Cosmetics and beauty retailer The Body Shop’s operations in New Zealand have entered liquidation, resulting in the cessation of all storefront operations and the loss of 70 jobs.
An announcement on The Body Shop’s website confirms that all bricks-and-mortar locations have ceased operations indefinitely, and the online store has halted order fulfilment.
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A statement on the website reads: “We extend our heartfelt gratitude to our valued customers for your unwavering support throughout the years. Your passion for our products and ethical values has meant everything to us.”
Official records from the New Zealand Gazette indicate that the liquidation process commenced on 27 March 2025, with Neale Jackson and Daniel Stoneman from Calibre Partners as its liquidators.
The website states that: “the undersigned does hereby fix 15 April 2025 as the date on or before which creditors of the company are to make their claims and to establish any priority their claims may have under section 312 of the Companies Act 1993”.
Signals of distress were evident in January when The Body Shop NZ engaged voluntary administrators. It disclosed that efforts to find a purchaser for the New Zealand division had been unsuccessful, leading to initiatives aimed at selling off inventory and dismantling business activities.
The company maintained a network of 16 retail outlets, employing 70 full-time staff, as reported by Radio New Zealand.
According to the initial liquidation report, the company’s total liabilities exceed $12m. The company possessed cash assets exceeding $2m, which are subject to the final costs of administration, as reported by local news media website Stuff.co.nz.
Its parent entity in the UK avoided a similar fate in September 2024 when Aurea Group acquired its 113 UK stores and assumed control over its Australian and North American holdings. The Body Shop UK business was placed into administration in February 2024.
