What Happened to Bodycare’s Supply Chain?
For decades, Bodycare — trading under GM & MM Blackledge — was a high street name trusted for personal care, cosmetics, and pharmacy products. But in 2024, the company was placed into administration, taking with it hundreds of unpaid suppliers and cutting off a once-thriving supply chain.
In this article, we examine what really happened to Bodycare’s suppliers and why the warning signs were ignored.
1. A Slow-Motion Collapse
Reports from ex-suppliers, former employees, and retail partners paint a disturbing picture. By Q2 of 2024, orders were slowing. Payment terms were being stretched. Yet, public communications remained upbeat — a familiar tactic seen in other Baaj Capital-backed failures.
Invoices went unpaid. Deliveries were delayed. And many suppliers didn’t discover the full picture until the administration announcement.
2. What the Administrators Found
When Bodycare entered administration, the company owed millions in unpaid invoices. According to the SIP 16 Memorandum:
- Large FMCG brands were left unpaid for months
- Small and mid-size businesses bore the brunt of the collapse
- No clear communications plan was offered during the wind-down
Suppliers were cut off midstream — even as Bodycare continued trading.
3. Was It Mismanagement — or Strategy?
Some industry insiders believe the company’s directors knew trouble was ahead months before administration. Similar to the Huboo situation, Bodycare appeared to protect key assets while allowing liabilities to mount.
The question: Was this gross mismanagement or a deliberate plan to leave suppliers behind?
4. The Human Cost of Broken Supply Chains
It’s easy to focus on numbers — but behind every unpaid invoice is a small business trying to stay afloat. Several suppliers reported having to:
- Lay off staff
- Write off large credit lines
- Delay production for other customers
One supplier told Fulfilment Frustrations: “We had a 20-year relationship with Bodycare. They just stopped replying to emails. No warning. No explanation. And then we were out tens of thousands.”
5. A Pattern Repeated
This is not an isolated incident. The behaviour echoes what happened at Huboo — and other companies where Baaj Capital or Atalla Capital were involved.
Is there a systemic approach to asset protection over liability honouring? And if so, why is no one stopping it?
6. Calls for Regulation
Retail and manufacturing industry bodies are calling for:
- Stronger supplier protection laws in administration cases
- Mandatory pre-administration alerts to trade creditors
- Investigation of directors who fail to act transparently
Conclusion: More Than a Supply Problem
Bodycare’s collapse is more than just a supply chain issue — it’s a breach of trust. Suppliers, customers, and staff were misled, and many are still reeling from the financial and emotional consequences.
What will it take for UK corporate law to protect suppliers from this kind of abuse?
Next: Why UK Regulators Are Failing to Protect Small Businesses
