Kaufland intends to significantly reduce CO2 emissions in the future in the construction of new stores. Therefore, the retailer is currently testing various alternatives to materials such as concrete and steel at pilot locations. In Bratislava, the company is opening the largest timber store in Slovakia. In Tuttlingen, Baden-Württemberg, a store is being built using recycled building materials including items such as walls, the facade, and the parking lot.

According to the latest data from Cushman & Wakefield, the average retail vacancy rate in Poland’s largest cities currently stands at 3.5%, down by 1.2 pp year-on-year. More importantly, falls were recorded in six out of the eight largest cities, with the availability of retail space at the lowest in Kraków, Łódź and Szczecin. This suggests a gradual retail recovery in Poland, says Cushman & Wakefield. Meanwhile, as the market continues to stabilize, retail landlords should increasingly turn their focus onto diversifying their offer.

Popeyes is to open its first Warsaw restaurant in Złote Tarasy on 21 September. The fast food chain from Louisiana is the seventh new tenant to come to Złote Tarasy in 2023 after such brands as LUSH, Candy Pop, and Hugo. Cushman & Wakefield, which is responsible for the re-commercialisation and property management for the scheme, expects to see more international debuts in Złote Tarasy later this year.

Real estate developer AFI Europe has obtained the LEED v4.1 O+M certification for its AFI Cotroceni mall in Bucharest. The company was assisted by Colliers in obtaining the green certification. 

Focus Estate Fund plans to convert its entire shopping centre portfolio to solar-powered facilities. The first initiative was inaugurated with the installation of solar panels at Galeria Awangarda in Bartoszyce.

Prime Kapital has inaugurated Carolina Mall in Alba Iulia following an investment of around €47 million. The mall has a leasable area of over 33,100 sqm and hosts 70 stores. 

The number of photovoltaic surfaces installed on SES shopping malls is constantly increasing. This year, SES has invested in the construction of photovoltaic systems in the five Slovenian shopping centres, namely Aleja, Citypark and Center Vič in Ljubljana, Citycenter Celje and Europark Maribor. The systems, boasting a total output of 4,300 kilowatts, have been in operation since July and August. They cover around one-fifth of the centres’ electricity requirement with a 1,200-ton saving in terms of CO2 emissions. The SES climate objective to fit photovoltaic systems on at least 50 percent of its available mall roof surfaces by 2040 has therefore already been achieved or exceeded to a significant extent in Slovenia. SES is currently operating four photovoltaic systems in Austria. An additional three locations are scheduled to be equipped with these systems by the end of the year.

Bucharest is the largest retail market in Romania with a total stock of 1.24 million sqm in operational projects, while across the country Timișoara has the biggest volume of shopping centres and retail parks of all regional cities. 

NEPI Rockcastle, the biggest owner of shopping centres in CEE, recorded a net operating income (NOI) of €241 million in H1 2023, up by 23% compared to the same period of last year over strong rental growth and leasing activity, alongside improved cost recovery

Eden Retail Park, owned by Focus Estate Fund, has achieved full occupancy. The retail project based in Zgorzelec, near the German border, has attracted a mix of 10 stores.