MEC, a company specialising in the management and further development of retail locations, reported significant activity in space letting during the first half of 2026. A total of 128 new and follow-on tenancy agreements were concluded, covering a total area of approximately 72,000 square metres. This result is characterised by a combination of contract extensions and new openings by established retail companies, which underscores MEC's strategy of combining portfolio stability with the continuous adaptation of locations to customer needs and market changes.
Christian Thiele, Head of Leasing Management at MEC, commented on the developments, stating that a balanced industry mix thrives on both continuity and new impulses. He emphasised that contract extensions by successful tenants and their investments in their business premises represent a clear signal of the respective location's attractiveness. In parallel, new concepts and market participants ensured the relevance and market appropriateness of the managed retail locations.
Tenant Retention and Market Expansion
The high number of follow-on tenancy agreements signals the stability and consistency of the retail locations managed by MEC. A large number of existing tenants decided to continue their presence and invest in the modernisation of their sales areas as part of their contract extensions. Alongside these tenant retentions, MEC facilitated numerous new openings by established brands in recent months. Examples include the opening of Decathlon in Halle Center Peißen and Saarbasar Saarbrücken. Further new additions include Skechers in Sachsenpark Leipzig, Only and New Yorker in Saarbasar, Douglas in ORO Schwabach, and Woolworth in StadtCenter Düren. Primark and Rituals had already opened their new stores in Ostsee Park Rostock at the end of 2025.
Continuous Portfolio Management
The openings and contract extensions are an integral part of letting concepts tailored individually to each location. The primary goal is to retain existing successful tenants long-term within the properties while continuously developing the locations through the integration of new concepts, retailers, and offerings. For this purpose, MEC's Leasing Management works cross-functionally and closely with Centre Management, Commercial Asset Management, Technical Property Management, and other specialist departments. The letting strategy is consistently integrated into the overarching property strategy to ensure a holistic approach and sustainably secure the competitiveness of the retail properties.
This approach enables MEC to react flexibly to market changes and maintain the attractiveness of retail locations for both tenants and visitors. The strategic focus on both portfolio optimisation and new development contributes significantly to value creation and the long-term success of the managed properties.
