Lily O’Brien’s

How ethical is Lily O’Brien’s?

Lily O’Brien’s is a premium chocolate and dessert company owned by Colian Holding S.A. which has not achieved The GOOD Shopping Guide’s ethical benchmark on our Ethical Chocolate Ratings Table and therefore cannot be classed as an ethical company based on its current practices and policies.

We recommend consumers consult our Ethical Chocolate Ratings Table to find companies above the benchmark with Ethical Accreditation.

What does Lily O’Brien’s do?

Lily O’Brien’s is an Irish chocolate and dessert manufacturer founded in 1992 by Mary Ann O’Brien in her home kitchen in Newbridge, County Kildare. The company was named after her then two-year-old daughter Lily. Lily O’Brien’s specializes in premium chocolate assortments, dessert-inspired chocolates, and seasonal products with distinctive flavour combinations. The brand has grown to employ 120 people at its Newbridge facility and generates significant international revenue. In January 2018, Polish food company Colian Holding S.A. acquired Lily O’Brien’s for €40 million. The company continues to be run by its original Irish management team with founder Mary Ann O’Brien remaining as director and consultant. Lily O’Brien’s exports more than 80% of its products to over 15 countries and supplies airlines and food service companies globally.

Why does Lily O’Brien’s fail to meet the benchmark?

Lily O’Brien’s significantly below-benchmark performance stems from extensive gaps across six critical ethical criteria. With a score of just 50 out of 100, Lily O’Brien’s represents the weakest ethical performer in the chocolate sector reviewed. The company has failed to achieve independent certifications demonstrating ethical practices across environmental responsibility, sustainable sourcing, and consumer protection.

Lily O’Brien’s receives bottom ratings for Fairtrade certification, environmental reporting, and organic certification. Chocolate relies heavily on cocoa from developing countries where farmers face significant economic challenges. Fairtrade certification ensures farmers receive fair wages, safe working conditions, and community investment. Environmental reporting transparency regarding manufacturing sustainability and supply chain practices is essential. Organic certification demonstrates commitment to sustainable agriculture. The absence of all three represents fundamental gaps in ethical chocolate production.

The company also receives a bottom rating for palm oil-free sourcing, suggesting insufficient commitment to eliminating or responsibly sourcing palm oil from supply chains. Palm oil production drives rainforest deforestation and endangers species including orangutans.

Most notably, Lily O’Brien’s receives a bottom rating for vegetarian and vegan product verification. The absence of independent certification for vegetarian or vegan products is unusual for a chocolate brand and suggests insufficient attention to plant-based consumer needs and ingredient transparency.

Lily O’Brien’s also lacks Ethical Accreditation from The GOOD Shopping Guide, which would provide independent verification of ethical practices across all business operations.

What does Lily O’Brien’s do well?

Lily O’Brien’s demonstrates strong performance on specific social criteria. The company achieves good ratings for animal welfare, avoids involvement in armaments and fossil fuels, practices responsible marketing, maintains neutral political donation practices, and has no documented public record criticisms. These positive areas demonstrate some ethical commitment but are vastly insufficient to offset the extensive gaps across environmental and sourcing criteria.

What can Lily O’Brien’s do to improve?

The most urgent priorities are achieving Fairtrade certification for cocoa sourcing, dramatically improving environmental reporting with transparent supply chain disclosure, and pursuing organic certification. Lily O’Brien’s must strengthen its palm oil commitment by eliminating it or sourcing exclusively from certified sustainable sources. Critically, the company should achieve independent vegetarian and vegan product verification to meet consumer expectations.

Consumers seeking ethically-sourced chocolate should consult companies above the benchmark on our Ethical Chocolate Ratings Table, particularly those with Ethical Accreditation. Find out more about how we rate brands on ethical criteria.