Poland’s Outlet Market: From Niche to Notable in Europe’s Retail Landscape

For years, outlet centres in Poland were seen as a small and secondary part of the retail sector. That perception is beginning to shift. A series of high-profile openings and expansions in 2025, coupled with stronger brand interest and investor appetite, has brought the format into sharper focus.

Today, Poland counts 15 outlet centres, which together make up just 2% of the country’s retail floor space. By comparison, retail parks and convenience centres dominate development pipelines, with nearly 545,000 square metres of new retail added in 2024 alone. Yet outlets are carving out a stronger role. The opening of Designer Outlet Kraków in May, with more than 21,000 square metres and over 100 shops, was among the largest debuts of its kind in Europe in recent years. In Gdańsk, an expanded food court and an enlarged sportswear offer have underscored how operators are moving well beyond the traditional focus on discounted fashion.

This repositioning mirrors a wider European trend. Across leading schemes, food and beverage has grown from a marginal share of units to a central feature. At Portsmouth’s Gunwharf Quays in the UK, for example, the proportion of dining outlets has risen from about a tenth of the total five years ago to around a sixth today. Operators are also investing in aesthetics, comfort, and leisure experiences, blending retail with hospitality to keep visitors on site longer.

The numbers show why Poland is catching attention. Outlet space density here stands at roughly 7 square metres per 1,000 inhabitants, compared with 11–13 square metres in the UK and Italy. Spain is at about 8, while France is closer to 6. In practice, this means Poland remains under-supplied by European standards, leaving room for new schemes or conversions of weaker shopping centres into outlets.

Investors are noticing. Transaction volumes in European factory outlet centres reached €653 million in the first half of 2025, topping €1 billion by late summer. Outlets have shown resilience compared to traditional malls, offering attractive returns at a time when other retail formats face pressure. Operators such as VIA Outlets have reported sales growth across their portfolios, with stronger contributions from food, sports, and lifestyle brands.

The tenant landscape in Poland is broadening as well. Premium names like Baldinini and Wellensteyn are joining popular labels such as adidas and New Balance, while the return of GAP shows that even global brands see outlets as a core sales channel. Recent surveys indicate that 16% of international retailers now list Poland as a target for expansion, up from just 10% a year earlier.

The country’s economic backdrop makes this shift even more significant. While many Western European markets are only edging out of a slowdown, Poland’s economy is expected to grow by more than 3% in both 2025 and 2026—among the strongest forecasts on the continent. Rising household consumption and expanding car ownership are strengthening the catchment for suburban outlet schemes, which often rely on improved road networks to draw visitors.

In a European landscape where new outlet centres remain scarce and most growth is delivered through store additions or expansions, Poland is becoming a case study in untapped potential. Outlets remain a niche, but they are increasingly seen as a strategic tool: for brands, a way to connect with customers while controlling costs; for investors, a resilient retail asset class; and for the market overall, a format with room to grow in both scale and sophistication.

Source: comp.