Who was Body Shop founder Anita Roddick?
EVER since first launching in 1976, the Body Shop has been a go-to for many when it comes to shopping for all things bath, body and self-love.
The brand’s story first began with its late founder Dame Anita Roddick. But who was she and when did she create the Body Shop? Here’s everything you need to know.
Who was Body Shop founder Anita Roddick?
Dame Anita Roddick, born October 23, 1942, was a British businesswoman, human rights activist and environmental campaigner.
Throughout her lifetime, Anita was best known as the founder of the Body Shop – a cosmetics company producing and retailing natural beauty products.
Business shapes the world. It is capable of changing society in almost any way you can imagine
Dame Anita Roddick
As a keen campaigner, Anita was involved in activism for environmental and social issues, such as involvement with Greenpeace and The Big Issue.
In addition to this, in 1990, the late entrepreneur founded Children on the Edge – a charitable organisation which helps disadvantaged children in Eastern Europe, Africa and Asia.
In 2007 Anita, who also worked alongside her husband Gordan, sold the company to L’Oréal, but still played an active role in the business.
French firm L’Oreal paid £625million for the company, providing Anita and her husband Gordon with more than £100million for their 18 per cent share in the business.
That same year, the Body Shop founder died aged 64.
When did she create the Body Shop?
Anita opened her first Body Shop in Brighton back in 1976.
The brand first started as a small shop providing quality skincare products in refilled bottles, with the belief that the business could be a force for good.
According to the Body Shop’s official website, Dame Anita Roddick once discussed the way in which she saw the world of business.
Anita said: ”Business shapes the world. It is capable of changing society in almost any way you can imagine.”
Following this, the Body Shop went on to become a global retail business serving over 30 million customers worldwide.
What was Anita Roddick’s net worth?
In 2008, a year after her passing, Anita’s will revealed that she had given away all of her £51million to charity and the rest to tax.
The gross value of Anita’s estate when she died was £665,747.
What was Anita Roddick’s cause of death?
In September 2007, Dame Anita Roddick passed away from a brain haemorrhage after being admitted to St Richard’s Hospital, Chichester, West Sussex.
Her husband Gordon, and her two daughters, Sam and Justine, were at her side.
Prior to her passing, Anita had revealed that she was diagnosed with Hepatitis C in 2004.
The late founder’s illness was first discovered during a routine blood test for a life insurance policy.
Anita had caught the virus, which destroys the liver, after a hospital blood transfusion following the birth of her daughter Sam in 1971.
She had lived with the illness for more than 30 years before it was discovered – by which time she was suffering from cirrhosis of the liver.