The Czech retail market and physical retail segment remain attractive for retail brands, as the arrival of 38 new international brands last year confirms: this is the highest number in the last three years. This means a 52% year-on-year increase over the 25 new brands arriving in 2020, according to Cushman & Wakefield.

CBRE has appointed Carmen Ravon as Head of Retail Occupiers for Central and Eastern Europe (CEE) in a bid to consolidate operations in the region.

Discount retailers are predicted to find the CEE market very attractive as evidence shows shoppers have favoured the ‘value for money’ approach these retailers provide, reveals a new report by Colliers.

MPC Properties has acquired the Delta City shopping centre in Belgrade from UK-based Hystead Limited for €115 million.

Property group Immofinanz says it has sold the former retail project Armonia Center Arad to investment fund Oresa for an undisclosed sum. The buyer plans to develop a mixed-use scheme with industrial and retail components.

The pandemic has already shaped shopping habits and will continue to do so, mainly because of the strong impact it has had and is having at a psychological level, shifting personal priorities. Sebastian Mahu, Head of Asset Management, IULIUS Company talked to Property Forum about the trends driving Romania’s retail market and shared the developer’s plans for the future.

The former EuroCenter shopping centre, currently being rebuilt by Wing, will be renamed GOBUDA Mall after the renovation. The building will re-open in the spring of 2022 according to plans.

French real estate group Catinvest will add 5,500 sqm retail space, 1,200 sqm for a shared open-air terrace for the food court and a new playground of 500 sqm in Electroputere Mall, located in Craiova. 

Shopping malls need to boost their leisure propositions, while retailers must enhance their omnichannel strategies, mentioned speakers during the retail panel of SEE Property Forum 2021, Property Forum's annual event in Bucharest. 

The figures describing the performance of shopping centres that Cushman & Wakefield has available (primarily for small to medium-sized centres in Czech regions) show a positive trend. Following the full reopening of shops in shopping centres this May and June, both revenue and footfall were higher than the figures from the same period last year and the trend carried over to the summer holidays. Compared with 2020, July revenue grew by 3% and August revenue by 11%. Compared with the pre-crisis year 2019, July revenue was 2% lower, but in August it was almost 7% higher.