Molton Brown

Molton Brown was founded as a hair salon in 1973 and has become one of the UK's leading upmarket cosmetic firms. Molton Brown’s products such as shampoos, shower gels and lotions are sold in many of the world's most exclusive department stores. The company also owns its own network of retail stores with locations around the world and is known for making its products in England, with its main production facility based in Hertfordshire in the UK.

The name “Molton Brown” is a fusion of the street name South Molton Street (where the first store was based) and the boutique Browns, which was owned by the original founder Caroline’s Burstein’s parents.

In the 1990s Molton Brown launched a dedicated hotel, travel and leisure division which supplies some of the world’s leading five star hotels with high-quality skin and beauty products.

Japanese cosmetics firm KAO acquired Molton Brown for £170m in 2005 as part of an international strategy to expand its portfolio of upmarket brands. Kao retains Molton Brown as a stand-alone brand within its prestige cosmetics division. It has committed to maintaining the "Britishness" and heritage of the Molton Brown brand, thus Molton Brown’s products continue to be produced in Britain at their enlarged factory in Hertfordshire.