The Protein Works
The Protein Works is a UK-based direct-to-consumer sports nutrition brand that designs, formulates, and manufactures protein shakes, meal replacements, and supplements in-house, selling exclusively online to fitness, weight management, vegan, and GLP-1 consumer segments across the UK and Europe.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded2012
- HeadquartersRuncorn, United Kingdom
- Headcount51–100
- GTM typeB2C
- OfferingHardware or Manufacturing
What The Protein Works does
The Protein Works is a UK-based direct-to-consumer sports nutrition brand founded in 2012 and headquartered in Runcorn, North West England, operating under legal entity Class Delta Ltd. It manufactures its products in-house at an £11 million purpose-built research and development facility containing its own laboratory and factory, giving it end-to-end control over formulation and quality. The portfolio centres on protein shakes (Whey Protein 360, Vegan Protein 360), meal replacement shakes (Diet Meal 360, Complete Meal 360), and a broad supplement range (creatine, collagen, hydration, super greens, vitamins), offered through a three-tier innovation system (BLACK for value, GOLD for advanced formulation, PLATINUM for nutritionally complete products).
The business model is digital-first direct-to-consumer e-commerce via theproteinworks.com, with no third-party retail distribution. Pricing is unit-based, ranging from approximately £0.47 to £1.55 per serving, augmented by free delivery thresholds, Klarna buy-now-pay-later, and a referral/ambassador programme. Customer acquisition is driven by content marketing through The Locker Room blog, social media presence across Instagram, Facebook, YouTube, TikTok, Pinterest and X, and a product finder quiz. Target segments include fitness enthusiasts, weight management consumers, vegans, busy professionals, women (via the Sune sub-brand), and GLP-1 medication users.
For FY25 (year to 31 August 2025), the company reported record revenue of £55.1 million, up 9% YoY, with UK domestic revenue growing 17% (meal shakes +42%, nutritional supplements +14%) and international revenue up 15% (Germany +22%). Pre-tax profit was £7.2 million, down from £8.8 million, reflecting reinvestment. The company was previously backed by YFM Equity Partners and was acquired by French dairy multinational Lactalis in June 2026 as part of the acquirer's move into active nutrition.
The Protein Works firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- The Protein Works
- Legal name
- Class Delta Ltd
- Website
- https://theproteinworks.com
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 2012
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 51–100 employees
- Short description
- The Protein Works is a UK-based direct-to-consumer sports nutrition brand that designs, formulates, and manufactures protein shakes, meal replacements, and supplements in-house, selling exclusively online to fitness, weight management, vegan, and GLP-1 consumer segments across the UK and Europe.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
The Protein Works industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Sports Nutrition
- NAICS
- Food Manufacturing (311), Snack Food Manufacturing (31191)
- SIC
- Food And Kindred Products (2000), Dairy Products (2020)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Protein & Meal-Replacement Beverage Production (RTD Shakes) (AFAFAFAD)
- akta.pro secondary industries
- Protein & Sports Dairy Beverages (RTD Protein Shakes, High-Protein Milk) (AFAHAIAD), Protein Blends & Systems (Multi-Source Blends, Functional Protein Systems) (AFAJAHAJ), Proteins & Functional Nutrition Ingredients (Plant/Animal Proteins, Collagen, Amino Acids) (CRADAOAJ)
Keywords
Where The Protein Works is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Runcorn
- HQ country
- United Kingdom
- HQ region
- Europe
Offices2 records
Markets served
The Protein Works business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2C
- Offering type
- Hardware or Manufacturing
- Cost components
- Supply Chain, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Personnel, Technology or R&D, Infrastructure
Revenue model
- Direct-to-Consumer Product Sales: The company generates revenue through direct-to-consumer e-commerce sales of protein shakes, meal replacement shakes, protein powders, supplements, and foods. Revenue grew 9% to £55.1m for FY25 (year to 31 August 2025). The company operates a D2C model backed by PE firm YFM Equity Partners.
