From logistics to retail: turnkey projects will account for 60% of new openings in 2026
In retail and hospitality, every opening involves coordinating the technical project, civil works, installations, furniture, assembly, suppliers, delivery deadlines and final launch, often across several locations at the same time.
When all these processes are managed separately, risks increase: delays, cost overruns, coordination errors and deviations from the brand image.
That is why more and more chains are choosing turnkey models, where a single team coordinates every phase of the project, from initial planning to the final delivery of the space. This way of working makes it possible to gain control, reduce incidents and speed up openings without compromising quality or consistency between locations.
Why the turnkey model is gaining ground in retail and hospitality
For years, many commercial projects were managed in a fragmented way. Construction, installations, furniture and assembly moved forward with different points of contact and timelines that were difficult to coordinate.
Today, the situation is different. Retail chains need to open faster, execute several rollouts at the same time and maintain a consistent image across all their points of sale. The rise of turnkey projects is directly linked to the need to centralize decisions and coordinate all phases under a single management structure.
Something similar is happening in hospitality. Hotels, restaurants and foodservice spaces operate with high levels of technical and operational demand. Working with a contractor specialized in turnkey hospitality projects makes it easier to coordinate design, installations, equipment and final finishes.
Simultaneous openings and increasingly demanding deadlines
Opening a store involves much more than carrying out a renovation. Coordinating installations, HVAC, lighting, carpentry, audiovisual systems, furniture and signage requires precise planning from the earliest stages of the project.
In addition, many chains work with fixed calendars. A delay can directly affect the planned operation.
That is why turnkey store openings are becoming increasingly common: more than half of all openings in 2026. The reason? They help reduce misalignment between suppliers and improve execution control. When planning, construction, manufacturing and assembly move forward in a coordinated way, it becomes easier to meet deadlines and avoid last-minute changes.
Many brands no longer open just one store a year, but several spaces in different cities or countries. This requires consistent construction standards. Centralized management models and simultaneous openings are two of the main retail construction trends in 2026, and everything suggests this trend will continue over time.
Omnichannel retail and store construction: what the new retail model demands
The physical store remains a key element for brands, but its role has changed. It is no longer understood solely as a sales space, but also as a logistics point and a place for customer service and contact.
It is increasingly common to include click & collect areas, spaces for preparing online orders or digital service systems. This directly affects the interior layout, installations and construction planning.
Brands need more flexible spaces that can adapt without major renovations.
The construction challenges of retail and hospitality
At a construction level, retail and hospitality share several challenges: tight deadlines, the need for consistency between locations and strong coordination between different trades.
In foodservice, for example, the integration of kitchens, extraction systems, HVAC and special installations requires construction and equipment to be coordinated from the very beginning. In hotels and hospitality spaces, planning must also take finishes, user experience and operational continuity into account.
That is why many brands look for a turnkey contractor for hospitality and retail projects capable of coordinating every phase of the project.
What chains look for in a retail contractor today
Brands are not only looking for construction capacity. They also need a single point of contact, deadline control and teams capable of coordinating multiple openings at the same time.
That is why we are seeing the role of the retail contractor in Spain increasingly linked to full project management. The ability to coordinate trades, suppliers, logistics and assembly will be just as important as the construction work itself.
Another key aspect is anticipation. Validating technical solutions before the start of the project helps reduce incidents during execution.
The rise of turnkey projects is also linked to the need to minimize risks and make management easier for expansion teams.
This is how we work at Abessis, with extensive experience managing turnkey store openings under particularly demanding deadlines.
Abessis: experience in turnkey projects
The rise of turnkey projects responds to an increasingly common need in retail and hospitality: reducing operational complexity. How? Among other things, by centralizing management under a single point of contact.
Coordination between construction, installations, furniture, trades and delivery deadlines requires increasingly precise planning, especially in projects involving several simultaneous openings.
At Abessis, we work precisely under this model, executing turnkey projects from start to finish and supporting each brand throughout every phase of execution. If you are looking for a team specialized in retail and hospitality, contact us and we will study your project in detail.