News was able to obtain information that FRP Advisory, the company tasked with managing the chain’s insolvency in January, has asked for indicative bids by next Tuesday.
Before the end of June, according to sources, FRP hoped to finalize the sale of The Body Shop’s remaining British operations.
It is unlikely that Aurelius, the investment company that took over the store just a few weeks before administrators were summoned, will make a bid next week.
The Sunday Times had suggested that Marks & Spencer might make a bid; however, on Friday, there was increasing skepticism that competitor Next would make a bid.
Sources close to FRP, however, claimed that the level of interest potential bidders had shown in The Body Shop had encouraged them.
After the administrators determined that a different restructure of one of the most well-known high street businesses in Britain was not feasible, the auction was held last month.
After a shop closure and layoff program in recent months, The Body Shop currently operates out of about 100 locations.
The management brought to light the passing of a high street mainstay founded more than fifty years ago by the late Dame Anita Roddick and her husband Gordon.
