We have set up two partnerships in France with innovative start-ups that have the potential to meet end customer needs and add value to our shopping centres under management, as well as improving the social sustainability profile of our assets.

Connecting local people and producers

Our start-up partner is an online platform that aims to strengthen the relationship between local producers and people through weekly pop-up markets offering direct sales. Shoppers order online and collect at the same time and place each week.

Cutting food waste

Around 10 million tonnes of food are wasted each year in France. We are helping to combat food waste by partnering with retail property company Klépierre and an innovative app to reduce food waste at Val d’Europe, a shopping centre near Paris with BREEAM in Use Excellent certification (Parts I and II). The startup’s app is based on the premise that restaurants inevitably throw away food as demand is difficult to predict. Consumers download the app, to see what food that would otherwise be thrown away is available near them. Meals are offered by restaurants at a discounted price, within a given time frame.

Other factors surrounding our new developments ensure that we include collaborate spaces that can be open to the public. Our flagship development in London will feature a viewing gallery open to visitors.