ICSM Business – Retail Insolvency News: the Body Shop goes bust leaving thousands of suppliers in the lurch and 9,000 jobs at risk – plus a list of recent retail casualties
By Harry Mottram: Administrators have been appointed to The Body Shop chain of beauty product shops after a reported poor period of sales over the winter.
Founded by the late Anita Roddick in 1976 the retailing chain grew from a single shop to some 3,000 outlets in more than 65 countries with numerous franchised stores and upwards of 9,000 staff with many more suppliers.
The retailer that once dominated the so-called ethical beauty market has seen its share slide as rivals offered equally ethical and environmentally friendly products from Boots to Sainsburys as well as Lush and Neal’s Yard Remedies. However back in the 1980s the chain rose to dominate the market until it all came crashing down when journalist Jon Entine exposed the company for green-washing in 1994 – pretending to be concerned with fair trade and the environment when in reality it wasn’t. After a further expose was published in 2004 the chain began to see its market challenged by new firms who used ethical and environmental standards as part of their USP. The firm was sold to L’Oreal in 2006 who sold it on again to Natura in 2017 for £880 million before Aurelius acquired it in 2023 for £207 million. There has been some speculation over whether the owners were intent on asset stripping - as many of the stores have prime locations. That is still an open question for some.
Ian Carrotte of ICSM - the business membership group dedicated to fighting bad debts and late payers with many members involved in the retail and healthcare sectors – said: “We are very concerned over the plight of the suppliers as being an international retailer with many franchise outlets the supply chain is huge – with many small businesses that supply The Body Shop. The stores remain open at the moment and we suspect it is possible some will be bought in a deal – but in the meantime we advise suppliers to refrain from completing orders until there is more information from the administrators and only accept payment with orders.”
The BBC reported that FRP Advisory said that the brand had faced a "difficult trading environment" like other shops as customers' budgets have been squeezed and online retailing has boomed in recent years.
Andrew Goodacre of the British Independent Retailers Association, said: "It seems that we hear about the demise of a national retailer every few months... We hope that the employees and franchisees are looked after while the future of this chain is decided."
Below are some recent casualties in the retail, wholesale, shopping centres and market sectors:
ADMINISTRATORS APPOINTED
CARD & PARTY STORE (CASH & CARRY) LIMITED 03338435
C.B.BROOK & CO.LIMITED 00229755
MONORAILS AND SATELLITES LTD 09291904
PAPER LONDON LIMITED 07725265
CREDITORS’ VOLUNTARY LIQUIDATION DEEMED IN CONSENT MEETINGS
ACQUA RETAIL LIMITED 12872017
ALBION ART TRADING LTD 09463490
ASCOT FURNITURE LTD 11940794
AXY (2005) LIMITED 05343441
BRIDES & MOTHERS OUTLET LTD 10525758
CMT FLOWERS LIMITED 05365613
COCO BAY LIMITED 04631752
DERMALIFE LTD 12377820
FURNITURE DEALS LTD 11897692
HOLLYBUSH FARM PRODUCE LIMITED 07340386
KENDAL CELEBRATIONS LIMITED 12501348
R M COMMERCIALS LIMITED 06256233
SAVE AS LTD 12249472
SILO TRADING LTD 13974009
TECH OFFERS LIMITED 12361435
CVL LIQUIDATORS APPOINTED
ALLISON JAYNE (SWANSEA) LIMITED 04897540
ASSOC OF MASTER TRADESMEN LIMITED 10366093
AUTO PLAS RECYCLING LIMITED 07096087
BALLOON SUPPLY & DISTRIBUTION LTD 03683694
RYE HARBOUR STORES LIMITED 07410969
THE MAMMOTH RETAIL GROUP LTD 03916764
THE NEW FOREST PADDLESPORT COMPANY LTD 09727009
UK CAR TRADER LTD 11885653
WILLOW BRIDAL BOUTIQUE LTD 10345932
CARMARTHENSHIRE GARDEN BUILDINGS LTD 12318176
MEMBERS VOLUNTARY LIQUIDATIONS
BARTHOLOMEW WILKINS AND PARTNERS LIMITED 00998015
CARTALOGIC AP LIMITED 09920128
CHURCH UK RETAIL LIMITED 00420853
PETITIONS TO WIND UP
DESIGN SOLOUTIONS LIMITED 11469348
DIR LONDON LTD 13028300
GLOBAL VANDEMIC CAMPERS LIMITED 13443889
METRO FRESH SUPERSTORE LTD 14603600
PCA BLANKS LTD 13519808
PREMIER WHOLESALE 247 LIMITED 09624188
RENUGEN LIMITED 07118020
SILVERLANDS CASH & CARRY LTD 10545010
TRADE PAINT COLCHESTER LTD 11043910
SECRETARY OF STATE LIQUIDATION APPOINTMENT
DELUXE PARK HOMES LIMITED 12606780
OCEANIC BATHROOMS LIMITED 07661464
WINDING UP ORDERS
ADVANTAGE CARS ASTLEY LTD 12074821
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ICSM, The Exchange, Express Park, Bristol Road, Bridgwater, Somerset TA6 4RR. Tel: 0844 854 1850. www.icsmcredit.com. Ian.carrotte@icsmcredit.com
