2026
9
UK Attitudes towards Sports Nutrition: 2026
2026-02-26T12:01:07+00:00
REPF1654704_D8B6_4EC6_A547_04D8B6DEC6CD
2195
191488
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Report
en_GB
Half of adults now use sports nutrition, supported by mainstream availability, the wide variety of products and strong links to exercise participation. However, with consumer confidence remaining low, brands continue…
UK
Specialised Nutrition
Consumer Attitudes
simple

UK Attitudes towards Sports Nutrition: 2026

"Exercise continues to drive usage. Strengthening micronutrient messaging in protein snacks/RTDs and addressing unwanted side‑effects can drive relevancy."

Sam Fryers, Research Analyst

Sam Fryers, Research Analyst

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  1. EXECUTIVE SUMMARY

    • What you need to know
    • Outlook for sports nutrition
    • Opportunities
    • Elevate micronutrient callouts in protein snacks and RTD drinks
    • Transparency about side effects can win favour
    • Lean into exercise’s reward culture
  2. THE MARKET

    • Market size & growth
    • Weak consumer confidence hampers sports nutrition
    • Graph 1: financial wellbeing and confidence indices, 2019-26
    • Exercise is crucial to sports nutrition
    • Graph 2: overall exercise participation and participation more than once a week, 2021-25
    • Healthy eating efforts bring opportunities and threats to sports nutrition
    • New proposals could bring more products in scope of HFSS and SDIL
    • Under-35s’ growth will benefit sports nutrition
    • Graph 3: population, by age, 2020, 2025 and 2030
    • Market size of sports nutrition
    • Graph 4: retail value sales for sports nutrition*, 2023-25
    • Optimum Nutrition and Huel pass Grenade as leading brands
    • Graph 5: leading brands’ sales in sports nutrition^, by value, 2022/23-24/25
    • Top three brands account for over a third of value sales
    • Direct-to-consumer channels remain a key source of revenue for brands
  3. THE CONSUMER

    • Half of adults use sports nutrition
    • Half of adults now use sports nutrition products
    • Graph 6: usage of sports nutrition products, 2023-25
    • Exercise drives sports nutrition usage
    • Graph 7: when sports nutrition products are eaten/drunk, 2023-25
    • Address unmet needs among young women
    • Relevance can win over young women
    • Transparency about side effects can win favour
    • Transparency about side effects will build trust
    • Bring guidance on managing potential side effects to POS
    • Frame side effects as manageable with the right guidance
    • Explore positioning as ‘gentler’ on the body
    • Elevate micronutrient callouts in protein snacks and RTD drinks
    • Micronutrients rival macronutrients in importance
    • Call out micronutrients in protein snacks and RTD drinks
    • Micronutrient messages can extend protein snacks’ relevance beyond exercise support
    • Scope to gain foothold as VMS alternatives
    • Graph 8: attitudes towards vitamin, mineral and dietary supplement formats, by age, 2025
    • Lean into reward culture
    • Tap into the earned-reward moment
    • Rewarding oneself is an embedded aspect of exercise culture
    • Take inspiration from foodservice
    • Engage exercise communities to drive peer-to-peer recommendation
  4. PRODUCT, INNOVATION AND MARKETING

    • Hydration and fortified protein products drive vitamin/mineral fortified NPD
    • Graph 9: new product launches in the performance nutrition market, by plus claim, 2021-25
    • Electrolyte powders attract high-profile brand extensions and new entrants
    • Clear whey NPD continues, bridging refreshment and protein
    • Collagen references leap forward
    • Leading protein bar brands chase standout through texture, collaboration and social media
    • Energy launches explore opposite directions
    • Marketing themes range from light-hearted to high-octane
    • Applied Nutrition makes TV debut spotlighting the importance of rituals in wellness
  5. APPENDIX

    • Report scope
    • The market
    • Leading brands’ value sales
    • Leading manufacturers’ value sales
    • The consumer
    • Consumer research questions
    • Consumer research methodology – EMEA
    • UK generation groups
    • Abbreviations

Half of adults now use sports nutrition, supported by mainstream availability, the wide variety of products and strong links to exercise participation. However, with consumer confidence remaining low, brands continue to face pressure to demonstrate their value.

Side effects present a clear challenge, with nearly half of users experiencing these. Many say information on possible side effects would make brands more appealing, suggesting potential for brands to find favour by bringing this information beyond its current sphere of brand websites.

Micronutrient callouts also hold notable potential. While macronutrients remain a core draw, 30% of sports nutrition users, including 38% of protein snack and drink users, turn to these products for added micronutrients. Spotlighting their vitamin and mineral content can help products to stand out and appeal to a wider audience.

This report looks at the following areas:

  • Key trends in recent launch activity and future product development opportunities
  • Exercise trends among UK consumers, including exercise frequency and type
  • Sports nutrition usage trends
  • The reasons to use sports nutrition products, including by occasion
  • Consumer attitudes towards exercise and sports nutrition, including selected aspects worth paying more for
  • Consumer behaviours relating to exercise and sports nutrition, including experiencing unwanted side effects and interest in transparency about these
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