Award Goes to Lulu’s Dessert Factory Owner

Maria de Lourdes Sobrino, who overcame a lack of capital and business know-how to build a Huntington Beach gelatin empire, has received a prestigious Avon Women of Enterprise Award in recognition of her success.

Sobrino, owner of Lulu’s Dessert Factory, a $7.5-million company with 100 employees that manufactures and distributes several ready-to-eat-gelatin products, was one of five women honored by Avon.

Sobrino’s business is booming. Customers include Ralphs and Vons. Next year Lulu’s will move into a new 70,000 square-foot factory in Rancho Santa Margarita to accommodate growth.

Sobrino opened Lulu’s in 1982 out of a tiny 700-square-foot store in Torrance.

The Avon Women of Enterprise Award was created by Avon Products Inc. in 1987 in conjunction with the Small Business Administration. Each winner receives $1,000 and a sculpture.