A British ethical beauty brand started by Anita Roddick in Brighton in 1976, selling skincare, body care and makeup, with its head office back in Brighton and shops across the UK.
The Body Shop sells skincare, body care, haircare, makeup and fragrance. Its well-known ranges include body butters, tea tree products, vitamin C skincare and shower gels, and its shops also sell men's skincare. The company was one of the first big names in beauty to build its story around ethics, and it still describes itself as a brand with a purpose beyond selling products.
Anita Roddick opened the first Body Shop in Brighton in 1976, to earn a living for herself and her two daughters while her husband was away. She sold quality skincare in refillable containers and in sample sizes, with honest rather than hyped marketing. Her husband Gordon joined in 1977 and the company began franchising soon after. Early shops used dark green walls and hand-written labels, and the refill policy began when money for new bottles ran out. Ms Roddick said that business should be about responsibility, not only money. The company campaigned against animal testing, partnered with groups such as Greenpeace and Amnesty International, and in 1987 launched Community Trade, buying ingredients such as shea butter and Brazil nut oil from communities at fair prices. She also founded the charity Children on the Edge in 1990.
The Body Shop has had an eventful recent history in the UK. The business went into administration in February 2024, when 82 UK shops closed and jobs were lost in stores and at head office. In September 2024 it was bought by Auréa Group and the remaining UK stores were saved. Charles Denton became chief executive, with Mike Jatania as executive chair. In October 2024 the company announced it would bring its head office back to Brighton, to the University of Brighton's Plus X Innovation hub, combining teams that had been in West Sussex and London. We did not find a current count of UK stores.
Mr Denton said the company needed to foster an innovative and collaborative culture, and that returning to Brighton reinforces the values on which it was built. Those are the company's statements from late 2024. The company's older history shows a culture built around campaigning, with in-store posters and petitions, and it once gave a share of profits from its Glasgow soap factory to that city. Critics have argued some of its ethical claims covered only a small share of its business, so it is worth reading independent accounts too.
A retailer and manufacturer of this kind needs shop staff and managers, buyers, product developers, designers, marketing and online teams, supply-chain and logistics staff, and people in finance, customer service and sustainability. If you care about animals, people and the environment, the story here is a good one to understand, including the lessons from its recent difficulties. Check the company's own website for current vacancies.
Website: www.thebodyshop.com/en-gb
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