- Product Sales - Supplementary Categories: Revenue streams include accessories (water bottles, protein shakers), food products (breakfast items, snacks, nut butters), and supplements (collagen, creatine, vitamins, pre-workouts, omega-3). The company offers tiered pricing across innovation levels with various serving sizes.
Pricing tiers
| Model | Billing | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Unit Pricing | Pay-as-you-go | Whey Protein 360 - BLACK Innovation: Entry-level classic formulation with proven ingredients at the most affordable price point |
| Unit Pricing | Pay-as-you-go | Whey Protein 360 - GOLD Innovation: Advanced formula with enhanced health benefits and active ingredients |
| Unit Pricing | Pay-as-you-go | Whey Protein 360 - PLATINUM Innovation: Most advanced nutritionally complete protein shake with pinnacle formulations |
| Unit Pricing | Pay-as-you-go | Diet Meal 360 - BLACK Innovation: Cost-effective nutritionally complete diet meal shake |
| Unit Pricing | Pay-as-you-go | Diet Meal 360 - GOLD Innovation: Advanced formulation with enhanced nutrition |
| Unit Pricing | Pay-as-you-go | Diet Meal 360 - PLATINUM Innovation: Most advanced diet meal shake ever created |
| Unit Pricing | Pay-as-you-go | Complete Meal 360 - GOLD Innovation: Nutritionally complete meal for modern busy lives |
| Unit Pricing | Pay-as-you-go | Complete Meal 360 - PLATINUM Innovation: Most advanced nutritionally complete meal |
Go-to-market motion2 records
Distribution channels1 record
Marketing channels7 records
The Protein Works product offering
Product offeringCore offering
The Protein Works is a direct-to-consumer sports nutrition brand that formulates, manufactures, and sells protein shakes, meal replacement shakes, protein powders, supplements, and functional foods. The company produces its products in-house at a £11 million UK research and development facility that includes its own laboratory and factory, and sells exclusively through its own e-commerce website to fitness enthusiasts, weight management consumers, vegan shoppers, and GLP-1 medication users.
Product overview
The Protein Works is a direct-to-consumer sports nutrition brand offering a comprehensive portfolio of protein-focused products centered around shakes, powders, supplements, and functional foods. The core product lines include Whey Protein 360 and Vegan Protein 360 (available in BLACK, GOLD, and PLATINUM innovation tiers), Diet Meal 360 for weight management, Complete Meal 360 for nutritionally complete meal replacement, and specialized offerings like Creatine 360 and collagen supplements. The company operates a three-tier innovation system (BLACK for everyday value, GOLD for advanced formulation, PLATINUM for pinnacle nutrition) across most products. Additional offerings include meal replacement shakes for breakfast/lunch/dinner, weight loss supplements, vegan-specific lines, and food products like SuperMeals, protein pancakes, and peanut butter. The company also offers a dedicated GLP-1 friendly product line for users of weight loss medications, and a women's-specific sub-brand called Sune. Products are manufactured in-house at the company's UK-based £11 million research and development facility.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Brands
- Sune: A multi-faceted plant-based protein shake specifically formulated for women, with 20g protein per serve and 75 health benefits.
Products and services
- Whey Protein 360
Quantifiable outcome
- 500 million shakes sold indicating massive customer adoption and product-market fit
- +4 more outcomes
Companies that use The Protein Works
Customer profileNamed customers1 record
Segments6 records
Ideal customer profiles6 records
The Protein Works technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed No
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Integration7 records
Feature4 records
The Protein Works partnerships and signals
Strategic signalScale indicators8 records
Recent moves6 records
Expansion highlights6 records
The Protein Works competitors and assessment
Company assessmentDirect peers
- Myprotein: Myprotein is the largest direct-to-consumer sports nutrition brand in the UK/Europe, offering protein powders, shakes, supplements, and active nutrition products online. Directly comparable in product range, D2C model, target customer (fitness enthusiasts), and pricing tiering.
- Bulk Powders: Bulk (formerly Bulk Powders) is a UK-based D2C sports nutrition brand offering protein powders, shakes, supplements, and active nutrition. Closely comparable business model, product portfolio, and target consumer to The Protein Works.
