Who Owns Space NK?
Space NK is owned by Ulta Beauty, Inc. (NASDAQ: ULTA), which acquired the British beauty retailer from investment firm Manzanita Capital in July 2025 for a reported price above 300 million pounds. Founded by Nicky Kinnaird in 1991, Space NK operates more than 80 stores across the UK and Ireland as a standalone Ulta Beauty subsidiary led by CEO Andy Lightfoot.
Parent Company
Acquired
2025
Status
Publicly Traded
Headquarters
Space NK Timeline
Who Owns Space NK?
- Parent Company: Ulta Beauty, Inc.
- Ownership Type: Subsidiary
- Acquisition Year: 2025
- Company Type: Publicly Traded
- Stock Ticker: NASDAQ: ULTA
| Brand | Parent Company | Ownership Type |
|---|---|---|
| Space NK | Ulta Beauty, Inc. | Subsidiary |
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History of Space NK
- Founded: 1991
- Founders: Nicky Kinnaird
- Acquired by Ulta Beauty, Inc.: 2025
Nicky Kinnaird founded Space NK in 1991, naming it after her own initials, and opened the first store in London's Covent Garden in 1993. Her concept was a beauty apothecary that mixed the best products from around the world, whatever the label, an approach that contrasted with the brand-specific counters dominating British department stores.
The format built a devoted following. Space NK became known for early adoption of niche and premium brands, introducing UK customers to labels that had no other retail outlet. Through the late 1990s the chain expanded slowly around London and grew a reputation as the place to discover brands before they went mainstream.
In 2002, Kinnaird sold the business to Manzanita Capital, the beauty-focused investment firm that also built holdings in Diptyque and D.S. & Durga. Under Manzanita, Space NK grew from a London boutique cluster into a national chain of more than 80 stores across the UK and Ireland, added US retail presence through wholesale partnerships, and developed its own retail-buying model that many prestige brands use to test the UK market.
The company explored a sale more than once. A strategic review in 2018 under Goldman Sachs did not produce a deal, and Manzanita ran another auction process from 2024 before agreeing to sell to Ulta Beauty. The transaction was announced on July 10, 2025, funded with Ulta cash on hand and existing credit capacity.
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Under Ulta ownership, the chain continues its curated prestige model while gaining access to the parent's scale in logistics, digital platform technology, and brand negotiations. It remains the vehicle for Ulta's UK strategy rather than a conversion target for the American banner.
About Ulta Beauty, Inc.
What does Ulta Beauty own?
Ulta Beauty owns its retail store chain, e-commerce platform, loyalty program (Ulta Beauty Rewards), private label product line (Ulta Beauty Collection), and in-store salon brand (The Salon at Ulta Beauty). In July 2025, Ulta acquired Space NK, a luxury beauty retailer operating in the UK and Ireland, which now operates as a wholly owned subsidiary. Ulta also has a joint venture in Mexico and a franchise in the Middle East.
Is Ulta Beauty publicly traded?
Yes, Ulta Beauty is publicly traded on NASDAQ under the ticker symbol ULTA. The company went public in 2007 and has no parent company or controlling shareholder. Institutional investors including Vanguard Group, BlackRock, and State Street Corporation are among the largest shareholders.
Who founded Ulta Beauty?
Ulta Beauty was founded in 1990 by Terry Hanson and Dick George in Chicago, Illinois. The founders created a retail concept that combined prestige cosmetics, mass-market beauty products, and salon services in a single store, breaking from the traditional model where these categories were sold through separate channels.
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Where is Ulta Beauty headquartered?
Ulta Beauty is headquartered in Bolingbrook, Illinois, a suburb of Chicago. The company has been based in the Chicago area since its founding in 1990. The headquarters houses corporate offices, merchandising teams, and operational support for more than 1,500 retail stores.
How many brands does Ulta Beauty own?
Ulta Beauty operates as a retailer rather than a brand owner. The company carries products from more than 600 brands across prestige, mass-market, and salon categories. Its owned properties include the Ulta Beauty retail brand, Ulta Beauty Collection private label, The Salon at Ulta Beauty, and Space NK (acquired July 2025).
