Shopper spending habits and how consumers purchase goods and services have changed significantly especially over the last few decades with the advent of cashless payment systems and contactless connectivity.

Competition in South Africa’s retail market is intense, with more than 25 million square metres of formal retail space currently, in excess of 2,000 existing shopping centres and close to three million square metres of formal retail space in the pipeline.

Shopping centres within the South African Broll portfolio generally experienced an increase in year-on-year (y/y) trading density growth in December 2016 with the exception of community centres, according to the Broll Retail Snapshot Q4: 2016 report.

Savvy African consumers demand clean, interactive and well operated shopping centres, as well as extended trading hours to indulge in retail therapy, according to the Broll Shopper Segmentation Report 2016.

Consumers know what they want from shopping centres - they demand the presence of certain retailers as well as extended trading hours, according to the Broll Shopper Segmentation Report 2016 Volume 1.

In South Africa, 50% of shoppers see stopping for something to eat and drink as an important part of the experience when visiting a centre.

Rapid urbanisation, population growth and an undersupply of formal retail space continue to drive growth in the retail sector across Sub-Saharan Africa.

According to a recent CBRE Global Investor Intentions Survey 2015, 53% of global investors plan to increase their investment purchases this year.

Most consumers still expect the physical mall to be their shopping channel of choice in two years despite an expected increase in e-commerce.

Apart from clean and safe shopping centres, South African consumers want an overall experience of visiting the shopping destination.