LillyBean by PastryBase

A Recipe for Accessible Desserts

Where: Richmond, VA

Capital Amount: $50,000

Project Type: Working Capital

LillyBean by PastryBase Baking Mixes and Kits are made locally in Virginia in a completely allergen-free space, ensuring that dietary limitations don’t have to mean a limitation on flavor. Following a long career as a pastry chef, Lebanese founder Jill Donaldson built PastryBase after developing her own food intolerances. She knew that health issues shouldn’t be the end of her relationship with dessert, so in 2017 she began whipping up kits in her home kitchen.

Named after the maternal grandmother who instilled her love of baking, LillyBean by PastryBase was born.  

Opportunity for Impact

Prior to 2020, Jill had great success selling baking kits through markets and trade shows. Exposure at trade shows meant she could reach a much wider audience, with opportunities nationally and even internationally. With the COVID lockdown in 2020, Jill turned towards online sales, seeing revenue growth with families stuck at home looking for ways to stay entertained.  

By 2022 Jill was selling enough products to need a co-packer for blending products, having outgrown the equipment in her kitchen. But Jill soon realized finding a mid-size manufacturer with an allergen-free space seemed almost impossible on the east coast. When a space opened locally on the Hatch campus, Jill knew this was an opportunity to bring production back in-house, if she could secure the capital.  

Unfortunately, the loan process with major banks was not only time-consuming but felt intentionally confusing. So when someone from the Virginia Department of Agriculture referred Jill to Bridging Virginia, she felt hopeful about the potential partnership.  

Our Partnership

Bridging Virginia provided Jill with a $50,000 loan in order to bring manufacturing back in-house, locally in Richmond. This capital meant Jill would not have to sacrifice scaling her businesses to stay allergen-free. Instead, PastryBase now has an allergen-free facility in Richmond, allowing them to produce, hire, and purchase locally.  

Beyond Capital 

Securing this space means PastryBase will have space to expand, and they are already seeing the benefits. With this growth comes the opportunity to hire more local employees, continue locally sourcing ingredients, and even offer their space to other businesses with similar allergen-free needs. In 2019 LillyBean won the SOFI Award for Best New Product from the Specialty Food Association, and PastryBase has been featured by outlets like CBS 6, the Richmond Times-Dispatch, B Side Collective Magazine, and Uncommon Goods. Jill continues to live by her favorite quote, “Bake the world a better place,” as she serves her community with accessible, sweet treats.