Page 3 - #201 September 2025

Editor’s Foreword - COVER STORY

I hope you all had a wonderful summer
and welcome back as event season
begins. Here in our September issue, PAGE
we have everything you might need to
catch you back up in the world of retail and leisure with all
the news, views and reviews you could need to ease yourself 28
back in after the break.

Till next time…
James Quinn, Editor
In June this year, Daiso Industries Company Limited’s continued
commitment to innovation, customer value and international
Publishers Comment - growth was recognised at the Global RLI Awards 2025, where
the company was named ‘International Retailer of the Year’.
As we step into September, I’m Learn more about their international expansion on pages 28-29.
reminded how quickly the pace of our
industry gathers momentum after the REGULARS
summer months, with event season
now firmly on the horizon. This issue of Retail & Leisure CONTENTS
International captures that energy and looks ahead to the
opportunities that lie before us. 04 RLI MEETS - MARCO BALDASSARI
Our cover feature celebrates Daiso Industries Company
Limited, a remarkable brand that is taking the world by 06 UK NEWS
storm with its bold international expansion and commitment
to delivering value across diverse markets. I’m also delighted 08 INTERNATIONAL NEWS
to share exclusive interviews with leaders shaping the future
of retail and leisure, including Mikkel Grene of Søstrene 10 AMERICAS NEWS
Grene, Connie Nam of Astrid & Miyu, Kike Sarasola of Room
Mate Hotels, Thomas Kusoffsky of Newbie and Mark Farhat 12 MIDDLE EAST NEWS
of MARK / GIUSTI. 14 ASIA NEWS
Alongside these, we explore adaptive retail spaces,
leisure & wellness, new technologies and India’s evolving 16 EVENT REVIEW - RLI CONNECT GLOBAL FORUM
retail landscape. This issue will also be distributed at NRF
2025: Retail’s Big Show Europe, ensuring our global insights 20 EVENT REVIEW - GLOBAL RLI AWARDS 2025
reach one of the industry’s most influential gatherings.
I look forward to connecting with many of you at upcom- 34 RETAIL INSIGHT - JOANNA BROWN
ing events over the next few months.
36 FOOD FOR THOUGHT - JONATHAN DOUGHTY
Warm regards,
38 LEISURE INSIGHT - KATHERINE CROOM
Jayne Rafter, Publisher
48 TECH TITANS - SHAPING RETAIL’S FUTURE
58 EVENTS COLUMN

22 24 30 32

SPECIAL FEATURES

22 - SØSTRENE GRENE 26 - ROOM MATE HOTELS 32 - MARK / GIUSTI 44 - ADAPTIVE RETAIL SPACES
Born in Aarhus, Denmark in 1973, A unique boutique hotel brand founded Founded in 2009 with a simple vision, Together, pop-ups and adaptive retail
the brand is currently embarking on twenty years ago, Room Mate Hotels is Mark Farhat wanted to provide unique spaces represent flexible, experience-
internatinal expansion whilst focusing on the perfect hotel stay for those who are pieces that carry meaning, protect mosaic driven retail that adapts quickly to
its digital transformation. seeking more than just a place to sleep. heritage and support communities. changing demand.

24 - ASTRID & MIYU 30 - NEWBIE 40 - LEISURE & WELLNESS 52 - SPOTLIGHT ON INDIA
From a passion project in her home, Debuting fifteen years ago within the When people do have the rare opportunity India’s retail landscape is a vibrant
Founder & CEO Connie Nam has grown Swedish fashion chain Kappahl, Newbie to switch off and relax, they want the ensemble of formats. Here, we take a
the brand into a movement that has is today a company where beauty is more best experiences in the most luxurious closer look at how its projects are placing
revolutionised the jewellery experience. than what meets the eye. environments possible. it on the mixed-use development map.

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