Value growth of mainstream retail value sales of high-protein and active lifestyle products slowed in 2024, amid inflation and the income squeeze. With only slow improvements to consumer confidence expected, the UK sports nutrition market will continue to face challenges.
Cost is a key barrier to the UK sports nutrition market, as the category remains under scrutiny while consumer confidence remains weak. Moreover, many non-users question the benefits of these products, think that mainstream food and drink can deliver the same result and distrust the claims made. Proving their relevance, differentiation, and efficacy is crucial for sports nutrition industry growth.
Mintel’s UK sports nutrition market analysis shows that consumers display a complex relationship with sports nutrition products, and less active consumers struggle to look past brands’ associations with sports and exercise. Communicating their benefits beyond exercise is a key challenge for brands. Therefore, further ventures into mainstream food and drink, including through collaborations, hold significant potential.
Key Topics Analysed in this Report
This report is written by Sam Fryers, Research Analyst. Upon graduating with a BSc degree in Business Studies, Sam joined Mintel Ireland in October 2023, building upon prior experience gained during his placement year in a consumer insights role. Sam is part of the research team in Belfast, where his focus lies on Mintel’s Irish reports.
Brands in the sports nutrition industry that expand beyond their heartland to new functional benefits and mainstream food and drink formats have potential to appeal to both users and non-users.
Sam Fryers
Research Analyst
Mintel is the world’s leading market intelligence agency. We show you how consumers think today and tomorrow. As a trusted partner to industry leaders, we deliver game-changing insights to businesses across the globe, fuelling their marketing and innovation strategies that will shape the future.
Access high-quality market research with every purchase of Mintel’s consumer reports. Here’s what else is included in your report purchase:
From consumer reports to customised growth strategies. We have an option to suit your business requirements.
Find out more£ 2,195
Use of prescription weight loss drugs like Wegovy and Mounjaro is currently low, but interest is growing. Among 18-34-year-olds trying to lose or maintain weight, 48% have either...
Find out more£ 2,195
Some 62% of parents/grandparents of 0-15 year olds are happy to take nutritional advice for their child/grandchild from an AI. Use of this...
Find out more£ 1,495
The cost of living crisis has significantly strained household finances, making property investment less accessible and more challenging. High borrowing costs and elevated house prices have limited affordability,...
Find out more£ 1,495
Signalling the compelling potential for cutting-edge sugar reduction technology to stand out as a USP, 59% of consumers say they would like their favourite treat brands...
Find out more£ 2,195
Making meals healthier remains the top reason for people to cook/part-cook evening meals. Widespread efforts to bring plant variety to evening meals suggest an opportunity for shortcut products...
Find out more£ 2,195
The rapid churn of healthy eating trends – at least in the public discourse – makes trying to eat healthily less appealing for half of adults. This poses...
Find out more
We’ve found it so useful working more closely with Mintel. They helped support our recent flagship event for our top suppliers by providing a really unique viewpoint on the future of online retailing.
Nick Carroll from their Retail Team was also an excellent panelist, sharing useful and actionable consumer insights. We definitely look forward to working with Mintel again on future projects.
We utilize Mintel Reports, Trends and Comperemedia to mine for insights across the numerous business verticals that Epsilon serves, such as CPG, automotive, telecom, healthcare/pharma, retail and financial services.
By integrating Mintel insight into new business opportunities, we have been able to gain the competitive edge necessary to advance partnerships with global brands and key business players.
For our organization, it’s about depth and breadth. Having one without the other doesn’t enable success in our business.
At Jackman, we believe that powerful strategies are based on human insight. Mintel’s leading-edge reports and insights into consumer attitudes and behaviors are an important input as we develop and execute strategy.
Working in a customer-obsessed organization means that data and insights have to be at our fingertips. Mintel’s reports help us support anecdotes with real quantifiable insights. The summary sections (which I really like) helps save time by giving a birds eye view of the content before spending time combing through the pages.
Our business review discussions are strengthened by the relevancy of the reports to help us better understand our customers. In addition, the customer service received from the team (especially in crunch periods) makes the process of understanding customer behavior even better.
We use Mintel to inform our thinking and reinforce strategy. If you’re presenting new ideas, it’s essential they are underpinned by robust data and evidence, and clearly rooted in fact.
Mintel gives us all that. It’s a great brand and one that is trusted by clients.
From consumer reports to customised growth strategies. We have an option to suit your business requirements.
Find out more
