Nai Pickard

MAPIC 2011: интерес к Украине растет, но, главным образом, за счет сетевых ритейлеров

16-18 November in Cannes over 8, 000 people packed the aisles at MAPIC 2011, the largest international retail real estate event. Attendants came from 63 countries, among them, over 300 retail businesses attended for the first time, bringing retail attendance to 2300 delegates – a 12% jump from last year.

Delegates from France, Italy, the UK, Russia and Belgium represented the top five by number, with an increase in visitors from each market over 2010.  Besides, MAPIC welcomed exhibitors from an increasingly diverse range of countries including Brazil, Chile, China, Singapore and Japan.

Retailers were focused mostly on prime locations in prime cities, which are the key European markets. But, at the same time, investors also try to find ways to enter the developing markets.

A feature of the market this year has been the ongoing emergence of the outlet sector. With consumers more price conscious than ever and retailers wrestling with stock overhangs, new outlets are springing up and at MAPIC new offers came to the fore.

While the property Influencers agreed that there is a general slow-down in the market, and that it’s a challenging time, the consensus is that the market’s reaction is very different from that seen in 2008. Companies are pushing forward with expansion and development plans with “cautious optimism” – an expression that could almost be the MAPIC 2011 slogan. And though nobody is expecting a swift and a clear resolution of the crisis, experts agree that Central and Eastern European market is anticipating significant increase in retail sales.

On the stand NAI Pickard presented a number of interesting Ukrainian retail real estate projects. Among them were projects at the leasing stage, seeking partners, and several finished and fully leased large shopping centres, offered for sale. Compared to the previous year there was more interest in Ukraine, but mainly on behalf of chain retailers.

Sergey But, managing partner of NAI Pickard, noted: “Despite the crisis agitation in Europe, central and Eastern European countries remain the most attractive direction in the view of retail space. The Ukrainian market has considerable potential, as it has been developing for only 10 years while Western Europe spent 50 years on the creation of a retail structure. There are new possibilities for local retailers as well as international ones. We regularly participate in MAPIC, each time expanding the circle of potential partners and clients.