Our Story

LILY’S began with a simple idea and a small neighborhood natural foods store. Right after finishing school, Cynthia Tice realized she needed a job, but she also knew she had a deep passion for helping people eat better. So in 1978, she opened Center Foods in Philadelphia. Long before green juice became popular, Cynthia was already spreading awareness about healthier food choices.

In 2003, Cynthia reached a milestone birthday, and she decided to give up sugar for good. The only problem was chocolate. She simply could not let it go. So in 2010, she decided to make her own no sugar added chocolate. Together with her longtime friend Chuck Genuardi, she launched LILY’S.

The company is committed to making better sweets. They strive to source non GMO and gluten free ingredients, and they ensure that every product is sweetened without refined or processed sugars. The unsweetened chocolate and cocoa used in most LILY’S products are certified Fair Trade by Fair Trade USA. The result is sweets with no added sugar that still taste delicious.

One exception is the LILY’S Peanut Butter Flavor Baking Chips. For these, the suppliers certify that the ingredients they provide have not been genetically engineered, even though other products also follow non GMO guidelines.

Since the very beginning, LILY’S has been dedicated to supporting causes they love and believe in. Because of that, they pledge a percentage of their earnings to nonprofit organizations.

When it comes to frequently asked questions, Fair Trade is an important topic. Fair Trade USA is a nonprofit organization that makes sure the farmers and communities who supply LILY’S with cocoa and cocoa butter are fairly compensated. More information can be found on the Fair Trade USA website.

Regarding vegan products, none of LILY’S items are marketed specifically as vegan. However, several products do not contain animal products. These include the dark and extra dark chocolate bars in various percentages, such as 55 percent dark, 70 percent extra dark, 85 percent extremely dark, and 92 percent intensely dark. Also included are the 55 percent dark chocolate baking chips, 45 percent semi sweet baking chips, peanut butter baking chips, and the corresponding baking bars. Still, these products are made on equipment that also processes dairy items, so they are not recommended for anyone with a dairy allergy.

LILY’S products do not contain maltitol, maltodextrin, or dextrose. These are sweeteners with high glycemic indexes, and they are different from the dextrin fiber used in LILY’S products. Soluble corn fiber is another ingredient in some items. It is also known as dextrin, and LILY’S updated the name on their labels to soluble corn fiber because that is the more common industry term.

Some customers have asked why the cacao percentage changed from 40 percent to 36 percent in the milk chocolate recipe. The company explored dozens of new recipes and conducted taste tests with current LILY’S consumers. The new 36 percent recipe was significantly preferred over versions with 40 percent cacao.

There has been a change to LILY’S chocolate overall. Based on consumer feedback, the company learned that people felt the chocolate could be improved in terms of taste. So they developed a new recipe that keeps LILY’S values and quality ingredients while addressing three specific areas: bitterness, off sweet notes, and dryness. The new recipe is rich and creamy, and the company is excited for customers to try it.

LILY’S continues to focus on spreading goodness through better sweets. From a small neighborhood store in Philadelphia to a brand known for no sugar added chocolate, the journey has been driven by a genuine desire to help people enjoy chocolate without refined sugars. The commitment to fair compensation for farmers, non GMO ingredients, and supporting nonprofit organizations remains at the heart of everything they do. Whether someone is new to the brand or has been enjoying LILY’S for years, the focus on quality, taste, and transparency is always the same.