Anita Roddick

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Dame Anita Roddick DBE (b. Anita Perella on October 23, 1942 in Littlehampton, Sussex, England, UK) is the founder of The Body Shop, a cosmetics company dedicated to producing and retailing ethical beauty products. She founded the business in her birthplace of Littlehampton, England, in 1976.

Roddick is known for her campaigning work on environmental issues and is a member of the Demos think tank's advisory council.

She was born to an Italian immigrant family. Her mother ran a café, and was in the habit of recycling. After leaving school, Anita trained as a teacher and travelled widely before her mother introduced her to Gordon Roddick, whom she married in 1970. The couple opened a restaurant, followed by a hotel. By the time they married, they already had one child and were expecting another.

Before 1976, Anita Roddick worked for the United Nations where she travelled extensively and met people from a number of different cultures. The first Body Shop was basic and at first sold only 15 lines. The Body Shop's full range now has over 300 products. The organisation trades in 41 countries and employs around 6000 people, either directly or in franchises.

Roddick opened the first Body Shop with the aim of making an income for herself and her two daughters, while her husband was away in the United States. Her idea was to exploit some of the ideas she had formed while travelling around the world. She opened her second shop six months later. On Gordon's return, he joined the business.

By 2004, the Body Shop had 1980 stores, serving over 77 million customers throughout the world. The Body Shop was voted the second most trusted brand in the United Kingdom, and 28th top brand in the world. In 2003, Roddick was knighted by the Queen, and is known as Dame Anita Roddick.

On December 13, 2005, National Post reported that Anita Roddick has decided to turn her back on the world of commerce and give away her fortune, worth some £51 million ($104 million)Template:Citeneeded.

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