Cosmetics specialist Body Shop said it had continued to buck the gloom on the High Street as it reported strong UK sales.

The firm, which has been reaping the rewards of a rebranding programme, said same-store sales in the UK were seven per cent higher in the three months to May 28 compared with the same period last year.

Although this represented a slowdown on the nine per cent rise in the first few weeks of the period, Body Shop said the result showed it was continuing to perform robustly in a weak spending environment.

The figures followed official statistics last week showing the worst annual growth in sales volumes in the UK for six years.

Littlehampton-based Body Shop has restored its fortunes with a rebranding based on its Made With Passion logo, new product launches and improved customer services.

Head of communications Bill Eyres said Body Shop had benefited from its focus on differentiating itself from other retailers and developing more high end products at lower prices. He said: "We are different from other retailers. In a difficult retail environment that's what you need to be."

The UK and Ireland account for about a quarter of Body Shop sales, with the remainder split between Asia Pacific, the Americas, Europe, the Middle East and Africa. The company has more than 2,000 stores worldwide.

Total sales for the UK and Ireland were six per cent higher during the three months while global sales lifted by eight per cent - an increase of five per cent on a like-for-like basis.

Body Shop said it was continuing to expect 15 per cent to 20 per cent growth in operating profits for the full year, as forecast at the time of its last annual results.

Monday, 20 June, 2005