The restaurants and cafes sector (Food & Beverage) in Romania has been constantly growing during the last few years as a result of a robust increase in wages and purchasing power on one hand and also due to the larger number of foreigners that visit Romania for business or leisure. This evolution is also reflected in an increasingly fierce competition of concepts, operators seeking to attract their customers through design and memorable dining experience.

A Europe-wide proliferation of new eating and drinking concepts is driving demand for real estate, according to new research published by Colliers International.

Immofinanz has successfully completed the repositioning and modernisation of its VIVO! Bratislava shopping centre. After a renovation period of nearly 12 months during full operations, the opening of the new shops was celebrated today. VIVO! Bratislava now has 170 speciality shops on 36,000 sqm of rentable space, with many new tenants. The food retailer Lidl and the fashion retailer LPP Group have joined as anchor tenants, and the overall offering has been increased by 20 new brands including, for example, Reserved, Mohito, House, Cropp and Sinsay. Immofinanz has invested roughly €25 million in the modernisation and renovation of the facility, which previously operated as the Polus City Center in Bratislava.

Over the last decade, the country's retail sector has grown by nearly 40%. The increasing maturity of the sector has changed how new stock is distributed and has motivated landlords to diversify their offer. JLL summarised conditions on Poland's retail market.

Challenges and changes in the retail sector are continuing to impact the dynamics of the European shopping centre market with new research from Cushman & Wakefield showing development activity across the continent is strongly polarised at both a country and city level.

NEPI Rockcastle announced that it will inaugurate Promenada Sibiu on November 14 following an investment of €100 million. The developer will also open a shopping centre in Târgu Mureș in March following an investment of €70 million.

Multi Poland has been appointed by Union Investment to provide property management services for two shopping centres in Poland, Ferio Konin in Konin and Sarni Stok in Bielsko-Biała, as of 1 October 2019. The agreements include full centre management, leasing and marketing.

Expo Market Doraly, one of Romania’s largest shopping parks specialized in home items and food products, located in Afumati, near Bucharest, announced plans to develop a 10,000 sqm retail park following a €6 million investment.

Consumers and agricultural producers in Montenegro will benefit from the further expansion of Voli, the country’s leading supermarket chain and one of the biggest purchaser of local produce, thanks to a €10 million loan provided by the EBRD. The funds will finance the opening of four new Voli stores, including a supermarket and a convenience store, and the refurbishment and expansion of five existing stores.

The Asset Services department of Cushman & Wakefield Echinox has taken over the administration of the Colosseum shopping centre since October 1st, thus expanding its portfolio in Bucharest with a project in full expansion.