Siec 2025, the leading retail and urban development trade show, will spotlight this revival on 11th–12th June at Paris Expo Porte de Versailles, with a packed programme dedicated to the future of urban retail.
From competition to reinvention
Once caught between out-of-town malls and online platforms, high streets are being reimagined as places to live, connect and discover. The latest trend report from Siec sets the tone for 2025: city centres are becoming more human, rooted and multifunctional.
No longer defined by rows of shopfronts, these spaces now mix retail, food, green areas, coworking, and events. As Emmanuel Le Roch, General Delegate of Procos, puts it: “Retail must give people a reason to come—not just to buy, but to enjoy and connect.”
Experience, tech & shared spaces
This transformation is driven by:
- Immersive experiences and workshops
- Smart tech like interactive displays and connected lockers
- Flexible formats such as pop-ups and shared stores (e.g., Les Ateliers de la Rue in Lyon).
Together, these efforts have boosted footfall by up to 35% in some areas, revitalising entire retail ecosystems.
Local Data & Urban Flow Mapping
One of the key barriers? Real estate. Urban land is scarce—but new tools are helping. In Nice, the local Chamber of Commerce is using flow mapping and retail data to identify promising zones and support independent retailers. Its “Premiers Pas en Ville” programme and a €15 million fund are already showing results.
Local chains like Émilie and the Cool Kids have grown their downtown sales by 25%, and in Bordeaux, a targeted preemption policy has slashed vacancy rates from 17% to under 8% in just three years.
Food Is a magnet
Food and drink play a central role in drawing people back into town. As Astrid Bauters of Nhood says: “40% of visitors choose a destination based on its food and leisure offer.” The company’s Archipel project in Avignon is a prime example—revamping a mall into a destination featuring a local food court, coworking space and rooftop terrace.
Trends like fast-casual dining, revived covered markets, and sky-high experiences (Marseille’s Terrasses du Port) are reshaping the retail landscape. Diners also drive spend: each restaurant customer generates an average of €43 in surrounding shops, according to the Observatoire de la Restauration Urbaine.
Purpose-driven centres
The future of the city centre is also social and sustainable. At FREY, initiatives like the Social Club reflect a shift toward making urban retail spaces inclusive and community-led. Certified BCorp, the group is investing in green infrastructure, vocational training and participatory design.
Antoine Frey sums it up: “Our spaces aren’t just about buying. They’re about belonging.”
Siec 2025: Shaping Tomorrow’s City Centres
For Siec Director Arnaud Gallet, this edition is about solutions: “Retail plays a key role in territorial balance. Siec 2025 will bring together those building the city centre of tomorrow.”
Key highlights:
- Innovation Forum (1,200 m², 50+ start-ups)
- Assises de l’Urbanisme Commercial, with top speakers including Michel Barnier
- Agora des Territoires, connecting cities and investors
- Lab des Usages, an experiential test space for new ideas
With 5,000+ participants and 250 exhibitors, this year’s Siec promises to be the most ambitious yet.
Cities in the Spotlight
Siec 2025 will host leading cities including Bordeaux, Dunkerque, Metz, Calais, Grand Poitiers and more. As part of the Pitch Villes programme (in partnership with the Club des Managers de Centre-Ville), city leaders from Paris, Nice, Dunkerque and Bordeaux will share their success stories.
