Consortium saves iconic ethical beauty brand

Financially-troubled high street brand the Body Shop has been saved with a takeover by consortium headed by the Auréa Group.

Mike Jatania, founder of the Auréa Group, was previously CEO of Lornamead Group which owned personal care brands Harmony, Yardley and Woods of Windsor amongst others. He will now work with Charles Denton, former chief executive of Molton Brown, who will become CEO of The Body Shop International Limited.

The Body Shop entered administration in February 2024, putting at risk 1,500 jobs. The acquisition includes over 110 Body Shop stores in the UK as well as assets in North America and Australia.

Based in London and Paris, the Auréa Group's portfolio also includes natural haircare brand Scandinavian BioLabs, personalised makeup line DCYPHER and plant-based skincare collection Herbivore.

In a statement announcing the acquisition, Mike Jatania, co-founder of the Auréa Group, said: 

“With the Body Shop, we have acquired a truly iconic brand with highly engaged consumers in over 70 markets around the world.

“We plan to focus relentlessly on exceeding their expectations by investing in product innovation and seamless experiences across all of the channels where customers shop while paying homage to the brand's ethical and activist positioning.”