Bodycare just landed a new round of investment, and it’s gearing up for a major comeback on the UK high street

Bodycare just landed a new round of investment, and it’s gearing up for a major comeback on the UK high street but this time using an AI powered retail model. The funding comes from Arāya Ventures, entrepreneur Dilesh Mehta, and a group of retail and tech specialists. The new investment will fuel Bodycare’s nationwide store expansion and advance the development of AIMEE, its AI intelligence platform. AIMEE is designed to deliver a more precise and data driven retail model by interpreting key signals across the business.

The platform evaluates customer behaviour, emerging product trends, pricing dynamics, stock availability and creator performance. By processing this information in real time, AIMEE enables Bodycare to refine merchandising decisions, optimise its supply chain and streamline operational activity with greater accuracy and speed.

The brand’s CEO, Charles Denton, says retail doesn’t need “another retailer”, it needs a new model. Bodycare’s plan blends physical stores with AI-driven decisions and creator-led commerce, creating a shopping experience that feels more like a mix of beauty store, content studio and social feed. Their first Studio Store in Sheffield has already outperformed expectations, with new locations opening in Derby and Leicester. These stores feature live broadcasts, creator spaces, demo zones and digital screens.

Backed by investors who believe the future of retail lies in combining trusted brands with smart tech, Bodycare aims to open 25 stores in 2026 and grow to more than 200 within five years. It’s a full-scale revival after the company’s collapse in 2025, when all 147 stores closed. Denton’s investor group bought the brand later that year, setting the stage for this new, AI-powered chapter.

What this means for hiring. Plans for 25 stores this year and more than 200 within five years mean store managers and store teams to recruit at pace, for a brand rebuilding after all 147 stores closed in 2025. The model is different too: stores built around live broadcasts and creator spaces, with AI guiding merchandising, will suit people who are comfortable with content and data as well as running a shop floor.