How BIG shaped the retail market in 2025: Lev Weiss about the development of BIG network in Serbia and the region

CEO Lev Weiss reflects on one of the most dynamic years for the company, during which acquisitions and the opening of new retail parks created more than 1,000 new jobs throughout the country.

- Today we manage a portfolio of 20 real estate properties - 18 shopping centers, one mixed-use project and one office building. There are as many as 17 shopping centers in Serbia, including the only two lifestyle projects on the market. The growth will certainly not stop here. In Serbia, we are open for new projects, and at the same time we are planning the expansion of several existing centers, as well as some other surprises.

In Montenegro, we have just completed the process of amending the urban plan for the expansion of the center in Podgorica, making it one of the most modern in the region. At the same time, we are developing a new retail park project in Nikšić.

When it comes to new markets, we are embarking on a project in Shkodra, Albania, one of the fastest growing economies of the region and an extremely promising market for further growth of the BIG network. It is our ambition to develop more retail parks in this country in the coming years.

In five years, we see BIG as the undisputed regional leader - a company that sets standards in retail and a brand that every consumer recognizes for its superb shopping experience and numerous free contents.

- Opening more than 100 new stores is an important result, but equally important is the entry of brands into cities where they have never been present before. Eastern Serbia is an excellent example. By opening the BIG Bor retail park, we drastically changed the shopping opportunities in that region. Similarly, IKEA in Čačak is now available to consumers in central Serbia, which is one of the most sought-after offers in the market. We also opened the only cinemas in Čačak and Šabac, as well as many other leading brands like Fashion & Friends and Buzz. In addition, we have brought a completely new, contemporary gastronomic experience.

Our impact on local economies is clear and multifaceted: we create new jobs, bring new brands, we increase competitiveness and contribute to the overall development of cities and communities.

- We see the enormous long-term potential of the Balkans and believe that a period of stable and continuous growth is ahead of us. But for us, expansion is not just about the number of projects, but the value we create for communities, partners and visitors.

I want to say to the partners that BIG will remain a reliable and predictable system, which builds trust in the long run and is there both in good and challenging times. That`s how we`ve been working since day one and that`s how we`ll continue.

And I can promise consumers that BIG will continue to raise shopping standards and develop centers that follow a contemporary lifestyle. In the cities where we operate, we want to be more than a shopping place - we want to be a part of everyday life.