Retail Archives

MEC Leases 74,000 sq m of Retail Space in First Half of 2025

MEC, a leading specialist in the management of retail properties, remains on its growth trajectory in the first half of 2025. The company signed a total of 124 new and renewed lease agreements across its portfolio, covering approximately 74,000 sq m of retail space. A standout success story is the Halle Center Peißen, where MEC has demonstrated its comprehensive management and implementation capabilities.

BETWEEN DISCOUNT AND LUXURY: WHY RETAIL DESTINATIONS NOW DEPEND ON EMOTION – AND HOW LIGHT MAKES ALL THE DIFFERENCE

The retail world is undergoing radical realignment. Discounters thrive through efficiency. Luxury brands shine with immersive storytelling. In between, the middle market is eroding. Locations that don’t tell a compelling story are losing relevance. MK Illumination sees this polarization not as a crisis, but as a creative opportunity. Where emotion enters the equation, value returns – and light is the most powerful medium for creating that emotional connection.

A new dimension for travel, enjoyment and shopping: umdasch realises Smartseller store at Nuremberg Airport

Opened at the beginning of April, the new 1,100 sq m Smartseller store offers travellers an innovative duty-free shopping experience combined with high-quality food and beverage offerings and a sense of regional identity. The Store Makers at umdasch took on the entire project management for the store construction and ensured a smooth and high-quality implementation with the delivery and installation of furniture, light sculptures and catering elements.

BEYOND THE MID-MARKET SEGMENT: HOW FIBA CP NAVIGATES THE GLOBAL RETAIL DIVIDE

Retail is no longer defined by the mid-market segment. Across the globe, a growing divide is reshaping the sector: Luxury brands are thriving on exclusivity and immersive experiences, while discount retailers are rapidly expanding through pricing power and operational scale. Mid-market players – the dependable heart of shopping centers – are being squeezed out, explains Yurdaer Kahraman, CEO and Board Member of Fiba Commercial Properties.

GRADUAL CHANGE: THE NEW MID-RANGE BETWEEN LUXURY AND DISCOUNT CONCEPTS

From the rummage table to the feel-good factor: Discount concepts are no longer stigmatized, and luxury concepts are booming. That’s not to say that mid-range concepts are disappearing, but if you want to survive somewhere between the two poles, you’d better deliver. In an interview with ACROSS, Olaf Ley, CEO of Germany Retail at Eurofund, describes the most important changes in consumer behavior in recent years and provides insight into the developments concerning the Rhein-Ruhr Zentrum (RRZ) in Mülheim, Germany, as well as Eurofund’s expansion plans.

Digital, local, sustainable: the new DNA of travel retail

Travel retail is an industry in transition, driven by a resurgence in travel activity, new consumer expectations, technological innovations, and a growing demand for sustainable concepts. Michael Ripfl, Sales Director for Nordics & Travel Retail at umdasch The Store Makers, provides an in-depth insight into current developments, long-term trends, and specific project examples. It becomes clear that what once began as the “sale of spirits and tobacco” has now evolved into a complex interplay of retailtainment, locality, and an innovative customer approach.

Luxury Sector Powers EU GDP as Global Market Set to Reach €2.5 Trillion by 2030

A new report reveals the booming luxury sector’s pivotal role in Europe’s economy—creating millions of jobs, driving exports, and attracting affluent tourists. But looming global risks could threaten this success.

From Fashion to Leisure: Transforming Shopping Spaces for Tomorrow’s Cities

A radical transformation: As traditional retail declines and department stores shutter, cities are reimagining these spaces as vibrant hubs of leisure, culture, and community. From immersive entertainment in London to rooftop farms in Antwerp, this shift reflects more than just changing consumer habits – it’s reshaping urban life itself, explains Herman Kok, Associate Partner at DISCvision. Discover how tomorrow’s cities are turning shopping into experience, and malls into modern agoras.

Westfield Donau Zentrum Boosts Fashion Line-Up with Stradivarius, Pull&Bear, and More

Westfield Donau Zentrum, the Austrian capital’s largest shopping and entertainment center, continues to reinforce its position as a retail powerhouse with a major expansion of its fashion portfolio. The center welcomes international brands Stradivarius, Pull&Bear, New Yorker, and Pepe Jeans to its ever-growing mix, setting new benchmarks in the local retail landscape.

MERCATOR CENTER BELGRADE: STEADY GROWTH, LOCAL RELEVANCE, AND A PROVEN URBAN LIFESTYLE MODEL

In a market flooded with mega malls and flashy upgrades, Mercator Center Belgrade is quietly setting a new standard. With a focus on community relevance, practical offerings, and steady modernization, this urban retail hub proves that consistency, not spectacle, drives real success. Jovan Ćirić, Retail Leasing Director at MPC Properties, explains why this neighborhood favorite may be Belgrade’s most future-ready shopping center.

