Bodycare in Macclesfield has shut for good.

The beauty chain will immediately close 32 of its branches after going into administration.

This has resulted in around 450 members of staff being made redundant.

Nick Holloway, joint administrator and managing director at Interpath, said: "These remain challenging times for high street retailers as rising costs and reduced consumer spending continue to weigh heavily on trading.

"Unfortunately for Bodycare, which was also contending with a significant funding gap and increasing creditor pressure, these challenges proved too difficult to overcome.

"Our intention is to trade the majority of the company's stores in order to realise stock while we explore options for a possible sale of the business and its assets.

"In addition, and as a matter of priority, we will be providing all support to those employees impacted by redundancy, including supporting them in making claims to the Redundancy Payments Service."

Bodycare's Macclesfield store has been closed and cleared of stock (Credit: Nub News)

Founded in 1970 on a market stall in Lancashire, Bodycare is a high street retailer of branded health and beauty products, as well as fragrances and bathroom consumables.

The company trades from 147 stores across the UK and employs around 1,500 people.

In recent years the company has faced a number of challenges which have negatively its financial position, including rising costs, including rent and people costs, a delayed transition to its online retail platform, and the cost-of-living crisis impacting its customer base.

In addition, a planned IPO in 2024 was aborted which led to a shortfall in funding. This, in turn, placed strain on supplier relationships, resulting in a shortage of stock.

Mr Holloway, Chris Pole and Mike Leeds from Interpath were appointed joint administrators to G.R. & M.M. Blackledge plc, trading as Bodycare, on Friday, September 5.

The joint administrators intend to continue to trade the majority of Bodycare's stores while they assess options for the business, including exploring the possibility of a sale of the business and its assets.

However, 32 stores, including the branch inside the Grosvenor Centre, will close with immediate effect.

As such, around 450 employees have been made redundant.