Cosmetic and beauty products retailer Body Shop NZ has been placed in voluntary administration, months after its UK parent did the same. 

The business has 16 stores across New Zealand in all the major centres, about 70 permanent employees and its online operations. 

Administrators Daniel Stoneman and Neale Jackson of financial advisory firm Calibre Partners have been appointed and said all retail stores would remain open at this stage. 

“The Body Shop NZ’s UK parent company was placed into administration in February 2024. Following this, the assets of The Body Shop International were largely sold by the administrators in September 2024. This sale excluded The Body Shop NZ business,” Stoneman and Jackson said. 

“A buyer for the business has not been found, leading to the appointment of administrators. We are working closely with the management team to develop a strategy to sell all stock and begin to wind down the business.” 

UK revival 

The Body Shop’s parent in the UK faced its own issues early last year after it was placed into administration in February 2024. 

However, after being sold to a new owner in September 2024, the business has reported a bounce back. 

According to the Guardian UK, the business was acquired by a consortium led by British cosmetics tycoon Mike Jatania and his venture capital firm Aurea Group. 

That deal included the Body Shop International’s assets, which included its UK stores and control of outposts in Australia and North America for an undisclosed sum, but not the New Zealand business. 

Since taking ownership, it has achieved £2m in profit on £28m of sales in the first three months. 

Tom Raynel is a multimedia business journalist for the Herald, covering small business and retail.