Action Accelerates Expansion in Germany and Across Europe

Dutch non-food discounter Action is ramping up its growth strategy, opening its 600th store in Germany and continuing to expand rapidly across Europe.

umdasch is rethinking the Car Showroom: How Placemaking Is Shaping the Automotive Sector

How are design, technology, and sustainability transforming the automotive trade from traditional showrooms to digitally connected spaces? The recently published ninth edition of inSites – a special publication by umdasch – titled “From Showroom to Brand Room”, explores which emerging trends are overturning traditional retail concepts, why the quality of stay has become a must-have, and why integrating digital touchpoints is essential.

In the first half of the year, 16 new brands entered the Czech Republic, with fashion and gastronomy dominating

Sixteen brands entered the Czech retail market in the first six months of this year. The most common segments were fashion (clothing, footwear, and accessories – 6 brands) and gastronomy (F&B – 5 brands). Fourteen of the new entries opened in Prague, with one in České Budějovice and one in Třebíč.

NO ROOM FOR MEDIOCRITY: HOW RETAIL POLARIZATION IS RESHAPING THE SHOPPING LANDSCAPE

A quiet but profound shift is transforming the retail industry across Europe: while luxury and discount segments thrive, many mid-tier retailers—once considered the backbone of the high street and shopping centers—are struggling to stay afloat. This growing polarization is not merely a passing trend; it is a structural shift that reflects changing consumer behaviors, economic realities, and the need for clear market positioning. But if you take a closer look, you will see that it is not the middle that is dying, but only mediocrity. What is emerging is a new middle ground between luxury and discount, determined by one thing alone: relevance.

TAKKO FASHION: “WE DELIVER RELIABILITY FOR CUSTOMERS AND LANDLORDS”

The coronavirus pandemic, in particular, has shown retail real estate operators who is a reliable rental partner, says Oleg Krüger, Senior Director of Expansion at Takko Fashion. The discount fashion retailer is growing against the market trend and is pursuing ambitious growth targets. In an interview with ACROSS, Krüger explains the new role of discounters in European retail and how Takko is positioning itself strategically in a polarized retail landscape.

Fiba CP CEO Yurdaer Kahraman Receives “Outstanding Industry Leader” Award at Retail Days

Yurdaer Kahraman, CEO and Board Member of Fiba Commercial Properties, as well as Member of the ACROSS Advisory Board, has been honored with the “Outstanding Industry Leader” award at Retail Days, one of the most prestigious and respected events in the Turkish retail sector.

Matalan Plans Multimillion Pound Investment In The UK

Following its multi-year transformation program, the fashion and homeware retailer aims to invest over 25 million pounds into its UK store estate this year.

Takko Fashion Achieves Record Results In FY 2024/2025 And Continues Growth In Q1

Discounter Takko Fashion has recorded the highest sales in the company’s history for the 2024/2025 financial year. The company is thus continuing its growth course consistently and against the industry trend.

Cushman & Wakefield Takes Over Property Management And Leasing Of Aupark Bratislava

As of June 2025, Cushman & Wakefield has taken over the property management and leasing of the Aupark Bratislava shopping center, bringing the best of its retail expertise from across Central and Eastern Europe.

NEPI ROCKCASTLE CEO RÜDIGER DANY TO LEAVE COMPANY IN MARCH 2026

Rüdiger Dany, CEO of NEPI Rockcastle, the leading owner, operator and developer of shopping centers across Central and Eastern European markets and the third largest listed retail real estate company in Europe by value of assets, is leaving his position in March 2026.

Designer Outlet Kraków Welcomes More Than 50,000 Visitors on Opening Weekend

The grand opening of Designer Outlet Kraków on 22 May drew enthusiastic crowds eager to discover the city’s newest shopping destination. Over 50,000 visitors attended the opening weekend, underlining the center’s strong regional pull and growing appetite for outlet shopping.

Gen Z And Millennials Are Redefining The Global Wellness Market

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.

The Body Shop Could Make A Comeback In Switzerland And Belgium

Following Coop’s decline to renew the franchise agreement in Switzerland, former Karstadt manager Stefan W. Herzberg plans to take over and reopen The Body Shop stores in Switzerland, as well as Belgium.

Outdoor Brand Helly Hansen Has Been Bought Up By Kontoor Brands

Kontoor Brands, Inc. has completed the acquisition of global outdoor and workwear brand Helly Hansen for 1.1 billion euros.

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