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The Body Shop announces 300 job cuts and store closures
https://www.whatjobs.com/news/business-news/the-body-shop-announces-300-job-cuts-and-store-closures
By Nithya Bose in Business News, posted February 21, 2024
The Body Shop will cut 300 jobs at its headquarters and close almost half of its 198 UK stores, threatening hundreds more jobs as it struggles to stay afloat.
This comes shortly after the beauty retailer, known for its ethical stance, entered administration.
It has since been acquired by restructuring specialist Aurelius.
Administrators have already announced the immediate closure of seven stores, with more expected to follow.
It is also cutting its workforce in its London and Littlehampton offices by 40 percent to 400 employees.
The fate of positions at the company's Littlehampton warehouse remains uncertain.
The closures mark a major downsizing for The Body Shop, which employs over 2,200 people across the UK, including 1,600 in its retail stores.
800 retail jobs could be lost
With the planned store closures, up to 800 retail jobs could be lost.
The company's activism team, a core element of its ethical identity, has also been disbanded.
The affected stores include:
- London's Surrey Quays
- Oxford Street near Bond Street
- Canary Wharf, and Cheapside
- Nuneaton
- Ashford Town Centre
- Bristol Queens Road
The administrators aim to maintain over half of The Body Shop's UK outlets after the restructure.
The focus will be on product innovation, online sales, and wholesale strategies to stabilise the business financially.
Reducing store numbers and head office roles is part of a broader strategy to streamline operations and adapt to industry standards.
Administrators highlight the importance of strengthening partnerships in Asia, the Middle East, and Europe as vital to the brand's revival.
Employees affected are expected to seek compensation through the government-backed Redundancy Payments Service.
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However, some staff face the loss of long-term positions at the company.
The widespread cuts have impacted various departments, including IT, marketing, and sustainability.
As the principal creditor, Aurelius would reclaim ownership of The Body Shop after the downsizing, having acquired the company for £117 million.
The futures of The Body Shop's international divisions in Ireland, mainland Europe, and Japan arealso uncertain after their sale to Alma24, which is linked to Aurelius.
The Body Shop's network of fair trade suppliers, contributing to local communities worldwide, faces over $1 million in losses from unpaid orders for beauty ingredients.
Since its founding in 1976 by Anita Roddick, The Body Shop has changed hands multiple times.
It moved from its original mission against animal testing and ethical sourcing to being part of large cosmetics conglomerates, including L'Oréal and Natura.
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