Major beauty retailer to close ANOTHER city centre branch after trading for 34 years
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A MAJOR beauty retailer is set to close another city centre branch after trading for 34 years. The Body Shop store in Sheffield will shut for good in less than two weeks, bosses have announced. It comes after the company went into administration last year, bringing 82 store closures and 800 job cuts.
![[A Body Shop branch in Sheffield is set to close on January 15]](https://www.thesun.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2025/01/2021-logo-facade-body-shop-961305290.jpg?strip=all&w=960){kind=logo}
It was then purchased by growth capital firm Aurea Group in September, who told The Sun it had no further plans to close any stores. This followed an earlier statement in which a spokesperson confirmed that the site had been listed to let, adding: "Due to the current business uncertainty the team are exploring contingency measures.".
![[The Body Shop went into administration in February]](https://www.thesun.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2025/01/lockdown-eased-friday-10th-july-594371664.jpg?strip=all&w=960)
Tim said: "After 34 years in Orchard Square and the city of Sheffield, it is with great sadness that we have to announce the closure of our Body Shop store. "This has been difficult news to manage, particularly for our tremendously loyal - and in many cases long serving staff - but also for our many loyal customers.".
The director then went on to personally namecheck two of the store's longest running staff members - Jean Haigh, the branch's manager of 20 years, and Dee Smith, who has worked there for 22 years. Before The Body Shop went under last year, the company employed over 1,500 workers across the UK.
In February, administrators at FRP Advisory confirmed that the chain was up for auction after a restructuring plan was not deemed viable. And just a few weeks later, the beauty retailer's remaining 113 branches were purchased by Aurea. At the time, a spokesperson for the firm told The Sun: "As with any business, particularly one that has ended up in administration, there is a need to manage costs but we believe that the stores are an important part of the brand’s connection to its customers.".
