EPP, the largest asset manager of retail real estate in Poland, implemented a sustainable development strategy in 2021. The company aims to conduct its business in a responsible and transparent way while reducing its environmental impact and strengthening its social commitment. Following the strategy, EPP has set targets for the years 2022-2025 and is launching its first report, giving its ESG achievements to date the framework of GRI international reporting and EPRA standards.

The footfall in Czech regional shopping centres remained almost unchanged despite the previous years of the pandemic and all the lockdowns. The turnover and the average basket increased, and the vacancy is stable. However, due to the 18-week lockdown, the year 2021 fell behind 2019 by about 15%. The biggest concern now comes from the inflation and spending cuts reported by CBRE in its regular Shopping Centre Index analysis together with the results of two surveys on customer behaviour and expected plans of retailers.

Bratislava's Aupark shopping centre, owned by Wood & Company and Unibail-Rodamco-Westfield, is adding another step to improve its sustainable management. In addition to sorting, low-energy lighting and water conservation, it is now installing hundreds of photovoltaic panels on its roof. The owners are hoping to make significant savings in energy resources, most notably saving 100,000 cubic metres of natural gas per year, reports the online daily Reality.trend.sk.

Multi Forum is a multi-tasking facility management application developed for Multi Corporation by a Dutch proptech startup. Data from several Multi managed shopping centres across Europe shows efficiency benefits. The Multi Forum app is now used in five out of the six shopping centres managed by Multi in Poland.

Romanian construction firm Synergy Construct will open in September a new retail park in northern Bucharest, next to highway A3, following an investment of €15 million. 

Adventum Group has entrusted JLL advisors with the commercialisation of the retail and service section of the Sky Tower multifunctional complex in Wrocław.

Immofinanz has just leased the last free unit in its Hungarian Stop Shop portfolio, reaching a 100% occupancy rate. The newest and last tenant is Sportisimo in Stop Shop Keszthely. The company has roughly 136,000 sqm of fully leased retail space in 14 locations across Hungary. 

Belgian real estate fund manager Mitiska REIM and Polish developer Karuzela Holding have opened a retail park in Puławy following the conversion of a former Tesco hypermarket on the site.

Polish developer Scallier will open new retail parks with a combined surface of more than 40,000 sqm in Timișoara, Turda and Vaslui throughout 2022, after completing its first two projects in the country.

Between the pandemic, the war, rising prices and increasingly frequent warnings of recession — these are the conditions in which the retail sector operated in the first quarter of 2022. The authors of the cyclical report from BNP Paribas Real Estate Poland point out, among others: continued strengthening of the position of discount store chains and growing interest in facilities with a high potential for modernization, expansion and repositioning.