In early 2020, ULI Europe’s research team collaborated with the ULI Europe Retail and Entertainment Product Council to produce the Reshaping Retail report. This report was the latest in a series by ULI Europe which tracked the changes seen in the retail sector due to the impact of e-commerce, as well as technology in the broader sense.

Reshaping Retail examined the drivers for the near-paralysis in the European retail real estate investment market. It also examined what the triggers might be for retail owners to either sell or restructure the most affected parts of their portfolios, and for new and existing players to step in to buy, revitalise, or repurpose those assets. The report identified a number of potential triggers that could force the market to move forward, including the macro-economic environment, the state of the listed sector, as well as the response from banks and private equity players.

This update, Reshaping Retail – Accelerating Change, revisits the current status of retail real estate since the onset of COVID-19 in Europe in February/March 2020. It gives an update on the investment market as well as re-examining what role the triggers identified in the original report are now playing in the market.

The views in this report have been gathered through interviews with leading industry players both through one-to-one interviews and from their participation in webinars and other symposiums organised by ULI Europe and its National Councils.

About ULI Europe’s Retail and Entertainment Product Council 

The Retail and Entertainment Product Council is made up of senior executives who are full members of ULI in Europe. From shopping centres, high street shops, and out-of-town retail parks to restaurants, cinemas, and concert venues, ULI Europe’s Retail and Entertainment Product Council examines all aspects of ownership and operation in this sector. Through a programme of events and original content, the council draws ideas from both established best practices and emerging trends to provide members with insights into the retail and entertainment market.