Space NK has reported a 19% rise in comparable turnover to £282.7m for the nine months ended January 2026, driven by its acquisition by US retailer Ulta Beauty.
Although the fiscal year covers a shorter accounting period, the final results topped the retailer’s previous full-year results of £266.1m ended January 2025, according to filings made with the UK public register Companies House.
New Space NK stores and upsized locations benefited the UK high street retailer during the financial period, as well as sustained growth in digital sales.
While sales increased, operating profit fell 61.3% to £7.4m, and profit before tax dropped 67.4% to £5.8m from £17.8m.
The sharp profitability decrease was the result of exceptional and non-recurring costs connected to the acquisition by Ulta Beauty in July 2025.
Gross profit totalled £118.7m, but this was offset by distribution costs of £84.5m and administrative expenses of £20.9m.
Space NK also reported £12.1m in costs related to exceptional items, £1.69m in net interest expense and £4.89m for tax.
“The company [Space NK] has continued to deliver growth during the period, notwithstanding that the current financial period covers 44 weeks compared to 52 weeks in the prior period,” a statement in Space NK’s Companies House filings read.
“The company benefits from the strategic support and financial backing of its new ultimate parent company [Ulta Beauty].”
Ulta Beauty acquired Space NK from Manzanita Capital, with sources close to the retailer placing the cost of the acquisition at more than £300m.
Manzanita Capital had owned the high street beauty chain since 2002, and began to receive prospective bids from buyers in May.
Ulta Beauty has equally benefited from its purchase of Space NK, with the US beauty retailer reporting a net sales increase of 11.1% to US$3.2bn for its first quarter of trading in 2026.
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