The Body Shop in Ireland has one franchisee, Mr Peter MacDonald, a 48-year-old businessman from Monkstown, Co Dublin, who operates 18 outlets, six of which are in the North. Using the holding company, Aylwyn Investments, Mr MacDonald took his first franchise in the summer of 1981, opening the flagship Grafton Street store. He also has shops in Henry Street, Blanchardstown, Stillorgan, Tallaght, and, since last year, at the Jervis Shopping Centre in Dublin. He also operates branches in Cork, Limerick, Galway, Kilkenny, Sligo and Bray, Co Wicklow.

According to the Companies Office, Mr MacDonald is registered as a director of Aylwyn, along with Ms Mildred MacDonald.

Figures on the performance of individual franchisees were not given out, a spokesman for The Body Shop in London said yesterday.