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About Us

The Story of The Body Shop

Our journey began in 1976, when our founder, Dame Anita Roddick, opened a small green shop in Brighton with one revolutionary belief: business could be a force for good. From that moment, we’ve been campaigning, innovating, and breaking the rules of beauty. More than four decades later, The Body Shop continues to stand for change, ethical business, and beauty with purpose.

A Brief History

• 1976 – First store opened in Brighton

• 1984 – Publicly listed on the London Stock Exchange

• 2006 – Acquired by L’Oréal

• 2017 – Joined the Natura &Co family

• 2023 – Sold to Aurelius Private Equity

• 2024 – Acquired by a consortium led by Auréa Group

Not Your Average Cosmetics Company

From the very beginning, we challenged the beauty industry with a fresh approach. We used ethically sourced, naturally inspired ingredients and simple, refillable packaging. Our products were designed for every body — to help people feel good in their own skin, never to make them look like someone else.

“Business shapes the world. It is capable of changing society in almost any way you can imagine.”
— Dame Anita Roddick, Founder of The Body Shop

Pioneering Social Change

Long before sustainability became a buzzword, we built it into our DNA. Our products were never tested on animals, we worked fairly with farmers, and we created our Community Fair Trade programme to empower local communities. What started as activism is now a global movement inspiring brands everywhere.

Redefining Beauty

At a time when beauty was about impossible ideals, Anita redefined it as joy, confidence, and self-expression. Our products became rituals of self-love rather than promises of anti-ageing or unrealistic transformations. Beauty, to us, has always been about being your best self.

Empowering Women and Girls

Feminism, inclusivity, and compassion are the principles that shaped The Body Shop. Through our trade programmes and activism, we’ve continuously worked to empower women, create opportunities, and champion equality across the globe.

Business as a Force for Good

Our campaigning roots run deep. In 1986, we joined forces with Greenpeace in the Save the Whale campaign, proving that a beauty brand could stand for something bigger. Since then, we’ve campaigned for human rights, animal protection, and environmental justice — making activism part of everything we do.

Our Purpose

The Body Shop exists to fight for a fairer, more beautiful world. We believe in the power of business for good, the empowerment of women and girls, and the idea that everyone is beautiful. This is not just our purpose – it is the heart of who we are.