Toiletry retailer The Body Shop
International Plc said on Tuesday its full-year profits would be
below current market estimates after poor British Christmas
sales.
It said its like-for-like sales in the 10 weeks to January 2
fell two percent worldwide and six percent in Britain. The
company said it would make an announcement next week on its
plans to reshape the business.
The Body Shop said like-for-like sales in the 10 weeks to
January 2 fell nine percent in Asia and the United States, but
rose three percent in Europe.
For the 44 weeks to the same date, British like-for-like
sales, which do not include its direct home shopping arm, fell
four percent and worldwide sales by two percent.
Body Shop now has 1,668 stores including 266 in Britain, 288
in the United States and 553 in Europe. A poor UK Christmas was
offset somewhat by a successful New Year sale, it said.
"We now anticipate a profit outcome for the full year which
is lower than current market estimates due to the Christmas
sales shortfall in the UK and lower wholesale sales to head
franchisees as inventory management is tightened," it said.
