The Body Shop Suppliers to Get Only a Quarter of £219m Owed

The Body Shop's suppliers, including small charities, local councils and cosmetics manufacturers, are to receive no more than about a quarter of the £219m owed to them when the ethical beauty retailer fell into administration, a report has said.

- Sarah Butler

The retailer, founded by Anita Roddick in 1976, now operates about 113 UK stores after it was rescued by a consortium led by the British cosmetics tycoon Mike Jatania in September, saving 1,300 jobs.

However, more than 80 British stores were closed with the loss of 750 jobs in branches and head office after the German restructuring specialist Aurelius put the Body Shop's UK arm into administration last year, less than three months after taking control from the Brazilian group Natura. Stores also closed overseas.