Shopping centers expect to bill 9% more this year than in 2022

The shopping center industry came to a standstill during the COVID-19 pandemic, so it is currently in the process of recovery. This year, sales have already returned to pre-health crisis figures, according to Carlos Neuhausexecutive president of the Association of Shopping Centers of Peru (ACCEP).

About, Domenico Pogui Palmamarketing manager Mall Aventuraemphasizes that the recovery in sales has come hand in hand with the change in customer habits, who have reduced their visits to malls, but have increased their consumption. “Families have a ticket higher. On a family visit, the client spends S/210 on average, before the figure was lower,” stands out.

Likewise, it points out that the percentage of conversion has also increased. “Of every 10 people who visited a mall before the pandemic, they ended up buying 5, today they end up buying 6 or 7 out of every 10“, says.

According to Neuhaus, this new behavior has maintained the optimism of the sector, which this year, excluding inflation, “expects to grow between 2% and 3% compared to 2022.” lThe initial forecast was to advance 10% during 2023.

In addition, shopping centers are expected to significantly exceed the level of billing of 2022. “This year it is estimated that l“Shopping centers have a turnover of S/36,000 million in the country, 9% more than the S/33,000 million that were registered last year”, commented the executive president of ACCEP to The Republic.

Expectations at the end of the year

Despite efforts, visitor flow has yet to fully recover and currently remains between 80% and 85% of pre-COVID-19 levels. For example, in the case of Santa Anita Mallpreviously there was an average of 1.5 million visits, but currently it is around 1.2 million. However, it is projected to reach this figure towards the end of the year.

Expectations, both in terms of sales and attendance, are now focused on the Christmas campaign, which represents 20% of the total annual sales of shopping centers. “The expectation is that the Christmas campaign Help us make up for everything that has been lost in the first and second quarters, which have been hit by Cyclone Yaku and the lack of rain. We hope that operators can go out and finish placing their stocks,” says Pogui Palma.

For its part, Carlos Neuhaus assures that the arbitrary closure of establishments carried out by the municipalities also contributed to the performance of these establishments, both large and small, not being as expected in the first half of 2023. “However, andWe were working together to move forward with the approval of bill 4952, “which seeks to ensure that temporary closures proceed only when there is an imminent danger to the life, health or property of people,” he highlights. The initiative is now law.

Investment plans

The supermarket industry still maintains an optimistic approach in terms of making investments in the country and opening new stores. He Mall Aventura opened its first location on August 31 in Iquitos. Around US$65 million were invested in this work. In the first month, 600,000 visitors were achieved. The city has barely half a million inhabitants. ““Sales were between 30% and 40% above what was projected,” indicates Pogui Palma.

The firm will also inaugurate this month the Mall Aventura de San Juan de Lurigancho. In this new headquarters of the supermarket chain US$85 million have been invested. In the first year, the expected influx is 1.5 million visitors. In addition, it would generate 10,000 and 11,000 direct and indirect jobs.

According to Carlos NeuhausAmong the most important investments in the sector for the coming years is, for example, the shopping center that will be developed at the Jorge Chávez International Airport, as part of its expansion. “From ACCEPour goal is to continue with this commercial expansion, We want there to be five or six more shopping centers, including a second mall in San Juan de Lurigancho, but everything will depend on the stability of the country,” he concludes.