One year after opening Rive Gauche: 650,000 visitors a month

One year after opening, Rive Gauche, the new shopping centre in Charleroi, boasts excellent results. With 646,362 visitors a month on average, it is one of the busiest shopping centres and furthermore, has been nominated for ‘Best European Shopping Centre’. For managers Group Hugo Ceusters-SCMS and Devimo Consult, these great statistics are clear proof that the synergy between the two companies - also realised a year ago - is proving effective.

Precisely one year ago, Group Hugo Ceusters-SCMS took over Devimo Consult, subsidiary of AG Real Estate. The takeover was intended to increase expertise and facilitate further growth, both in Francophone Belgium and internationally. This was not without success.

Both property managers consider Rive Gauche, the new shopping centre in the heart of Charleroi, a shining example of their synergy’s positive effect. Barely a year after the opening of Rive Gauche, the shopping centre has shown very strong performance. For example, with 646,362 visitors a month on average, Rive Gauche was the second most-visited shopping centre in the portfolio of Group Hugo Ceusters-SCMS and Devimo Consult. Altogether, Rive Gauche welcomed an impressive 8 million visitors this past year, and the month of December was absolutely outstanding, with peak numbers reaching 32,000 visitors a day.

“Rive Gauche can look back on a fantastic first year, primarily thanks to the whole team who allowed them to distinguish themselves from the rest. In the coming months, the local Devimo management team can further benefit from the experience of Group Hugo Ceusters-SCMS, which has gained ample knowledge of both commercialisation and marketing.”

Ingrid Ceusters, CEO Group Hugo Ceusters-SCMS

‘Best Shopping Centre’

Moreover, at Mipim, the major international real estate trade fair in Cannes, the Walloon shopping centre was nominated as ‘Best Shopping Center’ in Europe. Additionally, Thomas Cornil, manager of Rive Gauche, was also selected as Manager of the Year in Charleroi.

This shopping centre in the heart of Wallonia has three floors, with a total retail floor space of 38.000 m² - more than five football fields - and is home to over eighty shops. The past year saw the opening of O’Tacos, MAC Cosmetics, Only and Hema, among others. This year, the property manager expects that other chains such as Hans Anders, Haagen Dazs and Produstore will move in as well.

“Devimo Consult and Group Hugo Ceusters-SCMS have always continued to function independently, but our goal has been achieved. After a single year, we can already see that our knowledge and expertise are being shared optimally, generating fresh energy for both our companies.”

Philippe Van den Broeck, COO Group Hugo Ceusters-SCMS

Central IT platform

Group Hugo Ceusters-SCMS and Devimo Consult recently won the deal for the management of fifty Carrefours all over Belgium, plus the management of Huis van de Automobiel. Besides this, Group Hugo Ceusters-SCMS is also in discussion to manage various offices in and around Brussels.

Meanwhile, a new IT platform is being implemented internally to centralise all Devimo and SCMS-Ceusters management information. This too should be another step forward for both companies.

Previously, Group Hugo Ceusters-SCMS managed 12 shopping centres and 17 retail parks, including Wijnegem Shopping Centrer, Les Grands Prés in Bergen and K in Kortrijk. The purchase of Devimo Consult this past year added 6 shopping centres, 16 retail parks and two hundred or so retail properties, including Waasland Shopping Centre in Sint-Niklaas, Galerie Toison d’Or in Brussel, Rive Gauche in Charleroi and Belval Plaza in the Grand Duchy of Luxembourg.