Arāya Ventures leads investment in comeback kid Bodycare with focus on AI powered retail platform
Bodycare reports completion of an investment round led by Arāya Ventures, alongside entrepreneur Dilesh Mehta and a syndicate of brand builders, operators and retail leaders. The amount of cash raised was not revealed.
Last year, Bodycare closed all its stores after collapsing into adminstration. Its brand and intellectual property were acquired out of administration in late 2025 by an investor group led by former The Body Shop and Molton Brown CEO Charles Denton, and it is now aiming to open 25 UK stores in 2026, growing to 200 locations over the next five years.
It is also tapping AI technology across merchandising, pricing, supply chain optimisation, customer insight and operational efficiency, while looking to create an engaging in-store experience that blends shopping, content creation and community. The investment follows the opening of Bodycare’s first Studio Store in Sheffield. Further locations are planned in Derby and Leicester this month.
Rupa Popat, Founder and Managing Partner at Arāya Ventures, says: “We’re delighted to lead this investment in Bodycare. We believe the next generation of retail winners will combine trusted consumer brands with AI-first operations, intelligent decision-making and disciplined execution. Bodycare has a powerful foundation, a loyal customer base and an ambitious leadership team with a clear vision for reinventing value retail. We’re excited to partner with Charles and the wider team as they build a technology-enabled retailer that is redefining what value retail can become.”
Dilesh Mehta says: “Bodycare represents a rare opportunity to back a business with an established brand, a loyal customer base and a leadership team with the ambition to redefine an entire category. I’m delighted to be joining this outstanding group of investors and look forward to supporting the team as Bodycare builds one of the UK’s most exciting retail growth stories.”
Charles Denton comments: “Retail doesn’t need another retailer, it needs a fundamentally different model. Consumers increasingly discover products through creators, expect outstanding value without compromise and still want the experience of shopping in person building human connections. Bodycare has been built to bring those worlds together.”
“This investment represents far more than new capital. We’ve brought together a group of investors who understand how technology, AI and changing consumer behaviour are transforming retail. Arāya Ventures and our co-investors share our belief that the future belongs to retailers capable of combining physical stores, AI and creator led commerce into a single, connected customer experience. Their backing gives us the resources, expertise and strategic support to accelerate our rollout and execute our long-term vision of building one of the UK’s most innovative retail businesses.”
2026 RTIH Innovation Awards
AI will be a key focus area at the 2026 RTIH Innovation Awards.
The awards are now open for entries and celebrate global retail technology innovation in a fast moving omnichannel world.
Our winners will be revealed at the 2026 RTIH Innovation Awards Ceremony, taking place at The HAC in Central London on Wednesday, 4th November.
Check out our 2025 winners here.
Our 2025 hall of fame entrants were revealed during a sold out event which took place at The HAC on 16th October and consisted of a drinks reception, three course meal, and awards ceremony presided over by award winning comedian, actress and writer Tiff Stevenson.
In his welcome speech, Scott Thompson, Founder and Editor, RTIH, said: “This is the awards’ fifth year as a physical event. We started off with just 30 people at the South Place Hotel not far from here, then moved to London Bridge Hotel, then The Barbican, and last year RIBA’s HQ in the West End.”
“But I’m conscious of the fact that, to quote the legend that is Taylor Swift, You’re only as hot as your last hit, baby. So, this year we’ve moved to our biggest venue yet, and also pulled in our largest number of entries to date and broken attendance records.”
He added: “This year’s submissions have without doubt been our best yet. To quote one of the judges: The examples of innovative developments across both traditional and digital retail spaces were truly remarkable.”
Congratulations to our winners, and a big thank you to our sponsors, judging panel, the legend that is Tiff Stevenson, and all those who attended our 2025 gathering.
