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Management

LATEST TRENDS AND PROGRESSES IN ASSET AND CENTER MANAGEMENT

credit: Kaufland

CLOSING THE LOOP: HOW KAUFLAND TURNS TRASH INTO TOMORROW’S STORE

From yellow bins in Baden-Württemberg to Kaufland’s construction sites: the Schwarz Group is proving how waste can become a valuable resource. By applying cradle-to-cradle principles, the retailer is turning recyclables into building materials and redefining what sustainability in construction means.

credit: umdasch The Store Makers

FROM DISMANTLING TO REVITALIZATION: HOW UMDASCH IS SHAPING THE FUTURE OF CONSTRUCTION THROUGH HOLISTIC INTERIOR FITTINGS

Transformation in lieu of new construction: Marco Gösling, Managing Director Business Unit Construction Solutions at umdasch The Store Makers, provides insight into the growing significance of general contracting, the challenges associated with renovating existing buildings, and why sustainability is no longer merely a trend. Projects such as the ”Kämmerei” in Düsseldorf and ”Le big TamTam” in Hamburg demonstrate how technical expertise, environmental awareness, and architectural quality go hand in hand.

credit: © RRZ

ADVENTICA Launches Its First German Outlet at Rhein-Ruhr Zentrum

Following the successful contract signing last year, ADVENTICA, the international operator of indoor family entertainment destinations, is set to open its first German location at Rhein-Ruhr Zentrum (RRZ). Spanning 3,600 m², the new facility will enter a multi-week soft-launch phase ahead of its grand opening on October 17, 2025.

credit: MEC

“IF YOU WANT TO SHAPE THE FUTURE, YOU HAVE TO UNDERSTAND THE PRACTICAL SIDE OF THINGS”

MEC’s new Business & Project Development department underscores its commitment to the future of retail real estate. Instead of pure administration, the focus is now on holistic location development – strategic, practical, and market-oriented. Head of the unit, Jörg Wege, explains how vision meets everyday business, why hands-on expertise matters, and how this drives MEC’s growth.

credit: ECE

„CHANGE IS IN OUR DNA”

Innovation and the safeguarding of future success require conviction and values – ECE celebrates its 60th anniversary in 2025. This is more than just an anniversary: It is a commitment to continuous change and responsible business practices. ECE Marketplaces CEO Joanna Fisher, who has been with the company for nearly three decades, discusses the power of putting values into practice, her own journey from a working student to a top manager, and how true innovation can only be achieved through integrity and clarity.

CEO PERSPECTIVES 2025: WHEN THE TENANT THRIVERS, THE ASSET FLIES

“When the tenant thrives, the asset survives” is an old saying in retail real estate leasing management. But survival is only the baseline – the ambition must go further. Not just to “survive” – the asset should “fly.” But what will it take in 2025 for an asset to take off? For this cover story, we asked leading figures in the European retail real estate sector what they see as the most significant current challenges, as well as the solutions needed, for retail assets not just to survive but to prosper.

credit: Balfin

BALFIN Group: Shaping the Future of Real Estate in the Western Balkans and Beyond

With a dynamic mix of shopping malls, retail parks, hotels, and residential developments, BALFIN Group is setting new benchmarks for real estate in Southeast Europe. In this exclusive interview, the company’s Vice President of Real Estate Asset Management, Csaba Toth, outlines BALFIN’s growth strategy, from expanding its footprint across the Balkans to entering mature Western markets. He explains how the group is redefining retail, embracing digital innovation, and why its integrated approach makes BALFIN a one-stop gateway for international investors and retail brands eyeing this fast-growing region.

credit: Kaufland

SUSTAINABLE BY DESIGN: HOW KAUFLAND IS FUTUREPROOFING ITS STORES WITH EDGE CERTIFICATION

EDGE certification is a key part of Kaufland’s bold plan to slash CO₂ emissions across its vast real estate portfolio. From triple glazing to heat recovery systems, Dominik Uhe, Head of Investor Relationship Management at Kaufland International describes how a data-driven approach is transforming Kaufland’s properties into models of green retail – and why Kaufland believes sustainability starts with the building itself.

