RealCast: Grocers gear up for Xmas, new moves on logistics, workers crave office return
Nicol Dynes, Dan Innes, Paul Strohm and Richard Betts
In the spotlight this week:
Supermarkets are attempting to capture the seasonal shopping spend, despite covid precautions and social distancing. Queuing software, 24-hour trading, door marshals, and traffic-light systems are being tried by different grocery retailers. Meanwhile, Frasers Group is attempting the rescue of UK retailer Debenhams which could save 12,000 jobs.
Elsewhere, the hunger for logistics is again evident with Aberdeen Standard Investors agreeing to buy a 60% stake in Tritax. German property company ECE, which has just opened another shopping centre in southern Germany, has sold a logistics development in south Berlin to Axa IMRA, also purchaser of a logistics portfolio in northern Italy.
Meanwhile, Axa has also completed its 22 Bishopsgate scheme in London. We hear that technology is the route to better buildings but Gensler’s workplace surveys reveal that most workers want to get back to “the office”, the amount of office space is expected to remain the same overall, but will be utilised less densely.
And, Andrew Smith departs Catella for Northern Horizon.
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