Daily Hive Spotlights ZoRaw: How a Canadian Entrepreneur Is Innovating Through Chocolate
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Daily Hive profiled ZoRaw founder Gigi Gill on building Canada's first protein-fortified, no-added-sugar chocolate brand, from a Peru chocolate tour to nationwide retail and a 30,000 bars-per-shift factory.
Daily Hive published a May 2025 spotlight on ZoRaw Chocolates, bylined by Chris Middleton and produced as part of ZoRaw's TELUS #StandWithOwners prize. The feature traced founder Gigi Gill's journey from a type 2 diabetes diagnosis in her early twenties to building Canada's first protein-fortified, fibre-rich, no-added-sugar chocolate brand.
According to Diabetes Canada, 1 in 3 Canadians is either pre-diabetic or diabetic, the audience for whom ZoRaw's original formula was designed. The Daily Hive piece framed the brand not as a health story but as an innovation story, anchored by Gill's biochemistry training at the University of Waterloo and her commitment to sustainable supply chains.
The story behind the bite
Diagnosed with type 2 diabetes at a young age, Gill eliminated refined sugar from her diet and put her diabetes into remission. The change came at the cost of her favourite indulgence, chocolate.
"I learned that by changing the foods I ate I was able to drastically reduce my health issues and put my diabetes into remission. One of the drastic changes I made was completely taking out all refined sugars, which unfortunately at the time included my biggest addiction: chocolate."
Gigi Gill, ZoRaw Chocolates Co-founder, in Daily HiveFrom Peru to product
The turning point came during a trip to Peru, where Gill toured a local chocolate-making workshop and encountered cacao in its natural state. Returning to Canada, she began experimenting in her basement, applying her biochemistry training to formula development as a research problem. After more than a year of iteration, working with food scientists at Canadian universities, she had a working formula.
"I wanted to create a chocolate that didn't just satisfy a sweet tooth, but also added value to your diet. I like to think of calories like money. You wouldn't want to waste them on things you don't need, or get ripped off."
Gigi Gill, ZoRaw Chocolates Co-founderBuilding in a male-dominated space
Because of ZoRaw's unique technical formulation, Gill could not find a co-manufacturer capable of producing the product reliably. She built the factory herself in Mississauga, Ontario, with no prior experience in industrial machinery and in a sector where her presence was often questioned.
"Contractors often bypassed me to speak to my male partner, who would always redirect them back to me. Despite this, I found unexpected support, including free resources that helped us test our machinery."
Gigi Gill, ZoRaw Chocolates Co-founder, in Daily HiveBy investing in food technology and custom machinery, ZoRaw scaled production to 30,000 bars per shift, putting it among the few young companies in the Canadian Consumer Packaged Goods space manufacturing at that level.
Fair trade is non-negotiable
Every ZoRaw bar is made with fair-trade cacao, ensuring the farms supplying the cacao are paid fairly and operate under ethical conditions. For Gill, the commitment is personal as much as operational.
"As the first generation in my family not born on a farm, fair trade is non-negotiable for me. Trust me, not choosing fair trade cacao would probably get me disowned at family gatherings."
Gigi Gill, ZoRaw Chocolates Co-founderCommunity over scale
ZoRaw donates to Seva Food Bank in Mississauga. Gill mentors women entrepreneurs through The Forum, a Canadian charity supporting women in business, and through WBE Canada, which opens supply chain doors for Canadian women-owned businesses. The brand's community commitments include local job creation and ongoing support for newcomers to Canada.
The full ZoRaw collection is available at zorawchocolates.ca/collections/all. The original Daily Hive feature is available at dailyhive.com.
FAQ
What did Daily Hive write about ZoRaw?
Daily Hive published a May 2025 spotlight on ZoRaw Chocolates, bylined by Chris Middleton and produced as part of ZoRaw's TELUS #StandWithOwners prize. The piece profiled founder Gigi Gill's journey from a type 2 diabetes diagnosis to building Canada's first protein-fortified, no-added-sugar chocolate brand.
Why did Gigi Gill create ZoRaw Chocolates?
Gill was diagnosed with type 2 diabetes in her early twenties. After eliminating refined sugars and finding no chocolate on the market that was both genuinely healthy and genuinely good, she developed her own formula. Her University of Waterloo biochemistry degree and a Peru chocolate-making tour informed the product. ZoRaw was eventually scaled to a full factory in Mississauga, Ontario.
Is ZoRaw chocolate suitable for people with diabetes?
ZoRaw was specifically designed to be free of added sugar and formulated to avoid blood glucose spikes, making it suitable for diabetic-friendly, low-carb, and keto diets. Always consult your healthcare provider for personal dietary guidance.
Why does ZoRaw use fair-trade cacao?
Fair-trade certification ensures cacao farmers are paid fairly and work under ethical conditions. For Gigi Gill, the first generation of her family not born on a farm, fair trade is a personal and non-negotiable commitment. Every ZoRaw bar is made with fair-trade cacao.
What community programs is ZoRaw involved in?
ZoRaw donates to Seva Food Bank in Mississauga. Founder Gigi Gill mentors women entrepreneurs through The Forum and WBE Canada. The company also creates local manufacturing jobs and supports newcomers to Canada.
