A long-standing health food shop has closed.

Julian Graves. in Victoria Road, Dartmouth, has shut as a result of the company falling into administration in early July.

The Dartmouth store is one of the first to be fully closed and several full and part-time staff are now looking for alternative employment.

Administrators announced that 755 jobs were on the line countrywide as the retailer had been 'adversely affected by the tough economic climate'.

A spokesman for NBTY, the company which owns Julian Graves, said: 'We regret the loss of jobs and will continue to look for opportunities for our colleagues to transfer.

'The remainder of our portfolio of retailing assets – including high street chain Holland and Barrett – continues to perform well and is unaffected by this announcement.'

Jamie Harley, head of media relations at adminstrators Deloitte, said this week: 'Despite the administrators' efforts to find a buyer for Julian Graves as a going concern, discussions with interested parties have not led to a viable offer for the business and, to date, no additional interested parties have come forward.

'It has unfortunately, therefore, been necessary to close stores that have run out of stock and to make employees redundant.'