Key Takeaways:
- The investment round was led by Arāya Ventures, alongside entrepreneur Dilesh Mehta and a syndicate of investors.
- The funding follows the opening of Bodycare’s first "next-generation" Studio Store in Sheffield.
- Further Studio Stores are planned in Derby and Leicester this month as Bodycare continues its national rollout.
The investment will accelerate a wider five-year revival plan for the UK retailer.
WHO: Founded in Lancashire in the 1970s by Graham and Margaret Blackledge on a market stall, Bodycare has been a fixture of British high streets for decades, selling brands like Nivea, Olay, Elizabeth Arden, and L'Oréal across categories such as cosmetics, skincare, haircare, fragrances, and wellness.
Bodycare is rebuilding its store estate after the previous company entered administration in September 2024, resulting in the closure of all 147 locations. Bodycare’s Studio Store concept combines everyday health and beauty essentials with exclusive brands, live social commerce broadcasting, creator studios, and expert-led services, creating a new model for value retail where shopping, entertainment, and community converge. The retailer is aiming to open 25 stores in 2026, 50 by the end of 2027, and 200 sites over the next five years.
WHY: The new capital will support the development of AIMEE, Bodycare’s proprietary intelligence platform, which analyses customer behavior, product trends, pricing, inventory levels, and creator performance.
IN THEIR OWN WORDS: "Arāya Ventures and our co-investors share our belief that the future belongs to retailers capable of combining physical stores, AI, and creator-led commerce into a single, connected customer...
