An investor group led by Charles Denton has completed the acquisition of certain assets from Bodycare, the long-standing value beauty retailer with deep roots in high streets across the North and Midlands. Denton will take charge of the business, with its first wave of store reopenings planned for early 2026.
Founded in Lancashire in the 1970s and a fixture of British high streets for decades, the retailer fell into administration last month, closing all 147 stores and making its entire workforce redundant. In 2024, before entering administration, it posted sales of £133m, employing more than 1,500 staff.
The acquisition of assets including Bodycare’s brand and intellectual property provides the basis for a phased revival of the business, with the intention of reopening stores and returning jobs to towns where Bodycare has been part of everyday retail life. The terms of the transaction have not been disclosed.
Subject to securing landlord support, the group will reopen around 30 to 50 stores as a first wave from Q1-Q2 2026, prioritising the North West and anticipating several hundred roles to be rehired during that phase.
The group will engage with landlords, suppliers and former staff to sequence a restart responsibly, protecting cost discipline while preserving Bodycare’s role in providing everyday beauty essentials to local shoppers. The aim is to translate the brand’s wide local reach into becoming one of the UK’s most accessible and experiential beauty platforms.
Denton most recently led the acquisition and turnaround of The Body Shop, and was previously CEO of Erno Laszlo and Molton Brown, both heritage brand turnaround success stories.
Charles Denton said: “Bodycare is much-loved and trusted – it matters deeply to the communities it serves. We now have the mandate to bring stores and jobs back by transforming Bodycare’s rich legacy into a modern, scalable and profitable business.”
Nick Holloway, Managing Director at Interpath and joint administrator, said: ‘We are pleased to hand Bodycare to an experienced new owner with a clear plan to restart operations. We wish the business every success in the future.”
