One north London Body Shop branch will close but others look set to remain open after the firm hired administrators.
The joint administrators for the British cosmetics retailer confirmed today (February 29) that 116 of its UK stores will remain open, but 75 will close with the loss of 489 jobs.
The overhaul comes only weeks after new owners, European private equity firm Aurelius, took control of the business.
The company appointed administrators after an "extended period of financial challenges" and a "difficult trading environment," announced on February 13.
Tony Wright, joint administrator with Geoff Rowley and Alastair Massey, said: "In taking swift action to right-size The Body Shop UK store portfolio, we have stabilised the business.
"We remain fully focused on exploring all options to take the business forward," Mr Wright added.
Body Shop runs more than 200 shops across the UK and had appointed insolvency experts from FRP Advisory to oversee the process.
In-store and online trade will continue during the administration process, Mr Wright confirmed.
The only north London shop listed among those to close will be the branch in Upper Street, Angel, Islington.
Those remaining open are:
- Brent Cross Shopping Centre, Barnet
- 36 Palace Gardens Shopping Centre, Enfield
- 55 St Ann's Road, Harrow
- London Designer Outlet, Wembley Park, Brent
Branches in Regent Street and Walthamstow have also been slated for closure.
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, last month.
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