Monday, 2 November 2026
VIA Outlets has increased the total gross lettable area (GLA) of its European retail portfolio by 30% year-on-year in 2026, following acquisitions in Italy and Spain and the completion of an expansion project in Switzerland. The company now operates 13 outlet shopping centres across ten European countries, with a combined lettable area of approximately 370,000 sqm.
The expansion follows the acquisition of Scalo Milano Outlet & More in Italy and The Outlet Stores Alicante in Spain. The transactions have enabled VIA Outlets to enter the Italian market while increasing its presence in Spain. Both properties have been incorporated into the company’s existing portfolio, with further investment and refurbishment programmes planned to improve their retail offering and operational performance. Financial details of the acquisitions were not disclosed in the announcement.
In Germany, VIA Outlets has secured final planning approval for a 7,450 sqm extension of Zweibrücken Fashion Outlet, located near the borders with France and Luxembourg. The development will increase the centre’s total GLA to approximately 38,920 sqm, providing additional retail space for international brands and strengthening its position within a cross-border shopping market. The company has not disclosed the project’s construction budget or anticipated completion date.
The latest development follows the completion of an extension at Landquart Fashion Outlet in Switzerland in April 2026. The project added more than 4,800 sqm of retail accommodation, representing an increase of approximately 22% in the centre’s lettable area. VIA Outlets also completed a 6,500 sqm expansion at Vila do Conde Porto Fashion Outlet in Portugal towards the end of 2025, reflecting continued investment in existing properties alongside portfolio acquisitions.
Leasing activity has remained substantial throughout 2026, with VIA Outlets reporting more than 300 leasing transactions across its European portfolio and the addition of over 80 brands during the year to date. These transactions indicate ongoing changes in tenant composition as the operator seeks to broaden its retail offering and improve the commercial performance of individual centres. However, the company has not provided comparable occupancy rates, rental growth figures or tenant sales data in its latest announcement.
The company’s investment programme has also been supported by additional financing. In October 2026, VIA Outlets entered the Swiss franc bond market with the issuance of a CHF 170 million, five-year senior unsecured green bond. The transaction broadens its financing sources beyond existing arrangements and provides additional funding flexibility for future investment activities.
Under VIA Outlets’ Green Finance Framework, an amount equivalent to the net proceeds of the bond will be allocated to qualifying environmental projects. The financing forms part of the company’s broader capital strategy, which includes acquisitions, property extensions and redevelopment of existing retail destinations. Specific allocations of the proceeds to individual projects have not yet been detailed in the announcement.
VIA Outlets also reported a score of 97 out of 100 in the 2026 Global Real Estate Sustainability Benchmark (GRESB), maintaining its position at the top of the benchmark’s European retail category and receiving a five-star rating for the seventh consecutive year. The assessment measures environmental, social and governance performance across participating real estate companies and investment portfolios.
The latest transactions reflect continued investment in established European outlet shopping destinations, where operators can expand their portfolios through acquisitions while increasing the commercial capacity of existing assets. For property investors, the combination of portfolio growth, active leasing and access to debt capital highlights the role of specialist retail operators in a market where asset management and redevelopment remain important components of investment strategies.
With its enlarged portfolio and further development projects planned, VIA Outlets is entering 2027 with additional opportunities to increase lettable space and adjust its tenant mix. The financial contribution of the recent acquisitions and extensions will depend on future occupancy, retailer performance, operating costs and the returns generated by the company’s ongoing investment programme.
