Polish shopping centres report steady customer numbers, 4.8% turnover growth in early 2024

In the first half of 2024, shopping centres in Poland experienced a stable customer turnout with a marginal decline of 0.1% compared to the same period last year. However, turnover for retail and service chains operating in 130 facilities saw a significant increase of 4.8% over the first five months, according to the Retail Institute’s analysis. The average turnover per square meter at the end of May was £933.2/sq m of lettable space.

Anna Szmeja, president of the Retail Institute, commented on the findings, “We continue to see a higher growth rate in turnover than in footfall, while keeping in mind the impact of inflation and price increases, which can significantly distort the data analysis. Men’s fashion shops, grocery stores, and services from the health and beauty category, surprisingly, saw significant declines in medium-sized galleries. However, other categories ended the five months in positive territory, with growth ranging from 1.4% to 15.4%.”

Large Centres (Over 40,000 sq.m. of Leasable Area)

Large and very large centres reported a visitation growth of 0.5% year-on-year and a like-for-like growth of 0.8% in 2024. Despite weaker performance in January (-4.7% y/y) and May (-1.1% y/y), the overall increase secured a positive half-year result. Turnover for these centres grew by 5.9%, making them leaders in the market. These centres benefit from their extensive retail, service, and entertainment offerings, which meet all needs under one roof, providing a significant advantage in urban areas where residents face increasing time constraints.

Medium-Sized Centres (20,000 sq.m to 39,999 sq.m of Leasable Area)

Medium-sized centres saw a decline in visitor numbers by 1.8% year-on-year in the first six months of 2024, with every month showing a downward trend. Despite this, turnover grew by 3% compared to 2023 until the end of May. Experts suggest that without fundamental changes in concept and positioning, these centres will struggle to compete with both online and offline shopping.

Small Centres (5,000 sq.m to 19,999 sq.m of Leasable Area)

In the first half of 2024, small centres experienced a 2.2% increase in footfall. These centres, which face significant pressure from both discounters and larger shopping centres, are performing well in local markets. This performance translated into a 6.4% year-on-year growth in turnover for the first five months.

Anna Szmeja concluded, “We are finalizing the preparation of detailed reports covering the entire retail market in Poland. Our analysis of shopping centres, retail parks, and the eCommerce sector is based on data from 1,380 facilities and 450 million transactions per month.”