The Body Shop, a global beauty brand, has entered the Kenyan market to meet the growing demand for ethically and sustainable beauty products.
Through their franchisee, The Mask Retailers, the British-founded, trend-setting cosmetics business, which sells over 800 products, opened its first location in Nairobi at the Village Market.
The Body Shop plans to launch an e-commerce platform in 2023 to enable consumers in the East Africa region easier access to their products.
The Body Shop is a well-known beauty brand that was established in 1976 by Dame Anita Roddick in Brighton, England. It is also a B CorpTM accredited company. providing high-quality, naturally-inspired skincare, body care, hair care, cosmetics that are ethically & sustainably made pic.twitter.com/Z7gktTNgLp
— Nairobi fashion hub (@FashionNairobi) December 16, 2022
Sarah Jackson, The Body Shop EMEA Franchise Business Director, said Kenya is a fast-developing economy well positioned to attract global brands aiming to have a share of this market strategically.
“The Kenyan consumer deeply cares about how ethically and socially conscious a business is across its entire value chain and value for their money,” Jackson said.
According to Ms Jackson, the Body Shop is bringing over 800 products that meet their need for high-quality, naturally-inspired skincare, hair care, and makeup produced ethically and sustainably.
“The Body Shop products are made with respect for our world and a commitment to trading fairly and sustainably.”
In 2020, The Body Shop started sourcing tea tree oil from the foothills of Mount Kenya and the East Coast region, working with the Kutoka Ardhini (‘from the ground’ in Swahili) group, which supplies the key ingredient from a network of over 1,000 farmers.
This is implemented through The Body Shop’s Community Fair Trade programme, which helps producers gain market access and invest in social and environmental projects that benefit their communities.
The brand entered the continent via South Africa in 2001. It also operates in Nigeria.