Protein Shakes Whey Protein. Where to buy value nowadays?

OpolE

Back in 2009 I used to get the largest tub of 2.3kg Optimum Nutrition Whey protein for about £36 from Tropicana Fitness. Nowadays I am reminded in the shops about it but you're looking at a tiny bag for the same price now.

Anyone got any tips to find value for money? Are supermarkets ripping us off?

Ms_Chocaholic

I guess it's grown in popularity so prices have gone up. Have you tried Holland and Barrett?

PLRFD

Try Home Bargains.

DealDinerUK

Home Bargains is a good shout. Worth checking the price per 100g on the shelf edge labels too - the biggest tubs usually work out cheapest that way, while the smaller 'bargain' packs are often worse value. I tend to stock up when there's a proper discount on.

Grumpy_chap

I guess the prices have just gone up over those 7 years.

I checked a company I use for the same brand and they are listing £164 for 4.5kg so that's about £80 for the OP's 2.3 kg reference point.

Other brands are available. A quick look at the company I use has 2kg at £45 or 2.27kg at £49 and many others.

Applesarefree

The price has gone up massively in the last 18 months or so. I can't see why, as it is made from milk and and milk hasn't gone up to the same extent. I know costs have gone up throughout the food chain, but they haven't gone up to the extent that the prices reflect.

vienna28

If true or not I do not know. But I've seen some suggest that because these weight loss drugs recommend high protein diets that means that even non fitness people are now buying protein powder. So the high demand is causing the prices to skyrocket.

In the past couple of weeks I have bought from Dolphin fitness "nutrisports" 5kg Whey for only £59.95. Their 90+ protein mix for £5kg is £54.95. Nutrisport have been around for decades and are hardly a premium brand but if you don't want to pay sky high protein prices then maybe it's an option.

PLRFD

https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/comment/82158036#Comment_82158036

I think it’s because it goes through extra processing which means more energy costs which have gone right up.

Applesarefree

https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/comment/82158074#Comment_82158074

I agree to some extent but energy prices went up prior to the more recent jump in prices. Probably a mixture of energy expenses and price gauging. I paid £15.75 for 1kg of protein powder on Amazon in 2 yrs ago, they want £40 for the same product today.

Grumpy_chap

As this is MSE, how does the protein cost compare?

One scoop of powder is about 25g protein. £80 for 2.3kg. 92 scoops. 87 pence per scoop.

Two chicken breasts pre cooked £3 so £1.50 each. One chicken breast about the same amount of protein as one scoop powder.

https://www.tesco.com/shop/en-GB/products/264465356?sc_cmp=ppc*GHS+-+Grocery+-+New*MPX_PMAX_ALL_OT_Clubcard+Offers_Online+Budget_1013945**264465356*&gclsrc=aw.ds&gad_source=1&gad_campaignid=22770770354&gbraid=0AAAAADiyNavQCkcJmHUyQw40nd47bEz6Y&gclid=Cj0KCQjw8ofWBhCHARIsANBj4LsKtoKuxJurqrJurfBFZgdPDMY83LwVMc8ObjsktedxviKOkgXN_vcaAg42EALw_wcB

Purely price per protein, the powder wins against the chicken

Or, yoghurt

https://www.tesco.com/shop/en-GB/products/318172729?srsltid=AU7gw4WeZ_BmFK9ltYq-TWPEgJr8gzpLD0DSJkkM82xPyuTSdQ0oN8ORXao

75 pence each, 20 grams protein, virtually zero fat, 15g carbs (but mostly refined sugar which is not great). Similar cost for protein.

More complex if the question expands to consider overall dietary value.

MattMattMattUK

I consume Huel Black and also Impact Whey from MyProtein. I buy in bulk and only buy when on offer, so get a good deal, always cheaper than buying from Amazon, and less than half the price of Holland and Barrett. The Whey protein works out about 60p a serving when bought in bulk and on offer.

I exercise 12-14 hours a week and need around 240g of protein a day, so I use the Huel and Whey to get more protein into an already nutritionally complete diet, it would be arduous to eat my way through 6 chicken breasts on top of normal meals every day.