Who owns Ulta Beauty?
Ulta Beauty is owned by its shareholders, including institutional investors such as Vanguard Group, BlackRock, and State Street Corporation. The company has no parent company or controlling shareholder. Kecia Steelman, the CEO, serves on the board of directors alongside independent directors.
- Founded: 1990
- Headquarters: Bolingbrook, Illinois, USA
- Company Type: Publicly Traded
- Stock: NASDAQ: ULTA
- Revenue: $12.4 billion (FY2025, ended January 31, 2026)
- Employees: Approximately 16,000
Where Is Space NK Made / Based?
- Headquarters: London, England, United Kingdom
Space NK Categories & Tags
Space NK Sustainability & Ethics
Space NK does not hold company-level sustainability certifications such as B Corp status. Its role in the sustainability conversation is curatorial: the retailer flags brands in its assortment that hold cruelty-free, vegan, or sustainable packaging credentials, and it has expanded refillable and reduced-packaging options within its stores.
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Cruelty-free status applies at the brand level within its assortment, certified by bodies such as Leaping Bunny or PETA, rather than to Space NK itself as the retailer. Under Ulta ownership it aligns with the parent's supplier standards and reporting.
Space NK Recalls & Controversies
Space NK has maintained a clean public record under both Manzanita Capital and Ulta Beauty ownership. No major product safety scandal, regulatory sanction, or labor dispute has attached to the brand in its three decades of operation.
Its history includes routine retail challenges rather than controversies: occasional brand disputes over assortment decisions and the competitive pressures that pushed Manzanita toward successive sale processes in 2018 and 2024.
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Brands Owned by Ulta Beauty, Inc.
Beauty Personal CareUlta Beauty
Owned by Ulta Beauty, Inc.
Largest specialty beauty retailer in the United States, selling mass and prestige cosmetics, skincare, fragrance, and salon services across more than 1,500 stores.
beauty-retailcosmeticsskincare
Beauty Personal CareUlta Beauty Collection
Owned by Ulta Beauty, Inc.
Ulta Beauty's private label product line spanning makeup, skincare, bath, and beauty tools sold exclusively through Ulta stores and ulta.com.
private-labelbeautymakeup
Space NK Ownership: Pros & Cons
Advantages
- +Ulta's scale funds store investment and digital growth
- +Standalone operation preserves the curated brand identity
- +Established UK platform accelerates parent's international strategy
- +Three decades of prestige brand relationships are hard to replicate
- +Management continuity under Andy Lightfoot retains buying expertise
Considerations
- -Sephora's UK entry and Boots' prestige push raise competition
- -Premium customer spending is sensitive to UK economic conditions
- -Integration risk if parent standardizes away the curation model
- -Small store count limits national reach versus high-street rivals
- -Currency exposure between UK earnings and US parent reporting
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Frequently Asked Questions About Space NK
Sources & Further Reading
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Competitors to Space NK
These competing brands operate in the same categories and provide similar products or services. Compare key attributes to understand market positioning and competitive landscape.
| Brand | Parent Company | Country | Founded | Market Position | Primary Market | Gender Target |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Macys | USA | 1999 | Premium | United states | All Genders | |
| Mecca Brands | Australia | 1997 | Premium | Australia | Unisex | |
| Ulta Beauty Inc | USA | 1990 | Mass market | United states | Womens | |
| Estee Lauder | USA | 1968 | Premium | Global | Womens | |
| Estee Lauder | USA | 1946 | Luxury | Global | Womens | |
| Lvmh | United States | 2017 | Premium | Global | Womens |
Learn More About Competitors
Beauty Personal CareBluemercury
Owned by Macy's, Inc.
Prestige beauty retail chain founded in 1999, owned by Macy's Inc. since 2015, operating approximately 172 stores specializing in luxury skincare and cosmetics.
beauty-retailskincarecosmetics
Retail EcommerceMecca
Owned by Mecca Brands (RTCH Pty Ltd)
Australian beauty retailer founded in 1997 by Jo Horgan, offering cosmetics, skincare, fragrance, and personal care products across physical stores and online platforms, serving as one of Australia's largest beauty retailers.
beauty-retailcosmeticsskincare
Beauty Personal CareUlta Beauty
Owned by Ulta Beauty, Inc.
