Company acquired by AURELIUS group in December 2023
The Body Shop Canada Limited announced today that it will close 33 of its 105 Canadian stores after filing a Notice of Intention to Make a Proposal pursuant to the Bankruptcy and Insolvency Act (Canada).
According to a press release, the company is commencing the NOI process to “obtain a stay of proceedings to provide additional breathing room while it evaluates its strategic alternatives and implements certain restructuring initiatives.”
Canada’s 105 store locations currently remain open; however, the company will immediately start liquidation sales at nearly one-third of its locations, and The Body Shop US Limited has ceased operations.
Online sales at Canada’s ecommerce store have also been immediately stopped, with the website’s notice reading: “We're currently undergoing planned maintenance, but don't worry we're due to be back online soon.”
Store closures lead to layoffs
The Body Shop Canada will close the following stores as part of the liquidation process:
Ontario: Bayview Village (Toronto); Rideau Centre (Ottawa); Carlingwood Mall (Ottawa); Cataraqui Town Centre (Kingston); Lynden Park Mall (Brantford); Stone Road Mall (Guelph); Dufferin Mall (Toronto); The Shops at Don Mills (Toronto); Fairview Park Mall (Kitchener); Timmins Square (Timmins); Queen Street East (Toronto); Toronto Pearson Terminal 1 (Toronto); Lambton Mall (Sarnia); Place d'Orleans (Ottawa); Lansdowne Place (Peterborough)
Alberta: Sunridge Mall (Calgary); Londonderry Mall (Edmonton); Lloyd Mall (Lloydminster); Medicine Hat Mall (Medicine Hat); Park Place (Lethbridge)
Saskatchewan: Cornwall Centre (Regina); Lawson Heights (Saskatoon); The Centre (Saskatoon); Midtown Plaza (Saskatoon)
British Columbia: Semiahmoo (White Rock); Hillside Shopping Centre (Victoria); Village Green (Vernon)
New Brunswick: McAllister Place (Saint John); Champlain Place (Dieppe)
Nova Scotia: Mayflower Mall (Sydney); Truro Mall (Truro)
Manitoba: Shoppers Mall (Brandon)
Newfoundland and Labrador: Corner Brook Plaza (Corner Brook)
The Body Shop’s acquisition
The moves come weeks after the company’s parent, The Body Shop International Ltd., filed for administration in the UK, which allows companies to restructure or wind down without paying off its debts. On Thursday, British media reported that 75 of the brand’s UL stores would close and 40 per cent of its headquarters staff would be laid off, according to The Canadian Press.
The news also follows the recent acquisition of The Body Shop International Limited in December from Natura & Co. by AURELIUS GROUP. When announcing the acquisition, AURELIUS said the company would “work with the management team to drive operational excellence across the group, leveraging its expertise and experience in the omni-channel retail and wholesale markets,” in an effort to “re-energise” the business.
“We are delighted to be undertaking this acquisition of an iconic British brand, which pioneered the cruelty-free and natural ingredient movement in the health and beauty market. We look forward to working with CEO Ian Bickley and his team to drive operational improvements and re-energise the business, and help to deliver the next chapter of success,” said Tristan Nagler, partner at AURELIUS.
