The Body Shop will close its four stores in Dublin on February 29
The Body Shop stores across Ireland are set to close from February 29, staff have been told.
The company has four stores in the Dublin region, including Grafton Street, The Blanchardstown Centre, Dundrum Town Centre, and Swords Pavilions Shopping Centre.
Staff were reportedly informed via email that the Irish stores would be closing at the end of the month.
Founded in 1976 by Anita Roddick and her husband Gordan, The Body Shop opened its first Irish store in Dublin in 1981.
The Body Shop currently employs 40 full-time staff across seven stores in Ireland, including the four stores in Dublin.
In the email, they were advised that a store may remain open for the purpose of selling off stock, but this was not guaranteed.
Last week, The Body Shop UK went into administration, announcing the closure of nearly half of its 198 stores, leaving thousands of staff members facing redundancy.
The stores in Dublin are still open, with staff working as usual, but it has been outlined that staff are uncertain about information regarding redundancies and have engaged SIPTU to discuss redundancy options.
A statement on the future of the business released by administrators said: “After years of unprofitability and following a full evaluation of The Body Shop’s UK business, the joint administrators have concluded that the current store portfolio mix is no longer viable.
“This swift action will help re-energise The Body Shop’s iconic brand and provide it with the best platform to achieve its ambition to be a modern, dynamic beauty brand that is able to return to profitability and compete for the long term.”
The company appointed administrators to assess offers for the brand and its assets after years of financial struggles and amid a challenging backdrop for shoppers.
The Irish Independent has contacted the owners of the stores for comment.
