The Body Shop has begun announcing the closure of several stores across the UK following its bankruptcy proceedings last week.
The cosmetics and skincare brand is currently restructuring its UK operations to be more financially stable. As a result, seven Body Shop stores have been closed so far and more are expected to follow. More than half of The Body Shop’s 200 stores are set to close.
Job cuts are expected at the Body Shop’s headquarters, where staff numbers are reportedly set to be reduced by 40 percent. It is unclear how many stores will be eliminated as part of the restructuring.
The news comes just a week after The Body Shop filed for bankruptcy shortly after the company was acquired by a private equity firm called Aurelius.
The administrators at the time said: “The Body Shop had experienced a prolonged period of financial challenges under previous owners, coinciding with a difficult trading environment for the wider retail sector.
“Following our swift actions over the last month, including closing The Body Shop At Home and selling the business in most of Europe and parts of Asia, focusing on the UK business is the next important step in the transformation of The Body Shop.”
Before entering bankruptcy, The Body Shop had over 200 stores across the UK and employed over 2,500 people across the country.
Who owns the Body Shop?
Founded in 1976 by the late Anita Roddick and her husband Gordon, the Brighton-based brand quickly rose to popularity thanks to its approach to ethical consumerism. Known for its natural and ethical own-label products, it has been one of the most important beauty and cosmetics brands over the past few decades.
Roddick remained at the helm of The Body Shop for 30 years before the company became part of the L’Oreal group in 2006. In 2017, Natura & Co bought it from L’Oreal. Natura & Co then sold the brand for £207 million in November 2023. Aurelis took over The Body Shop last November.
Why is The Body Shop closing?
Due to declining profitability in recent years, The Body Shop is closing most of its stores.
The liquidators said: “After years of unprofitability and following a comprehensive assessment of The Body Shop’s UK business, the joint liquidators have concluded that the current store portfolio mix is no longer sustainable.”
They added: “The reduction in store space will be accompanied by a renewed focus on the brand’s products, its online distribution channels and wholesale strategies, bringing the brand in line with its competitors and supporting a return to financial stability.”
Full list of Body Shop store closures
So far, seven stores have been closed, many of them in London. These are:
Liquidators have confirmed that “more than half of The Body Shop’s 198 UK stores will remain open”, meaning more stores will have to close.
