IT was a bad Christmas for Sussex-based Body Shop.

Following a ten week Christmas trading period where UK sales were down two per cent and U.S. sales were down eight per cent the company has warned of lower than expected profits for the year.

But it is not entirely gloom for the Littlehampton-based company.

It bucked the trend in Asia where sales were up by six per cent and a similar rise was seen in European sales.

In Canada there was a nine per cent increase in sales, a figureequalled in Australia and New Zealand.

Recently appointed chief executive Patrick Gournay said the lower pre-Christmas sales in the UK reflected a weaker trading climate on the high street.

He said: "Group turnover for the year to date is four per cent higher than in the same period last year.

"However, we now anticipate a profit outcome for the full year which is lower than current market estimates due to the Christmas sales shortfall in the UK and lower wholesale sales to head franchisees as inventory management is tightened.

"Meanwhile, we are continuing to press ahead with our plans to reshape The Body Shop and will make a further announcement in this context next week."

The company was founded 23 years ago in Brighton by Anita Roddick.

It now owns 363 stores worldwide with a further 1,668 stores operated by franchisees.

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