Unibail-Rodamco-Westfield (URW) is continuing to drive transformation in the retail sector, announcing the international expansion of its Westfield Grand Prix in France, UK, Spain, Germany and Austria. The competition, which was founded in 2007 in France to find the most promising and innovative retail concepts, will now focus on sustainable businesses.
Anne-Sophie Sancerre, Chief Customer & Retail Officer, said: “The new edition of the Westfield Grand Prix is a key initiative in our ambition to support the development of the future of sustainable retail. We want to create a platform to highlight sustainable concepts, an ambition we share with our customers – 80% of whom tell us that sustainability plays a key role in their purchasing decisions. The competition will enable us to find new, talented entrepreneurs and facilitate their success through the strength of the Westfield centres and through access to the millions of visitors who come through our doors.”
In each region, winners of the Westfield Grand Prix will be selected by a panel of experts, with one chosen by the public through votes cast by visitors to Westfield centres. Winners will receive a lease of up to one year, free of charge, in a Westfield centre to test their concept across a large customer base, along with tailored support from URW experts and a dedicated advertising plan developed by the retail media agency Westfield Rise.
The programme is open to sustainable concepts and start-ups across retail, leisure, dining, entertainment, health & wellbeing, and services, whose solutions facilitate more responsible consumption and sustainable living.
For more details or for entry information, please visit here.