Next is reported to be considering adding The Body Shop to its growing portfolio of brands.

The retail giant is understood to have contacted administrators at FRP Advisory to express an interest in acquiring assets as part of any sale process, as reported by Retail Gazette.

The Body Shop owner Aurelius filed for administration of the retailer's UK business earlier this month.

Next is said to have expressed an interest in assembling a deal for The Body Shop, which has stores in Cheltenham, Gloucester and Cirencester, but its brand and intellectual property (IP) assets are not part of the administration process.

Aurelius is financing the rest of the business and has secured major assets, including stock and IP.

A sale of the restructured business back to Aurelius looks to be a likely outcome.

Last week, administrators said half of The Body Shop's 198 UK stores would remain open and around 40% of head office jobs would be cut.

In recent years, Next has saved brands including Cath Kidston, Joules and JoJo Maman Bebe.

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