The Body Shop expected to appoint administrators

According to reports from Sky News, FRP Advisory will be appointed to handle the insolvency process for its UK operation with the administrators likely to consider closing a significant number of its UK stores – although no specific number has been given.  

One insider, however, told the outlet that the administration process will not impact the brand’s global franchise partners – with The Body Shop’s businesses across most of Europe and parts of Asia being sold to an unnamed family office.

The Body Shop was acquired by private equity firm Aurelius in a deal reportedly valued at £207m in November. However it’s been suggested that, since the deal closed at the start of this year, the new owner has concluded the company had insufficient capital and was trading more weakly than it had anticipated.