Once considered a purely transactional asset class, retail in CEE is rapidly evolving into a platform for experience, community, and brand identity. This shift was at the centre of the discussion at SEE Property Forum 2025, where industry leaders explored how shopping centres are adapting to changing consumer expectations, ESG requirements, and the growing demand for meaningful, multi-use spaces.
Romanian e-commerce giant eMAG is gearing up for its 15th annual Black Friday event on November 7, which the company expects to set new records for the online commerce industry.
Romania's retail sector delivered 186,000 sqm of new shopping centres and retail parks in the first three quarters of 2025, already exceeding the 180,000 sqm delivered across the entire 2024. Developers plan to complete an additional 30,000 sqm by year-end, bringing the total annual supply to approximately 217,000 sqm.
CEE economies have been delivering solid GDP growth, outpacing many Western European peers despite external trade uncertainties and recent inflationary pressures, according to Colliers' latest report.
Nepi Rockcastle has inaugurated its first photovoltaic park in Chișineu-Criș, Arad County, Romania, marking a milestone in the shopping centre developer's sustainability efforts.
Romania is positioning itself as a key retail market in Central and Eastern Europe, with developers shifting focus from large cities to smaller communities, according to a Colliers report. While large cities previously concentrated three quarters of modern retail stock, rising incomes and demand for modern formats are making communities of around 50,000 inhabitants attractive for new investment, with retail parks driving development.
Foreign direct investments (FDI) in Romania's real estate and construction sector more than tripled between 2014 and 2024, increasing by €15.1 billion to reach €21.6 billion by the end of last year. The sector's share of total FDI stock rose from 10.6% to 17.3%, according to National Bank of Romania (BNR) data analyzed by Cushman & Wakefield Echinox.
Nhood Romania has announced a partnership with Reuben Brothers to transform the former Solventul industrial platform in Timisoara. The 45-hectare site, with a history dating back to 1869, will be converted into a primarily residential area with integrated retail, office, service, and public amenities.
The seasonally adjusted retail trade volume remained stable across the EU, with a modest 0.1% increase in the euro area compared to July 2025, according to Eurostat.
Froo Romania Retail, part of Zabka Group, has opened a new Froo store in the America House office building in Bucharest's Piata Victoriei area. The lease transaction was brokered by Cushman & Wakefield Echinox.
PPC Energie, the electricity supplier with approximately three million customers, has announced its expansion into the retail sector, becoming the first energy company to...
Agora Mall Arad reopened its doors following an extensive renovation and repositioning process, with strategic consultancy provided by the retail team at Cushman & Wakefield Echinox.
DIY retailer Hornbach will inaugurate its tenth local store on September 3. The new location, the fourth in Bucharest, represents an investment of more than €48 million.
The industrial developer WDP has signed an agreement with Action, the international non-food discount chain, for the development of a new distribution centre.
Bucharest is consolidating its position within the Central and Eastern European (CEE) real estate market, combining rental growth across major asset classes with investment yields that remain well above Western European levels, according to the DNA of Real Estate Europe Q2 2026 report published by Cushman & Wakefield. Across Europe in Q2 2026, prime office rents rose 4.5% year-on-year, retail rents increased 3.0%, and logistics rents grew 2.4%, while investors remained selective as yield movements pointed to a more balanced market following the repricing cycle of recent years.
Energy company Electrica informs investors and the capital market that it has obtained the technical grid connection permits (ATR) for 17 new battery energy storage projects (BESS), with a total capacity of approximately 700 MWh.
The European Retail Banking Radar, Kearney's latest study now in its 18th edition, shows that Europe is entering a period of normalisation following the conditions of 2023–2025. For Romania, the challenge extends beyond the normalisation of interest rates.
Romania's national electricity transmission network operator, Transelectrica, has halted scheduled maintenance shutdowns to ensure the grid operates at maximum capacity during an ongoing extreme heatwave. The preventive measures aim to mitigate operational risks associated with severe weather conditions.
Digi Spain has announced its intention to launch an initial public offering (IPO) on the Spanish stock exchanges, aiming to raise approximately €150 million.
