Transformation of former Cora hypermarkets nears completion

Almost 100% of new retail space secured with new brands

Mitiska REIM, the leading specialist investor in European convenience real estate, has announced that the transformation of the former Cora hypermarkets is now nearing completion, with almost 100% of the new retail spaces let to new brands.

Just over a year ago, Mitiska REIM acquired the seven Belgian Cora hypermarkets and Shopping Cora galleries on behalf of the MEREP 3 fund, together with a dedicated co-investment vehicle. Since then, the spaces previously occupied by the hypermarkets have been redeveloped and reimagined to accommodate a new generation of retailers.

The centers, now branded Shopping Cora, are located in Anderlecht, Woluwe, Rocourt, Hornu, La Louviere, Chatelineau and Messancy, and have a total gross leasable area (GLA) of approximately 232,000 m². New retailers that have opened stores in the centers include Delhaize, JYSK, Kiabi, Aldi, MediaMarkt, Action, Dreambaby, DreamLand, Wibra, Hema, Kruidvat, Extra Shop, Pronti and TEDi, plus Q8 petrol stations have opened at each site.

In November, the leading European off-price retailer HalfPrice will open five stores in Anderlecht, Rocourt, Hornu, Chatelineau and Messancy, with a sixth store planned for La Louviere in autumn next year. Lidl and JYSK will also open new stores at La Louviere next autumn.

Bram Thomas, Mitiska REIM’s Managing Director for Belgium, the Netherlands and France, comments: “Our goal has been to realize the full potential of these Cora assets by transforming them into modern, successful and sustainable grocery-anchored retail centers catering for the entire family. Our success in securing so many leading brands is testament to the value-add potential we saw in these sites and the ongoing resilience of the necessity retail sector.”

The transformation project will continue into 2027 with a third and final phase focusing on the overall customer experience and the modernization of the centers. From spring 2027, this will include the refurbishment of the shopping galleries, entrances, façades and surrounding areas, including the car parks, with the aim of making the sites more modern, welcoming and accessible.