The Body Shop is set to shut up to half of its 198 stores in the UK and cut the size of its head office, leading to hundreds of job losses. Closures will begin immediately on Tuesday, the firm that is overseeing the restructuring of the beauty retailer said. The Body Shop employs around 2,200 people in the UK, including 750 staff at its head office. The cuts would "help re-energise" the brand, the administrators said. The stores immediately affected include four in London, where rents and other overheads are highest. The chain's remaining shops and the website will trade as normal as the restructuring proceeds. Consumer expert Kate Hardcastle, who spent time with The Body Shop founder Dame Anita Roddick, said the closures were a stark reminder of the current "volatile" retail landscape. "However, relevance is equally crucial. A brand must evolve with its audience. The challenge lies not just in upholding these values but in communicating them effectively to a generation that demands authenticity and action," she said. FRP said: "A reduced store footprint, will coincide with a renewed focus on the brand's products, online sales channels and wholesale strategies." The Body Shop's Ambassador Programme, which allows representatives to sell the firm's products directly to customers, will also close, FRP said.
