The UK arm of the The Body Shop has entered administration, the British version of bankruptcy protection, according to Reuters and other media reports, but it will continue to operate online and via its 199 UK brick-and-mortar stores for the time being. Private equity firm Aurelius Group purchased the retailer from Natura &Co in November 2023 for nearly $258 million. Now, FRP Advisory has been brought in to manage the restructuring process.
Originally founded in 1976 by Dame Anita Roddick, The Body Shop was known for its ethically sourced natural ingredients and refillable packaging. Founder Roddick also was a vocal activist for environmental causes, beginning in 1986 with her support for Greenpeace’s Save the Whales campaign. In 2006 Roddick sold the company to cosmetics giant L’Oréal, which sold it again to Natura &Co in 2017. Worldwide, the company operates approximately 3,000 stores in 70 countries.
“The Body Shop has faced an extended period of financial challenges under past owners, coinciding with a difficult trading environment for the wider retail sector,” according to a quote from FRP in the Reuters article. FRP also noted that “the Joint Administrators will now consider all options to find a way forward for the business and will update creditors and employees in due course.”
At press time The Body Shop had not replied to a request for comment.
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