Poland Retail stock breaches 14 mln sqm

Almost three-quarters of the new supply was delivered in the second quarter, when nearly 150,000 sqm of retail space came onto the market. Ten new schemes opened during the period, while seven existing ones were expanded. All of these projects were retail parks.

The amount of modern retail space under construction remains high, with more than 600,000 sqm of leasable space in the pipeline. Retail parks account for as much as 95 pct of this total. Most of the projects are due to be completed by the end of this year.

Strong activity in smaller towns and on the outskirts of major cities

The largest schemes completed during the period were retail parks in towns with fewer than 100,000 residents: BIG Dzierżoniów (16,800 sqm) and M Park Zawiercie (15,500 sqm). Towns of this size accounted for nearly 60 pct of all newly delivered retail space.

Developers are also keen to locate new projects on the outskirts of Poland’s largest cities. Recent developments include projects in Niepołomice in the Kraków metropolitan area, Kosakowo in the Tri-City area and Ozorków in the Łódź metropolitan area. In June, the expanded section of the Stara Papiernia retail complex in Konstancin-Jeziorna, in the Warsaw metropolitan area, also opened. More suburban projects are in the pipeline, including Świderek in Otwock, with around 23,000 sqm of leasable space, as well as projects in Pruszcz Gdański.

Redeveloping shopping centres that were originally anchored by hypermarkets remains a key trend. In the second quarter, Comfy Park, a retail park with around 16,000 sqm of leasable space, opened on the site of the former Glinki shopping centre in Bydgoszcz. More retail parks replacing former hypermarket buildings are set to appear across Poland later this year. Projects in Kalisz and Rybnik are already being redeveloped. Gliwice’s Europa Centralna shopping centre is also being transformed. Following demolition work, it is being converted into a retail park that will provide 10,000 sqm of leasable space.
Wojciech Wojtowicz, senior analyst in Colliers’ market insights team

In the largest metropolitan areas, some retail schemes are making way for other uses. Demolition work is under way at Arkady Wrocławskie, while the shopping centre in Gdańsk’s Chełm district closed at the end of June. More closures are expected, including Galeria Bemowo in Warsaw, Alfa Centrum in Gdańsk and Krokus shopping centre in Kraków.

New brands

In the second quarter, The Leather Trading Company, Ksisters (both at Złote Tarasy) and Søstrene Grene (at Westfield Arkadia) made their Polish brick-and-mortar debuts. Poland’s first PadelCity courts also opened next to Arkadia shopping centre. Meanwhile, Swiss luxury watch brand IWC Schaffhausen opened its first Polish boutique at Plac Trzech Krzyży in partnership with W.Kruk. After a three-year absence from Poland, Trussardi returned to the market with a standalone outlet store at Designer Outlet Warszawa in Piaseczno.

Poland remains an attractive market with plenty of growth potential for a wide range of brands. This applies across the price spectrum, from value retailers and fast-food chains to premium and luxury brands. We are also seeing more brands, such as Trussardi, return after several years away, having once again recognised the potential of the Polish market. We can expect more debuts and comebacks in the coming months, particularly in fashion and food service. Where brands choose to open their first stores varies and largely depends on their positioning strategy. Premium and luxury brands need the right retail environment — the opening of IWC Schaffhausen at Plac Trzech Krzyży in Warsaw is a good example. At the same time, outlet centres remain a popular route for brands entering or returning to the Polish market, as shown by Trussardi’s comeback and GAP’s return to Poland in 2024. While most new brands still focus on Warsaw’s leading shopping centres, some are taking a different approach and starting their expansion in regional cities. In recent months, this has been the strategy of food brands such as iLunch and Burgermeister, as well as fashion brand kay/day, which opened its first store in Kraków in July.
Marta Cegielnik, co-managing director of Colliers’ retail department

Leisure and sport gaining ground in retail schemes

The leisure and entertainment segment is also expanding rapidly, including the fitness sector. Fabryka Norblina welcomed KNOX, a boutique high-intensity interval training studio occupying 420 sqm. The Mysiadło retail park added San Padel courts to its offering. Xtreme Fitness has opened locations in several new retail parks, including those in Bydgoszcz and Ozorków, while Zdrofit launched a gym in the retail park on Kłobucka Street in Warsaw. Centrumrowerowe.pl stores have joined the tenant line-ups at M1 Zabrze and Comfy Park Bydgoszcz. At Galeria Bronowice in Kraków, Decathlon also expanded its store.

The growing supply of retail parks and increasing market saturation mean that the success of new projects is no longer determined solely by location, accessibility or the demographic potential of their catchment areas. As competition intensifies, the ability to build a lasting competitive advantage through a carefully planned tenant mix is becoming increasingly important. This means not only everyday shopping operators and destination tenants, such as DIY stores, home-furnishing retailers and drive-thru restaurants, but also brands that give a project a distinctive identity and respond to changing consumer expectations. This trend is reflected in the growing presence of wellness, sports and leisure operators, as well as educational and entertainment concepts. Modern architecture and high-quality common areas are also becoming increasingly important, helping to make projects more attractive and strengthen the image of the new generation of retail parks.
Anna Radecka-Łysiak, co-managing director of Colliers’ retail department

Discount retailers continue to expand as well. The off-price segment is also seeing new openings. In the second quarter, TK Maxx opened new stores at Galeria Kazimierz in Kraków and Pasaż Grunwaldzki in Wrocław.