It started out as just a hike, no different than countless others I’ve taken into the beautiful Rocky Mountains of Colorado. Little did I know I was about to come up with a mountain of an idea: combine simple ingredients such as fruits and nuts to create a food product that’s tasty, wholesome, and convenient.

In that instant, in May 2000, LÄRABAR® was born. After scouring the aisles of grocery stores and noting popular flavors of ice cream and cookies, I delved into my own product development.

With friends and family serving as focus groups, I tinkered with recipes until a consensus on yummi-ness was reached.The next step was to launch a company to market what would initially be five delicious LÄRABAR flavors: Cherry Pie, Apple Pie, Cashew Cookie, Banana Cookie, and Chocolate Coconut Chew. I also assembled a sophisticated manufacturing arm… what amounted to be a Cuisinart™ and a rolling pin.

Thank goodness we have machines for that job today. After all, we’re producing millions of LÄRABAR bars every year! They are a wholesome indulgence you can feel good about eating. And “feeling good” is what it’s all about. Believe it or not, I used to be a junk food junkie — until…

A passion for healthy living soon followed, and continues to be a driving force behind everything I do professionally and personally. I really appreciate the opportunity I have to make a positive difference in the world we live in.

Health is indeed your greatest wealth.

Lara, Founder