Cosmetics retailer Hebe, and developers Equilis, Acteeum Group and TREI Real Estate all win multiple accolades at Central Eastern Europe’s top retail awards ceremony.
Recognizing the importance of Central Europe’s retail markets EuropaProperty was proud to host the 13th annual EuropaProperty CEE Retail & Marketplace ONLINE. The live event was simultaneously broadcast using the latest digital technology via the Zoom and YouTube platforms. Guaranteeing that the show must go on, and the top-performing companies from the region could still be recognised for their phenomenal achievements in the retail real estate sector.
Welcome to the brave new world of ONLINE events
“We at EuropaProperty have become pioneers as well as digital innovators in the field of online events. Like many of our partners, clients and friends we have had to adapt our business model quickly to help in these challenging times. So, I’m very pleased that we have now established ourselves as the number one digital awards event organisers, and have delivered the region’s very first CEE Retail Awards and Marketplace ONLINE,” commented event organiser and publisher of EuropaProperty, Craig Smith.
Currently, the coronavirus pandemic is putting all businesses through unprecedented challenges. In this way, the CEE Retail Awards and Marketplace recognised and appreciated those who have remained faithful to their core values in the face of the crisis and unfavourable market situation.
The pandemic has been a catalyst for change in the retail market and accelerated the restructuring or closure decisions of many. However, Covid-19 could be the rocket fuel of the commercial revolution of the 21st century.
Accentuating the strength, brilliance and resilience of the region’s retail sector, many key retailers were awarded on the night. Overall Retailer and Specialty Retailer of the Year went to cosmetics retailer Hebe, which was recognised for its continued expansion and confidence in the region throughout a challenging 2020.
Swedish fashion retailer KappAhl was awarded Fashion Retailer of the Year. KappAhl was recognised by the jury for its commitment to sustainability and revolutionary attitude to the entire fashion industry with innovative business models and a progressive approach to transformation.
2020 will not be known only as the year of the pandemic, but also the year when consumer paradigms shifted, the e-commerce tipping point was reached and the chasm from niche to the mainstream was crossed. The last months have highlighted a significant increase in e-commerce, which has registered a spectacular evolution in record time, and 2020 is seen as a time of strong growth in this segment.
In this way, a couple of mega players on the e-commerce market were awarded on the night. Online Retailer went to Europe’s leading online platform for fashion, Zalando and Retail Innovation went to Modivo by eobuwie.pl, a CCC Group brand offering a wide product offer and a unique, multi-channel trade model including complimentary channels of reaching customers.
Other major winners for the retailer-specific awards recognised and appreciated by the jury included: KFC, Green Coffee Nero and Media Markt in the Food and Beverage and Consumer Electronics categories respectively.
Equilis’ Monika Wozniak-Zawiola was named this year’s Industry Professional. The Jury recognised her strong leadership and leasing skills under challenging market circumstances while delivering the developer’s new retail projects in Galeria Chelm and Galeria Andrychow in Poland, both winning projects at the event.
2020 was a good year for retail park and convenience store development in Poland and the project award winners reflected the changing dynamics of the country’s retail development market. Many of this year’s nominees formed extensions, refurbishments, and new retail park concepts.
Equilis and Acteeum Group’s Galeria Chelm won Retail Project of the Year in the small category. The joint developers also won the Future Project of the Year award for Galeria Andrychow.
Other developers recognised on the night included TREI Real Estate Poland, which won the Retail Park and Overall Developer of the Year award. TREI also won the Retail Park of the Year for Vendo Park Częstochowa.
Another project winner highlighting the new development trends on the market was White Star Real Estate’s hugely popular and spectacular mixed-use project Elektrownia Powiśle, which won the Retail Renovation/Refurbished Project of the Year award.
Eagle Hill’s Galerija Belgrade won Shopping Centre of the Year in the large category and AFI Europe’s AFI Cotroceni, one of the biggest shopping centres in Romania, received the coveted Ultimate Destination award.
Echo Investment walked away with the Mixed-use Project award for their highly popular, multi-functional development in the centre of Warsaw, the Warsaw Brewery. Galeria Wiślanka won the medium-sized retail project award.
The event is the only one of its kind with a real focus on the retail market with awards for top retailers, innovators, developers, bankers, projects and specialized service firms.
Multi-disciplined investor, developer IMMOFINANZ was recognised by the jurors for its investment success in the region. Through 2020 the company has continued its investment strategy of seeking investment opportunities in development projects, for example, continuing its successful STOP SHOP brand of retail parks throughout the region.
Master Management Group picked up the Property Management Firm of the Year award, highlighting the growing importance of good asset management, and the extensive nature of the firm’s retail portfolio under management.
Global consultants CBRE picked up the Agency of the Year award. Additional company awards were presented to Dentons, one of the world’s biggest law firms, which received the Law Firm of the Year award. Tax and Financial Adviser of the Year once again went to TPA and Professional Service Provider of the Year went to MK Illumination.
Many industry leaders and associated companies from the real estate industry were also awarded on the night. CFE Polska won the Construction Firm of the Year, mBank was voted Bank of the Year and Shopping Centre Director of the Year was awarded to Blue City’s Yoram Reshef.
EuropaProperty’s esteemed panel of highly-respected business leaders from around the region judged the nominations for the awards categories on their merit and positive impact on the market. World-renowned audit firm EY monitored the scoring and voting process.
The CEE Retail Awards and Marketplace once again enabled the industry’s key players to come together. The event proved itself as an unmissable opportunity to showcase the company and its services to the real estate sector and wider industries, as well as strengthening business partnerships and ensured unrivalled coverage and exposure.
Bringing people together has never been more important and this year’s CEE Retail Awards and Marketplace created a unique opportunity and platform for everyone to be entertained and share the experience of a highly coveted event, whilst learning about the developments and trends which will help shape the ‘new normal’ going forward.
Full List of Winners for 2020
http://bit.ly/38bKX09
