The company hired administrators last year
A well-known high street beauty brand has been saved from collapse following a major sale. Cosmetics company Barry M has been bought out of administration by rivals Warpaint, as part of a £1.4 million deal.
After being founded in 1982, Barry M has become a staple high street name, known for colourful nail varnishes and affordable make-up which is vegan and cruelty-free. The beauty name has stood in more than 1,300 stores including Superdrug, Boots, Sainsbury’s and Tesco, as well as selling products online.
The beauty company however has now been bought by cosmetics firm Warpaint, which owns make-up brands W7 and Technic. The firm said it expects the move to help it grow into key retail channels in the UK.
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The sale comes after Barry M appointed administrators last year after warning over “geopolitical issues” and rising prices, which it said were absorbed into its cost base. The acquisition of the company includes the Barry M brand and its intellectual property, but not the business’ factory and staff.
According to its most recently published results, Barry M generated a £17.4 million turnover and a £172,000 pre-tax profit for the year to the end of February 2024. The brand also had more than 120 staff members on average during the year, with most employed at its manufacturing site in London.
Warpaint, whose products are also stocked in high street retailers, told investors that earnings for the 2025 financial year were expected to come in at around £22 million. But it said the collapse of beauty retailer Bodycare last year and subsequent closure of all its stores negatively impacted the group, as it was a significant retail customer of its brand Technic.