The Body Shop to shut half its UK shops after falling into administration  

The Body Shop is to shut half its stores across the UK resulting in hundreds of job losses.

It comes after the British cosmetics retailer announced it had fallen into administration last week, putting 2,000 jobs at risk.

Closures began yesterday (February 20th) with seven stores shutting: Ashford Town Centre, Kent, Bristol Queens Road, Bristol, Canary Wharf, London, Cheapside, London, Nuneaton, Warwickshire, Oxford Street-Bond Street, London and Surrey Quays, London.

More store closures are set to follow though no timeframe or dates have been announced as of yet.

Administrators FRP said the retailer’s current portfolio is ‘no longer viable’ after ‘years of unprofitability’ and that the cuts would ‘help re-energise’ the brand. 

The Body Shop has around 198 shops in the UK and employs around 2,200 people, including 750 staff at its head office.

Around 270 head office jobs are being cut, reducing roles by 40% and leaving around 400 full-time employees. It will restructure roles at its head office to align with its more financially viable strategy going forward.

The Body Shop ambassador programme, where individuals sell the brand’s products for a commission, is also being closed, FRP said.

There will be a ‘renewed focus’ on products, online sales channels and wholesale as part of its restructuring.

FRP said: “A reduced store footprint, will coincide with a renewed focus on the brand’s products, online sales channels and wholesale strategies, bringing the brand in line with industry peers and supporting a return to financial stability.”

The Body Shop was founded by the pioneering British businesswoman and activist Dame Anita Roddick and her husband in 1976.

It established itself as a ground breaking ethical, sustainable brand, rejecting animal testing on cosmetics and promoting environmentally-friendly products and ethical sourcing practices.

The trailblazing brand has since faced tough competition from other ethical brands including Lush, which was co-founded by Mark Constantine – a former supplier to The Body Shop.

In 2006 the couple sold The Body Shop to French beauty giant L’Oreal.

The Brazilian beauty giant Natura acquired the brand from L’Oreal in 2017, and Aurelius bought The Body Shop for £207m at the end of last year.

Aggressive sales and discounting tactics are believed to have played a role in putting customers off being willing to pay full retail price for its products.