Retail Parks Face Challenges with Limited Tenant Pool, JLL Reports
According to a recent report by JLL, the retail park sector in Poland is experiencing rapid growth but faces challenges due to a limited pool of active tenants. Between 2022 and the first half of 2025, only 82 retail chains opened at least three new stores, with just 37 brands exceeding ten new locations. This limited tenant diversity, particularly in smaller cities, poses risks for developers seeking to expand in this format.
Retail parks have become a significant driver of the retail market, with their number growing from 147 in 2020 to 290 by 2025. However, the tenant mix remains concentrated, with value retail, clothing, and grocery supermarkets occupying 70% of the space. While over 20 clothing brands are active in retail parks, this is a fraction compared to the 1,300 brands present in traditional shopping malls. Developers may face challenges in securing tenants for new projects, especially in smaller cities where only 60 unique brands have been introduced since 2022.
In larger cities, retail parks offer greater diversity, with over 200 brands, including local grocery stores, service providers, and food concepts. However, clothing retailers still prefer traditional shopping malls when possible, further limiting the appeal of retail parks for this segment.
JLL experts warn that the constrained tenant pool could hinder the economic viability of new retail park projects, particularly in locations where multiple outlets of the same brand may not be sustainable.
Relevance to LPP S.A.: The report highlights challenges in tenant diversity within retail parks, which is significant for LPP S.A. as it continues its rapid expansion of brands like Sinsay. Limited tenant pools and competition for prime locations could impact the company's growth strategy in smaller cities and retail park formats.