The French city of Cannes is to host 8,500 retail real estate professionals at another
MAPIC exhibition starting 14 November. MAPIC is one of the leading and most prestigious
international trade shows for the retail real estate industry organized by REED MIDEM.
It is estimated that this year’s number of retailer representatives will reach a
record-breaking figure of 2,400. The confirmed first-time MAPIC attendees include brands such
as Calvin Klein Jeans and Tiffany & Co. Apart from exhibitors, the event will also be
attended by leading international retail real estate sector representatives, mainly investors,
developers and tenants. Last year’s MAPIC was attended by more than 8,000 visitors.
MAPIC also provides an opportunity to promote the Polish retail market. According to Cushman
& Wakefield’s data, Poland’s modern retail space stock totals 10.9 million sq m, with some
800,000 sq m under construction and another 600,000 sq m at an advanced planning stage
scheduled to be completed by the end of 2014. Over 350 participants from Poland will attend
MAPIC 2012. In addition, for the third year running, a special discussion panel on Poland will
be organized and moderated by Marek Noetzel, an expert from Cushman & Wakefield’s Polish
office.
Marek Noetzel, Partner in Retail Department of Cushman & Wakefield, said: “MAPIC brings
together key businesses and players in the commercial real estate sector every year. On a micro
scale it provides an excellent opportunity to talk about schemes in the pipeline, and on a
macro scale to talk about market trends and growth.”
The Country of Honour at MAPIC 2012 is Russia with many dedicated discussion panels. Central
themes of this year’s 18th edition of MAPIC include mobile technologies and challenges faced by
traditional retailing from the growing e-commerce sector.
MAPIC will also feature an award ceremony, but in this year’s competition there will be no
Polish representatives among MAPIC Awards 2012 finalists. Last year the award for the Best
Refurbished Retail Development went to Galeria Echo in Kielce.
Below are opinions of the participants of the discussion panel on Poland about the
development of the Polish retail market and expectations for MAPIC 2012:
Agata Brzezińska, Country Manager, Neinver Polska:
“MAPIC is an excellent opportunity for Neinver Polska to present our developments to
potential tenants. As a leader in the factory outlet segment we are able to launch new brands
on a large scale through the FACTORY chain. At this year’s event we are planning to promote
Galeria Malta in Poznań and NEINVER’s flagship development in Poland Galeria Katowicka with 250
stores to open within the next few months. We are confident that retailers and investors from
around the globe will again recognize the potential of the Polish commercial property market,
which will result in fruitful discussions.”
Peter Todd, Partner, Resolution Real Estate Advisers LLP:
“MAPIC is a great forum for those involved in Pan European retail real estate bringing key
occupiers together with owners. Poland has shown relatively strong economic performance and the
retail sector is continuing to mature and consolidate. Occupier markets are challenging and
careful asset selection is critical to investors but despite this, great opportunities for
growth do exist.”
Paul Kuśmierz, President, Master Management Group:
“I truly believe that the success and scale of growth on the part of retailers, developers,
and investors in Poland is arguably the most notable throughout Europe. National brands are
stronger than ever, the market is still far from saturation, and investors are seeing the
advantage of an industry on the cusp of maturity. We are seeing the first wave of expansions
and revitilizations as owners fight for a dominant position in the local market and to keep
their centers fresh and competitive against newer projects.”
Eduard Zehetner, CEO, Immofinanz:
“Although Poland is together with Moscow the best performing region in Eastern Europe
developers have to be realistic about projects and the related feasibility.”
Marcin Materny, Shopping Center Department Director Foreign Projects, Echo Investment:
“At this year’s MAPIC we will present several new retail schemes under construction in Poland,
as well as in Romania and Hungary. As regards Polish schemes, we will focus on opportunities
provided by cities serving as regional centres. Extensions and modernizations seem to be an
important trend in the next years, heralded and confirmed by the enormous success of the
extended Galeria Echo, which received a MAPIC AWARD last year.”
Discussion panel on Poland:
“Poland: is sky the limit?”
Thursday, 15 November, from 12.00 to 12.45
Venue: Cannes, at the Palais des Festivals, the Oxford room, level 01
The main topics to be covered will include:
• What is the climate like for new projects in Poland? Pros and cons for investing in
Poland.
• Where will investors look for bargains? What kind of yields are there for the best shopping
centres, smaller malls in medium-sized towns and what kind of yields do even more popular
retail parks offer.
• What are the latest trends? Are big cities oversaturated and investors turn their attention
to the medium-sized cities?
• Will developers and owners of discount centres triumph in post-credit crunch times?
Participants:
Paul Kuśmierz, President, Master Management Group
Marcin Materny, Shopping Center Department Director Foreign Projects, Echo Investment
Peter Todd, Partner, Resolution Real Estate Advisers LLP
Eduard Zehetner, CEO, Immofinanz
Agata Brzezińska, Country Manager, Neinver Polska
Moderator: Marek Noetzel, Partner, Retail Department, Cushman & Wakefield
Nominees for MAPIC Awards:
Best fashion and footwear retail concept:
• Adidas NEO (Germany)
• Finsbury (France)
• Orchestra (France)
Best food and beverage retail concept:
• Coffea (France)
• EXKI (Belgium)
• H3 – New Hamburgology (Portugal)
Best high street retail real estate development:
• City of Marseille – New shopping and cultural district (Marseille, France)
• ION Orchard (Singapore)
• Santa Monica Place (Santa Monica, United States)
Best multichannel strategy:
• FNAC (France)
• McDonald’s (France)
• Sephora (France)
Best retail and leisure development:
• Akbati Mall (Istanbul, Turkey)
• Hyundai Department Store (Daegu City, South Korea)
• Morocco Mall (Casablanca, Morocco)
Best retail global expansion:
• Cold Stone Creamery (United States)
• Debenhams (United Kingdom)
• LIST (Italy)
Most innovative shopping center:
• L’Atoll (Angers, France)
• Roppenheim The Style Outlets (Roppenheim, France)
• The Star Vista (Singapore)
More information on the official website of MAPIC’s organiser: www.mapic.com