently address technology, which markets in Europe still have potential, and how his company’s focus areas are changing.

founder and publisher of ACROSS Magazine (left), and Klaus Striebich, Managing Director of RaRE Advise and Head of the ACROSS Advisory Board (right). /// credit: ACROSS, Klaus Striebich

NEVER STOP ADAPTING AND CONCENTRATING ON THE TOP PRIORITIES

As the year draws to a close, Reinhard Winiwarter, founder and publisher of ACROSS Magazine, and Klaus Striebich, Managing Director of RaRE Advise and Head of the ACROSS Advisory Board, pause to reflect on the retail real estate industry’s current state. Although 2024 has shown many positives, the two industry experts are concerned about one thing: the possibility that many industry players will not be able to keep up with the speed of change.

Rüdiger Dany, CEO of NEPI Rockcastle (left), Magnolia Park shopping center in Wroclaw, Poland (right). /// credit: NEPI Rockcastle

“GO INTO THE MARKET AND BUY NOW”

Well deserved honor: Rüdiger Dany, CEO of NEPI Rockcastle, received the lifetime achievement award at the prestigious 19th SEE Property Awards. This prize recognizes and celebrates Rüdiger Dany’s incredible 30-year career and his invaluable contribution to the real estate industry. In 2024, he continued to write his personal success story and that of NEPI Rockcastle. Probably no other company performed as well as NEPI in 2024. Reason enough to talk to Rüdiger Dany about the highlights of his company as well as current developments and challenges.

Will Odwarka, Founder and CEO of Heartatwork Hospitality Consulting (left), and Jonathan Doughty, Managing Director of Viklari Consulting Ltd (right). /// credit: ACROSS, Will Odwarka, Jonathan Doughty

WILL & JOHNNY’S TOP 10: THE MOST SUCCESSFUL AND NOTEWORTHY FOOD CONCEPTS

Will Odwarka, Founder and CEO of Heartatwork Hospitality Consulting, and Jonathan Doughty, Managing Director of Viklari Consulting Ltd and Partner at Juniper Strategy, are food & beverage experts. They have helped to shape some of the most exciting F&B projects in Europe and beyond – but they are also travelers. For the latest print issue of ACROSS, the industry experts have compiled their Top 10 restaurants and hospitality businesses worldwide. Their selection illustrates one thing above everything else: To be among the leading F&B concepts, it is not necessary to create a specific menu or to offer a particular cuisine or format, nor does it matter whether you are a new or an old player in the market or whether you offer fast food or gourmet dishes – the most decisive factors are maximum customer focus and authenticity.

In January 2023, Sonae Sierra announced a further step in its growth in Italy by signing a partnership with Chorus Life for the leasing of the retail space of the new “City of the Future” model, developed by the POLIFIN Group and built by COSTIM. /// credit: Sonae Sierra

“THE GREATEST NEED IN PROPERTY MANAGEMENT TODAY IS ADAPTABILITY”

“Across all markets, we are seeing that retail has remained a resilient and thriving sector,” explains Cristina Santos, Executive Director Property Management at Sonae Sierra. More than almost any other European company, Sonae Sierra is strategically diversified across several regions and adapts to the specific requirements of each. The company has extensive experience with its own properties and has increasingly used that knowledge as a cornerstone of its approach to manage third-party properties.

The Tirana East Gate (TEG) shopping center in Albania was conceived from the beginning as a flagship property and is constantly being developed as such. /// credit: ACREM

Mall Management à la TEG: “For Retailers We Offer More Than Shop Space – We Offer Possibilities In A Vibrant Market”

ACREM is the mall management company behind TEG (Tirana East Gate). The shopping center in Albania set a completely new standard regarding professionalism and efficiency, resulting in the Albanians not having to hide behind the Western industry giants in terms of footfall and catchment areas. ACROSS Management Director Reinhard Winiwarter discussed with Elda Hysenbelli, CEO at ACREM, and Joana Korimi, Head of Marketing at ACREM, what mall management and marketing à la TEG looks like, what their customers demand, and why some customers feel so comfortable in the center that they even get married there.

Retail Talk: Uncovering The REAL Issues Of Retail Real Estate — “We Need Shopping Experience To Be The Key Behind Every Decision Between Retailer, Operator, Landlord and Investor”

“We need something that is consistent between retailer, operator, landlord and investor, and can be the key behind every decision, and shopping experience is the obvious answer.” Our latest Retail Talk, “Uncovering the REAL Issues, Problems and Challenges of Retail Real Estate”, revealed that many of the retail industry’s current issues can only be tackled if first we solve the problems that stem from within, as skills such as leadership, fast adaptability to the changing market environment, courage, as well as mutual understanding during the decision-making process are necessary yet barely present in the industry.

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Data exchange in the placemaking industry: Is data-sharing equal to data-caring?
The exchange of data puts the tenant-landlord relationship to the test. While the advantages of data sharing are obvious, tenants in particular find it difficult to share relevant data. The main reason for this is a lack of trust in how this data is used.
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