The Body Shop has posted an uplift in its full-year sales as parent company Natura’s transformation plans start to bear fruit.

The ethical beauty specialist posted a 1.7% sales rise to £797.5m in its 2018 financial year, driven by a 1.8% increase in like-for-likes across non-franchise stores.

The retailer’s UK sales increased 2.3% during the period on a like-for-like basis, and were up 2.5% in the fourth quarter of the year.

The Body Shop’s full-year EBITDA climbed 62% excluding transformation costs, according to parent company Natura.

The retailer closed a net 62 stores globally in the year and ended the period with 2,935 stores including franchise outlets.

The beauty specialist’s parent company, Brazilian cosmetics chain Natura, posted a 36% uplift in net revenue to 13.4bn Brazilian real (£2.7bn).

The retail group’s underlying operating income increased 17.3% to 1.3bn Brazilian real (£260m) during the period.

Natura’s executive chairman Roberto Marques said: “With double-digit growth in revenue, adjusted EBITDA and net income and strong free-cashflow generation, Natura’s performance in the fourth quarter caps its first full year of existence with a very strong note.

“All three of our iconic brands contributed to this performance, with each one rolling out its specific strategy while benefiting from the scale, resources, sharing of best practices and strategic direction of the group.”