Which entrepreneur founded The Body Shop in Brighton in 1976?

Anita Roddick founded The Body Shop in Brighton in 1976. She opened the first shop with her husband, Gordon Roddick, while he was away traveling, using the business to support their family and fund his return.

The Body Shop became known for personal-care products, refillable packaging, opposition to animal testing, and campaigns connected with social and environmental issues. Roddick’s approach helped make ethical positioning part of the company’s public identity rather than treating it as a separate charitable activity.

The company’s first shop was in Brighton, England, and its success led to rapid international expansion. In 2006, L’Oréal agreed to acquire The Body Shop. The acquisition and later ownership changes are separate from Roddick’s founding of the business in 1976.