SOLAL AWARDS 2025 WINNERS ANNOUNCED AT AN INNOVATIVE GALA EVENT IN WARSAW

The winners of the 2025 Solal Marketing Awards were announced at an outstanding gala event at fashionable leisure venue Fabryka Norblina in Warsaw. The live event was the first celebration of the most effective and innovative marketing campaigns in the shopping center industry since the pandemic. A record-number of entries in eleven distinct categories were received, with finalists joining the event from countries right across Europe, Canada and South Africa.

credit: IPH/BBE

THE “MID-RANGE SEGMENT” AS SUCH IS NOT DYING – BUT “MEDIOCRITY” IS

Consumer behavior is changing: Price awareness meets experience, and higher quality is in demand. Between premium concepts that offer high levels of experience and the successful formats found in the discount sector, there is less and less room for what has long been known as the “mid-range segment”. ACROSS spoke to Lars Jähnichen, Managing Director of the IPH Gruppe, and Dr. Johannes Berentzen, Managing Director of BBE Handelsberatung, about the causes, effects, and opportunities associated with this development – with a focus on consumer behavior, space requirements, and the impact on locations and the real estate industry.

Rüdiger Dany, CEO of NEPI Rockcastle, is leaving his position in March 2026. /// credit: NEPI Rockcastle, Bellier

NEPI ROCKCASTLE CEO RÜDIGER DANY TO LEAVE COMPANY IN MARCH 2026

Rüdiger Dany, CEO of NEPI Rockcastle, the leading owner, operator and developer of shopping centers across Central and Eastern European markets and the third largest listed retail real estate company in Europe by value of assets, is leaving his position in March 2026.

Recommended reading: A look at ‘Modern Retail Management’

With the book Modern Retail Management, Dr. Johannes B. Berentzen and Dr. Philipp Hoog present an outstanding collection that takes an in-depth look at the pressing issues of today’s – and tomorrow’s – retail landscape. Featuring 24 thought-provoking chapters by 36 leading experts, the book offers a rare blend of academic insight and practical guidance. From digital transformation and omnichannel strategy to sustainability and AI, this forward-looking volume equips readers with the tools and ideas needed to thrive in a rapidly evolving sector. Essential reading for anyone looking to shape the future of retail.

Marcus Wild is a Member of the Executive Board of SPAR Group Austria /// credit: IMAGE: PETER OSWALD

ACTIVE PARTNERSHIPS WITHIN THE SHOPPING CENTER BUSINESS: WE HAVE TO BE OPEN TO ADDRESSING THE CORE AREAS OF SOCIETAL CONCERN

SPAR subsidiary SES – Spar European Shopping Centers and, more specifically, its responsible SPAR Executive Board Member Marcus Wild, the Founder and long-standing CEO of the company, are the pioneers of numerous innovations within the industry. While it is rooted in retail, that’s not the only reason why the company has always relied on partnerships – with retailers at its shopping centers and, more increasingly, with new players outside the traditional retail scene. As a result of a joint venture concluded in the summer, health parks will be operated by SES at selected shopping centers in the future. ACROSS Managing Director Reinhard Winiwarter spoke with Marcus Wild about the long-term benefits of such partnerships, their impact on the future of shopping centers, and why thinking outside the box is always worthwhile.

credit: umdasch the store makers

umdasch The Store Makers opens expansion of site in Litomyšl, Czech Republic

On 23 April 2025, after a construction phase of around one and a half years, umdasch The Store Makers celebrated the opening of its expanded production and office space at its Czech site in Litomyšl. The investment in additional capacity is an important step for the shopfitting company to strengthen its own production and versatile service portfolio in Europe.

Martin Brühl /// credit: Union Investment

Martin Brühl Leaves Union Investment

After a successful and dedicated period as Chief Investment Officer, Martin Brühl resigned from his position at Union Investment Real Estate GmbH on April 4, 2025.

CEO PERSPECTIVES 2025 – When the Tenant Thrives, the Asset Flies
What will it take in 2025 for an asset to take off? For this special, we asked leading figures in the European retail real estate sector what they see as the most significant current challenges, as well as the solutions needed, for retail assets not just to survive but to prosper.
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