The Body Shop plans to begin manufacturing in India, double store count in five years

Beauty and personal care brand The Body Shop plans to begin manufacturing activities in India under its new owner Aurea, which acquired the business in September last year. The brand also aims to double its store count in India in the coming five years.

“In certain areas, the company-owned franchises have been changed to partnership,” said The Body Shop and Aurea Group’s co-founder and executive chairman Mike Jatania, ET Bureau reported. “We are seeing some of the remanence of that play through, but we will be back in all the 70 markets that Body Shop existed [in], with partnerships.”

The Body Shop’s plan for the coming five years in India includes doubling its number of brick-and-mortar stores in the country, up from its current total of 200. The Body Shop also shared that 70% of its current stores in India are experiencing notable growth at present. The brand will also work on expanding its e-commerce presence in India and has its eyes on the fast growing quick commerce market, in which a rising number of beauty and personal care brands are launching. 

“We see India as a very strategic market,” said Jatania. “We give the same focus and priority to India that we give to the United States and China. Indian beauty market is growing at a significant level, our aspiration will be that most of the brands we invest in should have a role to play in India. We are also open to acquiring brands in India.”