Bodycare Faces Collapse Threatening 1,500 Jobs, 149 UK Stores

Bodycare, a health and beauty retailer founded in 1970 with 149 stores across the UK and 18 in Scotland, is on the verge of administration, putting approximately 1,500 jobs at risk. Owned by Baaj Capital and led by retail veteran Tony Brown, the company has struggled financially since the COVID-19 pandemic despite government support and securing a recent £7 million debt facility against its inventory. Restructuring specialists at Interpath are urgently seeking a buyer or rescue deal to prevent collapse, but efforts appear increasingly unlikely to succeed, which could lead to widespread store closures, job losses, and supplier issues. Bodycare’s potential failure follows a broader trend of high street struggles, with other retailers like Poundland and River Island also undergoing significant restructuring to survive amid a challenging retail environment marked by rising costs and declining consumer confidence. Poundland, which employs 14,700 people and operates 800 stores, recently received court approval for a turnaround plan including store closures and layoffs to avoid administration. The plight of these retailers highlights ongoing volatility and the difficult conditions facing UK high street chains in 2025.