Largest specialty beauty retailer in the United States, selling mass and prestige cosmetics, skincare, fragrance, and salon services across more than 1,500 stores.
beauty-retailcosmeticsskincare
Beauty Personal CareClinique
Owned by The Estée Lauder Companies Inc.
American dermatologist-developed skincare and cosmetics brand known for its allergy-tested, fragrance-free products and 3-Step Skin Care System.
dermatologist-developedfragrance-freeallergy-tested
Beauty Personal CareEstée Lauder
Owned by The Estée Lauder Companies Inc.
American prestige skincare and cosmetics brand and the flagship label of The Estée Lauder Companies Inc. (NYSE: EL). Founded in 1946, the brand is known for Advanced Night Repair and Double Wear foundation, sold in approximately 150 countries through department stores, specialty retailers, and e-commerce.
luxury-skincarecosmeticsanti-aging
Beauty Personal CareFenty Beauty
Owned by LVMH Moët Hennessy Louis Vuitton SE
Inclusive cosmetics brand co-created by Rihanna and LVMH in 2017, known for 40-shade foundation range and the Fenty Effect on the beauty industry.
cosmeticsmakeupinclusive-beauty
Competitive Analysis
Market Positioning: Space NK competes with 6 brands in the same categories, ranging from mass market to luxury positioning.
Geographic Distribution: Competitors are headquartered across multiple regions, indicating global competition in this market segment.
Brand Heritage: Competitor brands range from established heritage brands to newer market entrants, with founding years spanning several decades.
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Independent Alternatives to Space NK
Looking for brands with different ownership structures? These similar brands are not owned by Ulta Beauty, Inc., giving you alternative choices that support different corporate structures.
Beauty Personal CareAveeno
Owned by Kenvue
American brand of skincare and hair care products specializing in natural ingredients and colloidal oatmeal formulations.
skincarenaturaloatmeal
Privately Owned
Aveeno is privately owned, unlike Space NK which is under a publicly traded parent company.
Beauty Personal CareDollar Shave Club
Owned by Nexus Capital Management
American direct-to-consumer razor and grooming brand known for its subscription model and viral marketing.
razorsgroomingdtc
Privately Owned
Dollar Shave Club is privately owned, unlike Space NK which is under a publicly traded parent company.
Beauty Personal CareDr. Bronner's
Owned by Dr. Bronner's
Family-owned American maker of organic and fair trade Pure-Castile soaps, the top-selling natural soap brand in North America.
soapcastile-soaporganic
Privately Owned
Dr. Bronner's is privately owned, unlike Space NK which is under a publicly traded parent company.
Beauty Personal CareFairTale GHANA
Owned by KAFSB OU
Ethical skincare brand selling raw unrefined Shea butter and cold-pressed Baobab oil handcrafted by a women-owned cooperative in Northern Ghana.
shea-butterbaobab-oilethical-beauty
Privately Owned
FairTale GHANA is privately owned, unlike Space NK which is under a publicly traded parent company.
Beauty Personal CareNo7 Beauty Company
Owned by Walgreens Boots Alliance
No7 Beauty Company is a British skincare and cosmetics brand founded in 1935 by Boots, now a standalone business under The Boots Group and Sycamore Partners.
skincarecosmeticsbeauty
Privately Owned
No7 Beauty Company is privately owned, unlike Space NK which is under a publicly traded parent company.
Beauty Personal CareClean & Clear
Owned by Kenvue
American skincare brand producing facial cleansers, moisturizers, and acne treatments for teens and young women, owned by Kenvue Inc.
skincarefacial-cleanseracne-treatment
Privately Owned
Clean & Clear is privately owned, unlike Space NK which is under a publicly traded parent company.
Ulta Beauty, Inc. Stock Information
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Jobs at Ulta Beauty, Inc.
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