Foundation stone laid for the Designer Outlet Croatia
On Thursday, 20 July, there was held a ground-breaking ceremony for the largest outlet complex in Croatia, near IKEA Zagreb Store. The opening of the Designer Outlet Croatia is planned for spring 2018. Foundation stone was laid by representatives of the investors: Branko Mihajlov, the director of Designer Outlet Croatia, Sylvie Mutschler, the director of Swiss Mutschler Outlet Holding AG, Stefan Vanoverbeke, the director IKEA SEE and Thomas Reichenauer, the director of ROS Retail Outlet Shopping which will be responsible for management of the complex and outlet renting. Mato Cicak, head of the Municipality of Rugvica and Stjepan Kozic, Zagreb County Prefect, also joined the ceremony. Branko Mihajlov, the director of Designer Outlet Croatia, presented details of the new shopping destination: “We want to contribute to a further development of the local community. After the first phase of the construction, along with 400 new jobs, within Designer Outlet Croatia there will also be a market where family farms, primarily from the Municipality of Rugvica, will offer their products to our visitors. The shopping experience will be additionally enriched with architecture inspired by Croatian regions. We are convinced that Designer Outlet Croatia will become the favourite place for leisure and relaxation and provide a unique shopping experience.“ Frano Matusic, a delegate of the Croatian Prime Minister and State Secretary at the Ministry of Tourism, pointed out that the outlet complex will contribute to tourist offer in the vicinity of Croatian capital and attract many visitors from the region and neighbouring countries with its unique offer and its position on the intersection of highways. The ceremony was also attended by other representatives of state authorities - Marko Jurcic, a delegate and economic advisor to the President of the Republic of Croatia and Zeljko Uhlir, the Secretary of State at the Ministry of Construction and Physical Planning. The project was also supported by the representatives of the Embassies of Sweden and Austria in the Republic of Croatia and representatives of Croatian Chamber of Economy, Croatian Employers' Association and Croatian Chamber of Trades and Crafts.
PROJECT IN TWO PHASES
A total of 88 million euros will be invested in the two phases of the construction and accompanying content. After the first phase, which will be completed in spring 2018, the largest outlet complex in Croatia will extend to more than 15,000 square meters with around 90 shops. After the completion of the second phase of the project, the complex will extend to 25,000 square meters with around 150 shops, mainly containing various fashion brands. Together with IKEA Zagreb Store, Designer Outlet Croatia will provide visitors with accompanying content, such as fast food restaurants, a children playground and petrol station, which will be ready to use already in 2018, while the hypermarket, retail park and DIY Retail Park will be opened after the second phase of the construction.
OCCUPANCY RATE OF ALREADY 50%
‘Designer Outlet Croatia brings an entirely new retail concept to Croatia and that is why we, as an operator specialized designer outlets and innovative outlet shopping concepts across Europe, decided to participate We are very please, that our brand partners perceive the project in the same way, that we have currently an occupancy rate of 50%. We will incorporate our knowledge and experience in this project in order to provide Croatian citizens, visitors from neighbouring countries and many tourists with a unique shopping experience at affordable outlet prices’, said Thomas Reichenauer, the director of ROS Retail Outlet Shopping.
SUSTAINABLE CONSTRUCTION WITH BREEAM CERTIFICATE
Designer Outlet Croatia will be one of the first retail buildings in Croatia that will own BREEAM, the international certificate for green building. Namely, the project will involve many sustainable elements, such as the use of geothermal energy, LED lighting, solar panels on the roof, collecting rainwater and its reuse for the supply of irrigation and cleaning of various areas, as well as e-charging stations. Investing in Designer Outlet Croatia is a joint venture of IKEA Centres and the Swiss Mutschler Outlet Holding AG, companies which have already cooperated in a similar project Designer Outlet Algarve in Portugal. The largest outlet complex in Croatia is going to be managed by ROS Retail Outlet Shopping, the renowned Austrian outlet operator.