Aberdeen store future unclear as Body Shop closes almost half its stores

21/02/2024

THE Body Shop has announced it is closing nearly half of its 198 UK stores and cutting 40% of roles at HQ after entering administration last week.

The retailer currently has a presence in Aberdeen’s Bon Accord Centre but the future of the store remains unclear after “years of unprofitability” across the brand.

Subscribe to our daily newsletter

Why? Free to subscribe, no paywall, daily business news digest.

As well more than a thousand in-store and HQ roles being lost across the country, the company is also ending its ambassador programme, where people sell Body Shop items for a commission.

Seven stores were shut immediately on Tuesday – four in London and three others across England – but no timeline for any sackings or additional closures has been given.

The Body Shop say going forward there will be a “renewed focus” on products, online sales and wholesale.

Administrators FRP said last week: “The Body Shop remains guided by its ambition to be a modern, dynamic beauty brand, relevant to customers and able to compete for the long term. Creating a more nimble and financially stable UK business is an important step in achieving this.

“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.”

The latest stories