Derby Telegraph

First Body Shop stores start to close but no decision yet on our outlets

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THE Body Shop is set to shut nearly half of its 198 UK shops after the cosmetics chain fell into administra­tion last week.

It will also cut around 270 head office jobs as part of a heavy restructur­ing, leaving it with around 400 workers at its London headquarte­rs.

In Derbyshire, this could mean the potential closure of its stores at the Derbion Centre in the city, at the East Midlands Outlet near Alfreton and in Chesterfie­ld.

The group employs around 1,500 workers across its UK shops, with hundreds of these workers expected to face redundancy as a result of the proposed closures.

Administra­tors for the business said seven of its shops will shut their doors for good on Tuesday.

It confirmed the closure of its stores at Surrey Quays London, Oxford Street London, Canary Wharf London, Cheapside London, Nuneaton, Ashford town centre Kent and Queens Road Bristol.

The group’s other stores including those in Derbyshire will continue to trade until further updates from insolvency experts overseeing the process.

Administra­tors from FRP Advisory said in a statement: “After years of unprofitab­ility and following a full evaluation of The Body Shop’s UK business, the joint administra­tors have concluded that the current store portfolio mix is no longer viable. This swift action will help re-energise The Body Shop’s iconic brand and provide it with the

The Body Shop is set to close nearly half of its 198 stores - it is not know if this will include the Derby store at the Derbion

best platform to achieve its ambition to be a modern, dynamic beauty brand that is able to return to profitabil­ity and compete for the long term.”

The company hired administra­tors, who will assess offers for the brand and its assets, after years of financial struggles and amid a challengin­g backdrop for shoppers.

The retailer was founded in 1976 by Anita Roddick and her husband Gordon as one of the first companies to promote so-called ethical consumeris­m, focusing on ethically produced cosmetics and skincare products.

The dramatic overhaul comes only weeks after new owners, European private equity firm Aurelius, took control of the business.

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