- Huel: Huel is a UK-based D2C nutrition brand specialising in nutritionally complete meal replacement shakes and powders. Direct competitor in the meal replacement / complete meal category with a similar D2C, digitally-led model and target consumer.
- PhD Nutrition: PhD Nutrition is a UK sports nutrition brand offering protein powders, diet shakes, and supplements through D2C and retail. Comparable in product mix (whey, diet shakes) and core customer (fitness/weight management) within the same UK market.
- Applied Nutrition: Applied Nutrition is a UK sports nutrition brand offering protein powders, pre-workouts, and supplements via D2C and retail. Comparable in core product mix and UK customer base, with overlapping positioning in active and performance nutrition.
Broad incumbents
- Optimum Nutrition: Optimum Nutrition is a global incumbent sports nutrition brand owned by Glanbia, selling whey protein, performance supplements, and shakes. Comparable core product offering (whey, meal replacement) but distributed via retail and global channels rather than D2C-led.
- GNC: GNC is a global incumbent in vitamins, supplements, and sports nutrition with extensive retail and online distribution. Overlaps with The Protein Works on protein shakes, meal replacements, and supplements but operates a much broader portfolio and omni-channel footprint.
- Holland & Barrett: Holland & Barrett is a UK health and wellness retailer selling vitamins, sports nutrition, and meal replacement products. Adjacent competitor in protein shakes and supplements with a much wider omni-channel retail footprint than The Protein Works' D2C-only model.
- MuscleTech: MuscleTech is a global sports nutrition brand spanning protein powders, mass gainers, and performance supplements. Comparable in protein and meal replacement product lines, though distributed primarily through mass retail and global channels.
Emerging players
- Form Nutrition: Form Nutrition is a UK-based plant-based meal replacement and nutrition brand competing in the nutritionally complete shake category. Direct overlap on vegan/plant-based meal shakes with similar positioning to Protein Works' Vegan Complete Meal 360.
Market position
Strengths5 records
Weaknesses5 records
Competitive moat5 records
Key risks6 records
Key highlights7 records
Customer concentration
The Protein Works social profiles
Digital presenceThe Protein Works financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
The Protein Works leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles7 records
The Protein Works funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
The Protein Works M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A
Investments
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about The Protein Works
What does The Protein Works do?
The Protein Works is a direct-to-consumer sports nutrition brand that formulates, manufactures, and sells protein shakes, meal replacement shakes, protein powders, supplements, and functional foods. The company produces its products in-house at a £11 million UK research and development facility that includes its own laboratory and factory, and sells exclusively through its own e-commerce website to fitness enthusiasts, weight management consumers, vegan shoppers, and GLP-1 medication users.
Is The Protein Works a public or private company?
The Protein Works is a private company. It is classified as corporate owned and is currently operating.
When was The Protein Works founded?
The Protein Works was founded in 2012. It employs 51 to 100 people.
Where is The Protein Works based?
The Protein Works is headquartered in Runcorn, United Kingdom, in the Europe region.
How does The Protein Works make money?
Two revenue lines are on record. Direct-to-Consumer Product Sales are the primary driver. The others are product Sales - Supplementary Categories.
Who are The Protein Works's main competitors?
Direct peers on record are Myprotein, Bulk Powders, Huel, PhD Nutrition and Applied Nutrition. Broad incumbents are Optimum Nutrition, GNC, Holland & Barrett and MuscleTech. Form Nutrition is listed as an emerging player.
Does The Protein Works have an API?
No public API is recorded for The Protein Works.
What industry is The Protein Works in?
The Protein Works's product category is Sports Nutrition. Its primary akta.pro industry code is AFAFAFAD, Protein & Meal-Replacement Beverage Production (RTD Shakes), with a secondary code of AFAHAIAD, Protein & Sports Dairy Beverages (RTD Protein Shakes, High-Protein Milk). Its NAICS code is 311 and its SIC code is 2000.