UK’s beauty brand, The Body Shop, has announced entry into the Kenyan market aiming to meet growing demand for ethically and sustainably produced beauty products.
The British-founded, change making beauty brand which retails over 800 products opens its first outlet in Nairobi at the Village Market through their exclusive franchisee, The Mask Retailers. The Body Shop has also disclosed plans to launch an e-commerce platform in 2023 to enable consumers in the East Africa region easier access to their products.
Sarah Jackson, The Body Shop EMEA & LatAm Franchise Business Director said about the launch: “Kenya is a fast developing economy which is well positioned to attract global brands aiming to strategically have a share of this market. The Kenyan consumer deeply cares about how ethically and socially conscious a business is across its entire value chain and also value for their money. The Body Shop is bringing the consumer over 800 products that meet their need for high-quality, naturally-inspired skincare, hair care and make-up, produced ethically and sustainably”.
The Body Shop products are made with respect for the world we live in and a commitment to trading fairly and sustainably. They are cruelty-free and help people – especially women and girls – to feel positive and proud about themselves, their bodies, their futures. The brand uses high quality natural ingredients ethically and responsibly grown and bought and turns them into innovative products.
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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 that helps producers gain market access and invest in social and environmental projects that benefit their communities. Over 13,500 farmers, producers and artisans are part of the Community Fair Trade programme globally.
Ms Jackson added: “The Body Shop Kenya store has been designed around the brand’s strategy to minimise its environmental footprint. It has been built with reclaimed wood and recycled plastics destined for landfill. The facade is made from zinc/aluminium-low energy metal that is infinitely recyclable and worktops are 100% recycled wood. Customers can also purchase a refillable 300ml aluminium bottle and fill it up with any of 12 brand’s bestloved shower gels, shampoos, conditioners and hand washes”.
Besides supporting farmers in the community, The Body Shop has announced that this year, as part of its Christmas community support, it is running an activism campaign dubbed ‘Be Seen. Be Heard’, to amplify young voices in the halls of power. Each purchase over the Christmas period will help The Body Shop donate a minimum of £500,000 to organisations across the globe that support young people who are contributing to their communities to make the world a fairer, more wonderful place.
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