The results of the Shopping Centre Awards - a shopping malls rating by the end of 2016 - became known on December 1. City Mall (Zaporizhia) became the best shopping and entertainment center of Ukraine in the category of Traditional average shopping mall. Rating has been held since 2014 by Ukrainian Retailers Association and Factum Groum research company. The award ceremony Shopping Centre Awards took place within Retail&Development Business Summit-2016.

Mikhail Merkulov, CEO Arricano Real Estate Plc, managing City Mall shopping center, said: "It is the second year in a row, when Arricano company's shopping mall was recognized as the best in its category, this year it was City Mall shopping center (Zaporizhia), in the previous year it was Prospekt shopping mall (Kyiv). This is a high quality facility management assessment for us, the recognition of professional environment of the entire Arricano team. We are proud of such a market assessment".

139 retailers and 15 experts were choosing the best shopping center of Ukraine among 25 regional shopping centers located outside the cities with a million-plus population, and were evaluating shopping centers in 5 categories. This year, as in 2015, the focus was on the location and accessibility, the architecture, the concept of objects, objects of management and marketing activities. In addition, two new criteria have been introduced in this year's questionnaires - leasable area of over 10 000 sq m. and not less than half of the network operators among tenants.

City Mall, Zaporizhia, was recognized as the best traditional average shopping center (GLA 20 000 - 40 000 sq. m.), the best traditional large shopping center - Fabrika shopping center in Kherson (GLA from 40,000 sq. m.); the best small shopping center (20 000 sq m.) - Manufactura shopping center in Sumy. Fabrika shopping center (Kherson) became the winner in nomination "The most customers’ oriented shopping center". Port City Mariupol won in nomination "The best architectural solution".

Anna Chubotina, director of the commercial areas department of Arricano company, emphasizes that the Shopping Centre Awards sets the benchmarks in the development of commercial real estate market: "The market of shopping centers of Ukraine develops each year. The quality of the regional centers is growing. Determining the industry leaders, the rating from retailers and experts set the shopping centers development vector. In addition, it gives potential retailers guidelines for the shopping centers selection, which provide high-quality services to both tenants and guests".