EUROPEAN LUXURY STORES

With a presence of luxury department stores in major and prominent cities across Europe, Central Group reaches its heights of becoming an international luxury department store leader, and prides itself in its strong and extensive collection of European luxury department stores

40
STORES
7
COUNTRIES
36
CITIES

Selfridges

The United Kingdom

Founded in 1909, Selfridges, a luxury department store in the UK, is a landmark destination that's always providing new ways to surprise and amaze its customers in line with its vision to reinvent retail and purpose of imagining and creating a more sustainable future. From in-house cinema, restaurants, bars and skate bowl, to an extraordinary cultural program and ever-evolving roster of collaborators, Selfridges is a creative playground to discover and share new ideas. With 4 stores across 3 major UK cities: London Oxford Street, Manchester Exchange Square, Manchester Trafford, and Birmingham, alongside its digital offer, Selfridges is the only department store to be named Best Department Store in the World four times, and was also named ‘Best Retailer’ at the Positive Luxury Awards in 2020.

1909
Founded Year
4
Branch(es)

Brown Thomas

Ireland

Brown Thomas, a name that is synonymous with luxury, integrity and beauty, was founded in 1849, and in just its first few years established itself as a landmark store on Dublin’s main throughfare Grafton Street, with customers returning for a retail experience that was stylish, sophisticated and brimming with flair. The store has been steadfast, and a reliable icon of grace and good taste. Today, Brown Thomas has a collection of six stores in Ireland; Dublin, Dundrum, Cork, Galway, Limerick, and BT2 Blanchardstown, ready to rival the best in the world. Brown Thomas was named Retail Excellence Ireland's National Retailer of the Year 2020 and Ecommerce Retailer of the Year 2021.

1849
Founded Year
6
Branch(es)

De Bijenkorf

The Netherlands

The history of de Bijenkorf begins in Amsterdam in 1870. From a small haberdashery shop, the business has flourished into a chain of seven luxury department stores nationwide; Amsterdam, The Hague, Rotterdam, Eindhoven, Utrecht, Amstelveen and Maastricht. The journey of de Bijenkorf is intertwined with that of art, culture, fashion and social development of the Netherlands. It is now the most inspiring, creative, and sustainable department store where everybody can feel special.

1870
Founded Year
7
Branch(es)

Arnotts

Ireland

Ever since the decorative brass-clad doors were opened for the first time in 1843, Arnotts has been a landmark destination in the heart of Dublin, Ireland. A reliable family favourite with both Irish and international visitors, Arnotts offers a unique shopping experience like no other, and boasts an unparalleled collection of designer brands in fashion, beauty, homewares and more. Also with numerous restaurants, it is an ultimate go-to lifestyle destination of the city.

1843
Founded Year
1
Branch(es)

Globus

Switzerland

In 1907, Globus, a department store in Switzerland, first opened its door to welcome both local and tourist customers. With its extensive network of stores across all regions of the country; Zurich City, Zurich Bellevue, Geneva, Bern, Basel, Lausanne, Lucerne, St. Gallen, and Glattzentrum, Globus has been offering unique worlds of inspiration with international brands, exclusive products, sensual shopping experiences, and excellent service, thrilling guests with great passion and attention to detail.

1907
Founded Year
9
Branch(es)

KaDeWe

Germany

KaDeWe, a part of The KaDeWe Group, is a luxury department store in Berlin, Germany, founded opened in 1907. With an impressive history of more than 100 years, KaDeWe has been a destination for local customers and tourists, standing for an extraordinary shopping experience, an international brands portfolio from designers to niche labels, and an excellent services and unique event formats of all sizes. Innovative and pioneering, it is among the most important department stores in Germany and one of the largest and most renowned in Europe.

1907
Founded Year
1
Branch(es)

Oberpollinger

Germany

Oberpollinger, a part of The KaDeWe Group in Germany, is Munich’s number 1 destination for well-curated designer fashion, beauty, home & living and more. Established in 1905, the opening of this luxurious department store was regarded to as a ‘breath of the big wide world’ to the surrounding community. Oberpollinger has continued to reinvent itself and offer an even better shopping experience catered to the demands of both local and international customers.

1905
Founded Year
1
Branch(es)

Alsterhaus

Germany

Alsterhaus, a part of The KaDeWe Group, is a luxury department store in Hamburg, Germany. Since it was opened in 1912, Alsterhaus has ever since impressed the people of Hamburg and travellers to the city with its magnificent façade including large-scale store windows and wide-ranging, curated assortment. Its high-quality standards are a constant since its opening until today. Customers can explore a unique mix of designer fashion, beauty, food, travel and home décor items in an exclusive ambience completed with a historic building and modern interior directly next to the city lake Binnenalster.

1912
Founded Year
1
Branch(es)

Rinascente

Italy

Established in 1865, Rinascente, a luxury department store under Central Retail, has developed its reach to cover a collection of 9 prestigious stores around Italy; Milan Piazza Duomo, Rome Via del Tritone, Rome Piazza Fiume, Florence, Turin, Monza, Palermo, Catania and Cagliari. Each store, located in historic buildings at the heart each main city, proposes itself as a great house of brands and a house of values to offer always-unique and high-level shopping experiences to its visitors. Rinascente has an online shop, launched in June 2020 and On Demand Chat&Shop service. In May 2016, the Milan flagship store was declared “Best Department Store in the World” by the Intercontinental Group of Department Stores (IGDS), the leading international association of department stores. In 2017, Rinascente celebrated the 100th anniversary of its name, coined by poet Gabriele D’Annunzio. In 2022 Rinascente officially entered in the Italian register of historical brands.

