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Mitiska REIM has announced that following the successful completion of its value creation program, it has completed the sale of 25 retail parks in Romania to LCP Group for 219 million euros. This sale is one of the largest retail real estate transactions in Romania and more than doubles the original investment over an average holding period of 5 years for investors in the FRI and FRI 2 funds which owned the assets.

The grand opening of Westfield Hamburg-Überseequartier in Hamburg, scheduled to take place in spring 2024, will mark the completion of Unibail-Rodamco Westfield’s (URW) largest inner-city development project. In an interview with ACROSS, Andreas Hohlmann, Managing Director Austria & Germany, talks about the role of retail and lifestyle destinations in modern society, the five trends that must be observed, and why size matters.

The F&B sector has changed significantly in recent years, not only in terms of the size of the market, but also in the variety and quality of the offering. As rents continue to rise in Europe, space previously dominated by fashion retailers is now being occupied by trendy gastronomic restaurants. People have evolved from collecting “things” to collecting “experiences”, and shopping centers have adapted to this change by improving and expanding their gastronomic offerings. Food and beverage (F&B) will play an even more crucial role in the success of retail real estate.

The biggest challenge facing the F&B industry is the cost of doing business. While the coronavirus has run its course through the markets, operators are struggling to return to profitability in the face of current economic challenges. Ian Hanlon, Director of Coverpoint, explains how the current challenges can be addressed and highlights trends in the shopping center food scene using best practice examples from the industry.

The European shopping center market overvalues design and investment but needs to pay more attention to atmosphere, interaction, and service, says Will Odwarka. This hurts the centers and especially their gastronomy section. The founder and CEO of Dubai-based Heartatwork Hospitality Consulting explains in his conversation with ACROSS editor Reinhard Winiwarter why excellent, personable service is the prerequisite for everything in the field of gastronomy.

Time Out Market is one of the first food hall concepts in Europe. From Lisbon, it has expanded internationally. The list of interested parties, from cities, operators, and restaurants, who want to be part of this success story is long, but new locations are carefully chosen. Sandy Hayek, CEO of Time Out Market, and Ana Alcobia, VP Iberia, explain the USP of their concept, the criteria they use to select locations and restaurants, and why being a media house at its core is so crucial for their success.

Today, more than ever, a first-class location, excellent management, and continuous further development are decisive for the future of a retail property. In addition to the location-specific sector and tenant mix, the gastronomic offer is crucial for success – as ECE Marketplaces shows.

Customers are seeking a better-quality and more varied offering, expecting to see both international and local options, argues Joan Rouras, Head of Leasing and Retail at NEINVER. For a long time, a neglected topic, F&B in outlets, is taking on a whole new role. NEINVER has taken many steps to offer its guests innovative F&B in addition to a high-quality retail offering.

At the 14th PRCH Retail Awards, the jury members awarded a total of 36 awards. This included eight gold statuettes and 27 silver statuettes, in 20 business, strategy and marketing categories. In addition, the strategic jury awarded a special prize for a project that stands out thanks to its innovative approach, setting trends in the industry.

This year’s MAPIC Awards honored winners across thirteen core categories, in addition to the People’s Choice categories and the winners of the MAPIC Academy—MAPIC’s inaugural start-up incubator sponsored by Nhood. The Awards reward exceptional retail brand performance and development, the latest cutting-edge solutions in sustainability and innovation, and the most recent real estate projects and redevelopments.

VIA Outlets has seen a surge in the pace of leasing activity across its pan-European portfolio through 2023. New and existing premium brand partners continue to open stores or increase their GLA with upsizes, bucking the challenging market conditions experienced in much of the full-price retail segment. Brands are following customer footfall and gravitating towards the strong sales outperformance offered by the outlet center format.

Today, more than ever, a first-class location, excellent management, and continuous further development are decisive for the future of a retail property. In addition to the location-specific sector and tenant mix, the gastronomic offer is crucial for success – as ECE Marketplaces shows.

Time Out Market is one of the first food hall concepts in Europe. From Lisbon, it has expanded internationally. The list of interested parties, from cities, operators, and restaurants, who want to be part of this success story is long, but new locations are carefully chosen. Sandy Hayek, CEO of Time Out Market, and Ana Alcobia, VP Iberia, explain the USP of their concept, the criteria they use to select locations and restaurants, and why being a media house at its core is so crucial for their success.

Customers are seeking a better-quality and more varied offering, expecting to see both international and local options, argues Joan Rouras, Head of Leasing and Retail at NEINVER. For a long time, a neglected topic, F&B in outlets, is taking on a whole new role. NEINVER has taken many steps to offer its guests innovative F&B in addition to a high-quality retail offering.

We are in the middle of a transformation, states MAPIC Director Francesco Pupillo. The changes in the retail world are also reflected in the changing role and face of MAPIC. This includes the presence and support of new players. But in the end, the purpose of the biggest industry fair stays the same: It is a dealmaking opportunity.

The development of new outlet centers is always an exciting prospect, both for consumers looking for great deals and for developers seeking to create profitable ventures. However, an ongoing debate in the realm of outlet center planning revolves around whether leisure facilities should be an integral part of these retail destinations. Giles Membrey, Managing Director of Rioja Estates Ltd. explains the pro and contra arguments.