Nearly two thirds of major retailers are reportedly planning to expand their store estates across Europe, according to new research from CBRE.
The property specialist’s European Retail Occupier Survey 2026 found that 65 per cent of retailers intend to grow their store portfolios, despite an uncertain economic backdrop globally.
It found that stores remain central to retailers’ wider growth strategies, with more than 90 per cent of respondents expecting physical locations to remain a core part of their business.
Some 93 per cent also said they plan to maintain or increase the size of their stores.
Despite increased pressures, CBRE said expansion remained the dominant strategy among the 76 pan-European and global retailers surveyed, which together operate an estimated 150,000 stores worldwide.
The report also highlighted a sharp rise in the use of AI across the sector.
More than half of retailers surveyed are now using AI to support their operations and customer experience, with adoption having doubled since 2024.
CBRE said the tech is becoming an increasingly important part of retailers’ strategies to improve efficiency, while creating more personalised customer experiences.
The survey, now in its third edition, covers retailers across 11 sectors and tracks investment priorities spanning physical stores, omnichannel operations and technology.
CBRE said the results point to continued resilience among retailers, with store networks growing even as businesses face a more difficult macroeconomic environment.
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