intu has welcomed the first physical store in Europe for AliExpress to its Madrid shopping centre, intu Xanadu. The shopping centre, which is a joint venture between intu and Nuveen Real Estate, has an annual footfall of 13 million visitors. Combining physical and online retailing, visitors to the AliExpress store can now shop a vast range of technology and electronics products, including small appliances, household items and wearables.
“The fact that one of the biggest retail platforms in the world has chosen intu for its first physical presence in Europe is a testament to the desirability of our winning destinations. This is the latest development in a growing trend where online retailers are taking physical space in high footfall destinations to improve their connection with customers," said Matthew Roberts, intu chief executive.
Marta Cladera de Codina, Managing Director Nuveen Real Estate Iberia, said: “Having a cutting-edge operator like Aliexpress is a real success story for intu Xanadú. This announcement will see us take another step forward in delivering a comprehensive retail offering to intu Xanadú visitors, making for an increasingly pleasant shopping experience and visit.”
