The COVID-19 pandemic has left hardly any business or industry untouched and retail real estate industry has also been affected. The last twelve months were marked by three lockdowns that helped change the shopping habits of Poles, lower developer activity, and increase the popularity of smaller retail formats, JLL analysts say.

Although the retail segment is among those affected the most by the coronavirus crisis, this does not show in the number of brands newly incoming to the Czech market. Whereas 24 new brands came to the country in 2019, in the crisis year 2020 there were 25. This year, the number of newcomer brands could be even higher – some brands postponed opening their shops to 2021 due to the corona crisis., according to a report by Cushman & Wakefield.

The effects of COVID-19 have caused an acceleration in foodservice trends which are set to continue long after the pandemic has been brought under control, according to a new report by Coverpoint Foodservice Consulting.

Local developer Crestyl, through its subsidiary Savarin p.l.c., is issuing five-year zero-coupon bonds with a total nominal value of €84 million (CZK 2.2 billion) this week, with the possibility of increasing to CZK 3.3 billion. The purpose of the issue is to finance the Savarin project, which is being developed in the vicinity of Prague's Wenceslas Square and Na Příkopě Street. The multi-purpose complex also includes space for the installation of Alfons Mucha’s Slav Epic. The issue was prepared by J&T Banka and the bonds are also traded on the regulated market of the Prague Stock Exchange.

Because of the pandemic, a significant number of Polish consumers are increasingly turning to smaller stores, which are located outside traditional shopping centres. Is this an opportunity for high street shop owners, answer the experts from JLL advisory agency

Iulius Group will start the construction of two Family Market centres, a new retail concept launched in summer 2020, Ziarul Financiar informs.

Immofinanz has received a building permit for the newest planned project under the Stop Shop brand in Zielona Góra. The beginning of construction works is planned in the nearest future and the completion of the new Stop Shop Zielona Góra retail park is scheduled for the turn of 2021/2022.  

CBRE Czech Republic has taken over the property management of the Novo Plaza shopping centre in Prague, starting 1 January 2021. The property offers 27,500 sqm of space, comprising a retail centre with a GLA of 21,500 sqm including retail, office, storage and support areas and a hypermarket with a GLA of 6,000 sqm, anchored by Tesco. The shopping centre has 710 underground and 140 surface-level parking spaces.

IKEA plans to invest €50 million in the construction of a shopping park near Belgrade. The company plans to start the construction of the AVA Shopping Park in the beginning of 2021.

Dutch-Czech real estate investment company Fidurock has opened a new retail park Choceň in the Pardubice Region of the Czech Republic. The retail park comprises 10 units with Penny Market as the main tenant, occupying an area of ​​1,300 sqm. Other tenants include Pepco, KiK, Okay elektro, Rossmann, ZZN, a pharmacy and others.