Cosmetics major The Body Shop goes bankrupt, shuts operations in the United States

The Body Shop, renowned for its ethical beauty products, has ceased all operations in the United States. With its US subsidiary defunct as of March 1, the nearly 50-year-old company is also downsizing its presence in Canada.

Thirty-three of its 105 stores in the country have begun liquidation sales. Online sales via its e-commerce platform in Canada will cease, though some physical locations will remain open for now.

This latest move follows the closure of nearly half of its UK stores by the cosmetics giant just two months ago. It reflects broader challenges facing traditional retailers, particularly those reliant on mall foot traffic and the struggling middle class for sales.

The Body Shop to shut nearly half of UK shops

The UK arm of The Body Shop cosmetics group in February shut nearly half its 198 outlets, adminstrators brought in to save parts of the distressed company.

The Body Shop employs about 1,500 people across its UK stores but the administrators did not specify how many positions would be lost.