High street health and beauty retailer Bodycare is set to shut all of its remaining stores, with hundreds of staff facing redundancy, after administrators confirmed a rescue deal is unlikely.
The joint administrators of GR & MM Blackledge plc, which trades as Bodycare, said that while discussions with interested parties regarding the brand are continuing, no buyer has emerged for the store estate.
With stock levels running low and operating costs mounting, the business has been deemed no longer viable, said a statement by joint administrator Interpath.
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As a result, a closure programme will begin for the 56 remaining Bodycare stores, with all outlets expected to shut by Saturday 27 September. The decision will lead to 444 redundancies across the UK. Staff affected will receive support in making claims to the Redundancy Payments Service.
Nick Holloway, managing director at Interpath, said administrators will continue to explore options for the company’s assets, including the Bodycare brand, and will provide updates in due course.
“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.”
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