UK health and beauty chain Bodycare is reportedly on the brink of administration, putting around 1,500 jobs and numerous high street stores in jeopardy. The retailer, founded in 1970 in Lancashire, stocks major brands including L’Oréal, Nivea, and Elizabeth Arden.
The company has faced financial pressures for several years, worsened by pandemic-related losses. A temporary £7 million debt facility offered short-term relief, but operational costs, inflation, and tax increases have intensified challenges. Bodycare is owned by Baaj Capital, a family office, and has been under advisory review by Interpath to explore potential rescue options.
Retail leadership comes from experienced executives with backgrounds in department stores, yet the business continues to navigate a highly competitive market. Shifts in consumer habits and the broader instability of UK high streets have added to the pressures. Recent industry examples include River Island, which avoided administration through restructuring and store closures.
A sale or investment deal could preserve the chain and protect staff, but without a buyer, store closures and redundancies are likely. The outcome will affect suppliers, commercial landlords, and the wider health and beauty sector.
