Despite the challenging backdrop created by the COVID-19 pandemic, the Group continued to see good appetite from leading
international brands to open new and improved concepts in its centres.
The Group signed a number of key new lettings in the most relevant categories (in addition to lettings within the projects at
La Part-Dieu, La Maquinista and Westfield Mall of the Netherlands, discussed later):
- DNVBs: Jimmy Fairly in Westfield Carré Sénart and Westfield Rosny 2, Fashionalia in Parquesur, AliExpress in La
Maquinista and Parquesur, as well as a pop-up letting to Dennis Maglic in Westfield Mall of Scandinavia;
- Entertainment: Karl’s family outdoor entertainment park signed for 70,000 sqm in CentrO (replacing a former leisure
operator which departed in 2018), Farbie (children’s entertainment concept) in Shopping City Süd, and Indoor Golf (a
golf simulator) in Täby Centrum, Westfield Mall of Scandinavia and Nacka Forum;
- Experiential fashion: The Kooples in Westfield Carré Sénart, Polo Ralph Lauren in Westfield Mall of Scandinavia,
Anson’s (a Peek & Cloppenburg brand, market entry to Czech Republic) in Westfield Chodov, Primark in Garbera, and
Lacoste (upsized store) in Westfield Carré Sénart;
- Sports/fitness: ASICS in Westfield Carré Sénart, Nike in Westfield Mall of Scandinavia, Täby Centrum, and the first
Nike flagship stores in Poland at Westfield Arkadia and Galeria Mokotów, Clever Fit (a German fitness operator entering
the Czech market) in Westfield Chodov, JD Sports in Bonaire, and Munich in three Spanish centres (Bonaire, Garbera,
La Maquinista);
- Innovative Auto: Polestar, a Volvo group electric car brand, in Westfield London;
- Food and beverage: Elan café in Carrousel du Louvre, Big Easy (seafood / BBQ style restaurant) in Westfield Stratford
City, and Madame Shawn in CNIT and Westfield Euralille;
- Health and beauty: Rituals market entry to Poland in Westfield Arkadia and Normal in Polygone Riviera;
- Home: IKEA Planning Studio (a new concept within a shopping centre) in Westfield Chodov, and Maisons du Monde in
Garbera;
- Culture & Technology: LEGO market entry to Poland in two centres (Westfield Arkadia, Galeria Mokotów), Bosch in
Donau Zentrum, Dyson in Shopping City Süd, and Sky in Westfield London and Westfield Stratford City.
In terms of renewal activity in the period, the Group signed a number of important deals with Apple, including renewals in
La Part-Dieu, CentrO, Täby Centrum (the only Apple store in Stockholm), and Westfield Stratford City, in addition to a deal
for an upsized flagship store in Westfield London.
The Group also signed seven deals with H&M (including So Ouest, Villeneuve 2, Westfield Euralille and Solna Centrum)
and eight deals with the Inditex group (including Donau Zentrum, Bonaire, and Westfield Stratford City).
In addition, a number of important new stores were opened during the half despite lockdowns:
- France: Bershka opened their new flagship and largest in-mall store in Western Europe in Westfield Forum des Halles;
- Germany: Huawei opened their first store in a shopping centre in Germany at CentrO;
- Austria: John Reed opened their first store in a shopping centre in Austria at Donau Zentrum;
- UK: several key openings took place including Genesis and Hackett in Westfield London and Watches of Switzerland in
Westfield Stratford City;
- The Netherlands: in addition to the openings at Westfield Mall of the Netherlands described below, Rituals, with a new
flagship store, and Coolblue, a leading Dutch DNVB, opened in Almere;
- Poland: LEGO opened in Westfield Arkadia as well as Footlocker and Notino (a DNVB concept with their largest offline
format), and Nike and RTV Euro AGD (including a dedicated gaming zone) opened in Galeria Mokotów;
- Slovakia: Saunia opened their first outlet in the country at Aupark (1,144 sqm);
- Spain: Sephora opened in Parquesur;
- Sweden: the BLX Bouldering Club and ROJI Monster Ice Cream (a market entry to Sweden) opened in Westfield Mall
of Scandinavia.