Bodycare to close remaining 56 stores as administration ends on high street

Bodycare, a high-street health and beauty chain, will disappear from Britain’s shopping streets as administrators announce the closure of the remaining 56 stores. The closures come after the chain collapsed into administration earlier this month and has been unable to secure a buyer for its UK store network.

Since Interpath seen as administrator was appointed earlier this month, about 150 Bodycare stores have already shut, with more than 1,000 staff across the business losing their jobs. The latest closures will result in the redundancy of all 444 employees who work in the remaining shops. Bodycare was founded in Lancashire in 1970 by Graham and Margaret Blackledge and is now owned by Baaj Capital, a family-run firm led by Jas Singh. Mr Singh had obtained a £7 million loan secured by the chain’s inventory, but efforts to steady the business failed. Some 450 people have already been made redundant in the course of the administration.

Bodycare, known for selling brands such as L’Oréal, Elizabeth Arden and Nivea, was profitable before the pandemic but has racked up heavy losses despite receiving government support. The business is run by retail veteran Tony Brown, formerly of BHS and Beales. The chain’s collapse adds to a list of struggling high-street retailers that have sought drastic restructuring to survive, including River Island and Poundland.

Shoppers trying to access Bodycare’s website are greeted by a message indicating the shop is closed. Records on Companies House show that the firm’s 2023 accounts report debts of about £8.3 million. Interpath said the business had “faced a number of challenges in recent years which have negatively impacted its financial position.” It cited rising costs, including rent and staff costs, a delayed transition to online retail, and the cost-of-living crisis impacting its customer base. A planned 2024 initial public offering was aborted, which led to a shortfall in funding and strained supplier relationships, resulting in stock shortages. Despite the directors’ efforts, the decision was made to appoint administrators.

Nick Holloway, Interpath’s managing director, said: “We understand this has been a difficult period and so we want to further express our sincere thanks to Bodycare’s staff who, since day one of the administration, have maintained the strong standards of presentation and customer service that Bodycare was renowned for. We will continue to explore options for the company’s assets, including the Bodycare brand, and will provide further updates in due course.”

Bodycare appointed Interpath on September 5, saying it had come under pressure from rising costs and a shortfall in funding, which also affected supplier relationships and led to stock shortages. Its demise comes amid a broader period of strain on Britain’s high streets, even as some retail data hint at pockets of resilience. Earlier this year, Interpath signaled hope for a deal for Claire’s after being appointed to its UK and Ireland business last month, while Poundland has already undergone store closures after its ownership transfer to Gordon Brothers. In related retail data, the Office for National Statistics reported a 0.5% rise in volume of retail sales last month, helped by a bank holiday weekend and lower interest rates, though volumes remain down over the past three months as shoppers grapple with the cost of living. Clothing stores, butchers and bakers, and online shopping were among the stronger performers in the latest figures.

The termination of Bodycare’s operations underscores ongoing challenges for physical retailers in the UK, even as broader consumer spending shows mixed signals. Interpath said it would keep evaluating strategic options for the brand and its assets, with updates to follow as the situation evolves.