What Does Amazon, Whole Foods Deal Mean for Retail CRE Sector?
Amazon’s blockbuster acquisition of Whole Foods sent shockwaves through the stock market, as well as the retail industry last week. While the proposed $13.7-billion deal is eye-popping, expansion by acquisition is hardly new, though the implications for those in the retail CRE sector are complex and will take time to better understand.
A CRE industry leader who has more insight than most on what the deal may mean is Cushman & Wakefield’s national eCommerce fulfillment practice leader, Ben Conwell. He joined the firm after directing North American real estate operations for Amazon. Conwell offers unique insights regarding the real estate impact of the acquisition that Amazon had explored last year, though elected not to move forward at the time.