The Body Shop
This article was originally published in The Rose Sheet
Executive Summary
Worldwide retail sales increased 3%, and group turnover grew 6% in the fiscal first quarter (ended May 29). In the Americas, retail sales were up 1%, while sales in Europe increased 5%. Asia Pacific retail sales were up 3%, and U.K. sales grew 1%. Hutomo Santoso will head the Asia Pacific unit following the creation of a regional business unit under the retailer's restructuring program. The Body Shop said it is "well advanced" in the recruitment of heads for the U.K. and European units. In addition, negotiations for the sale of the retailer's two Littlehampton-based manufacturing plants to Pac Creative are coming to a close. Fourteen shops were opened in the quarter, bringing the total number of stores to 1,677