InNature Berhad (KLSE:INNATURE)'s planned diversification into the food and beverage (F&B) business in Asia, via the Burger & Lobster (B&L) restaurant chain, is aimed at mitigating risk amid recent developments in the UK with The Body Shop brand owner, its Chief says. In an interview with The Edge, managing director Datin Mina Cheah-Foong reveals that InNature "the franchisee of The Body Shop business in Malaysia, Vietnam and Cambodia" will continue to look for other diversification opportunities. "We are open to anything that strengthens InNature's business prospects and is aligned with our values.

We can't close the door to opportunities", she says, adding that the group has a preference for cash-generating businesses. Cheah-Foong rules out the possibility of getting into any business that would be in direct competition with The Body Shop. "There is a clause in our franchise agreement that explicitly prohibits that.

You can always ask permission, but right now, we are making no attempt to go down that route", she says.