1865
Founded Year
9
Branch(es)

Illum

Denmark

ILLUM is located in the heart of Copenhagen and has since its inception in 1891 been a leading department store in Denmark built on a vision of exceptional quality, inspiration, and experiences. ILLUM offers a premium selection of Scandinavian and international brands within fashion, beauty, and design in a unique environment with exquisite service. In 2016, ILLUM was ranked the most spectacular department store in the Nordics and one of the most spectacular department stores in the world.

1891
Founded Year
1
Branch(es)

Highlights

Our European Luxury Stores have over 100 years of heritage and share an unparalleled reputation for exclusivity, innovation, and experiences

"Chanel Wonderland', a unique installation that lit up the centre of Milan. The takeover of the Rinascente flagship store, created to give visitors a multi-sensory experience.
Rinascente
The ceremonial joy of the Louis Vuitton Paris Fashion Week show is transported to the Selfridges London store, as an amalgamation of the Creative Director, Pharrell Williams, eclectic vision. LOUIS VUITTON LOVERS takes inspiration from the Maison’s iconic Damier chessboard graphic, as a contemporary take on Louis Vuitton’s 1888 heritage pattern. The latest takeover has been installed at Selfridges within The Corner Shop and in each of the façade’s windows.
Selfridges
The KaDeWe’s exclusive Louis Vuitton men’s boutique regularly changes its appearance from scratch. On the occasion of the new and Pharell Williams’ first collection for Louis Vuitton, the brand presents a splendid golden store design with installations mimicking Paris’ Pont-Neuf, which was also seen on Pharell’s debut runway in June 2023. Interiors feature Parisian-style lamps and architectural moulding inspired by the bridge as well as checkered floors.
KaDeWe
This Valentines season at Brown Thomas, Skims popped up a Valentine Shop with a vibrant pink installation and capsule collection.
Brown Thomas
’Øjets Nektar’ is an exhibition by Ruth Campau (b. 1955) displayed in ILLUM from January 29th to March 22nd. The title also refers to the new 18-meter-high artwork created by Ruth Campau specifically for ILLUM’s atrium. ‘Øjets Nektar’ can be experienced as a poetic metaphor for the dynamics of the department store, drawing one toward the beauty the eye perceives and dreams of renewal. Ruth Campau has exhibited her works in various countries, including the USA, Germany, Spain, Switzerland, the Netherlands, Sweden, and Denmark.
Illum
In anticipation of Valentine's Day, Arnotts has introduced a dedicated Valentine gifting cart, along with a display cart dedicated to showcasing the popular Sol de Janeiro product range.
Arnotts
Inspired by Munich’s proximity to mountains and ski resorts, the luxury department store Oberpollinger focuses on the new ski trends for women and men with a themed installation in its shop window. Stylish full looks for the slopes and off-piste activities as well as a selection of snow accessories equip local visitors as well as international guests for a trip to the nearby mountains.
Oberpollinger

Central Group’s Journey in Europe

Central Group began its expansion to Europe in 2011 through acquisitions and continuous store developments which have made Central Group a world-leading luxury retailer

Sustainability Stories

Liquid gold from KaDeWe: the Department Store promotes urban beekeeping and adds its own honey to the assortment

Regional, natural, sustainable. The KaDeWe is expanding the range of its own food brand and sells sustainably produced honey from bees located on the terrace of the Department Store. The honey is harvested in collaboration with the organic beekeeping company Mädelfleiss from Berlin and then sold as exclusive KaDeWe honey.

The Redevelopment of Via del Tritone and Via dei Due Macelli in Rome

For Rinascente, it is fundamental to be part of the city fabric, to preserve its beauty and to help make it more and more usable for citizens. That was why in 2019 Rinascente has decided to fund the Municipality of Rome for the redevelopment of Via del Tritone and Via dei Due Macelli, the two important streets close to Rinascente Roma Tritone store.

Beauty Bar for Research Project (Charity)

Contributing revenues from Beauty Bar to support research projects of serious disease. In 2022, thanks to this project, Rinascente donated 71,737.6 euros to cancer research.

Worn Again

From April to August 2023, Selfridges launched a season of secondhand shopping, swapping, repairing, upcycling and trading with Worn Again. Throughout the scheme, they amplified their experimental ‘Reselfridges’ circular products and services, with a goal of making circular shopping fun, seamless and accessible for customers.

Project Earth

A sustainability strategy, setting out the vision to reinvent retail and change the way we shop and how we do business. Launched in 2020, it is ten-year plan to drive a genuine transformation through three pillars:

1. A shift to a MATERIALS culture in which brands and suppliers are transparent and responsible in their sourcing practices;

2. An investment in alternative shopping MODELS, all of which focus on extending the life of existing products and packaging through rental, resale, repair, refill and recycle

3. Changing the MINDSETS of teams, communities, and customers to create a truly inclusive retail culture in which people and planet come first in every decision.

The KaDeWe supports luxury second hand by Vite EnVogue

Besides the latest fashion and accessories collections, the KaDeWe’s visitors can also discover selected luxury second hand goods in the Vite EnVogue corner on the 2nd floor. Vite EnVogue, Europe's leading online store for the sale of certified luxury second-hand fashion and accessories has set itself the goal of promoting a general awareness for more sustainability. Former designer favorites can not only be shopped, but also sold via the connected Buddy&Selly buying area. The in-house team of experts checks every designer piece for top quality, timeliness and authenticity.