About Powders Review
Bulk Powders™ are a relatively new brand to me but they’ve actually been in operation for a quite long time, since 2005 actually.
I’ve stumbled upon the brand last year when I was searching for vegan protein powders on Amazon and since then I am their loyal customer and I regularly buy their products directly from their website.
I thought to write an in-depth review about the company so you can learn more about them and then decide for yourself whether you want to try some of their products.
Overview of Bulk Powders
The name of the brand “Bulk Powders” is slightly misleading although they do sell powders, all kind of powders, from protein powders to superfood powders and more.
But now, the brand is so much more than what its name represents. While their protein products are still very popular, the choice of the products they offer has grown over time and the rest of the range is equally attractive due to the affordable prices and quality products.
The founders created the brand as they got tired of over-paying for sports supplements and they wanted to make affordable products available to the public without sacrificing the quality.
The brand has now fully developed into the ‘active lifestyle’ brand and it now sells to a wide range of customers, from athletes and bodybuilders to gym-goers and health-conscious individuals.
In 2018, the company launched a new range designed & formulated specifically for women to support a healthy & active lifestyle – WMN®. The range is available to buy on Bulk Powders website but also through retailers such as Boots and Argos.
BULK POWDERS TODAY
Today, Bulk Powders position themselves as the second-largest sports nutrition brand in the UK and the fastest-growing in Europe.
They have expanded to sell their products across the UK and have created 13 localised websites to serve customers in countries such as Germany, France, Italy, Spain and Ireland. In 2017 they have even ventured outside the EU, into the Chinese market.
Bulk Powders have appeared in the Sunday Times Fast Track 100 for the past three years.
BULK POWDERS PHILOSOPHY AND VALUES
Bulk Powders distinguish themselves from competitors by offering:
- The lowest prices in Europe
- Further discounts when you buy in bulk (the more you buy the more you can save, just look for ‘bulk discounts’ on applicable product pages)
- Good quality products – Bulk Powders never compromise on quality to save costs. They prefer working with fewer suppliers than other companies and like to build long-term relationships with them.
- Independently tested supplier materials – look for a Certificate of Analysis which you can download on most product pages
- Massive choice – A wide range of products offered by Bulk Powders means that there is something for everyone.
THE QUALITY OF BULK POWDERS’ PRODUCTS
Some companies use many different suppliers for the same product and would mix together different qualities but not Bulk Powders. They stick with one supplier and build a long-term relationship with them to ensure not only the best prices but also the best quality.
Bulk Powders Whey Protein Review
For their whey protein products, Bulk Powders use only a premium quality whey protein powder which is made from grass-fed cow’s milk. This type of protein powder is better for you as it’s nutritionally richer and healthier.
Grain-fed whey, on the other hand, is generally higher in omega-6 fatty acids which are not all that beneficial since we already get enough of them through our diet (too much actually).
So it’s a good thing Bulk Powders use grass-fed whey protein and although the difference in nutritional profile may not be massive when comparing to grain-fed whey protein, it’s still worth choosing better quality, especially because this protein powder is really affordable.
The organic range
Just to mention that if you like to buy organic products, Bulk Powders do offer organic options for certain products, for example, you can buy Organic Pure Whey Protein, Organic Turmeric Powder, Organic Baobab Powder and much more. These products are certified organic by the Soil Association. However, I don’t think that Bulk Powders offer a vast range of organic foods/supplements but hopefully, they add more organic options in the near future.
Certificates of Analysis
If you are still not convinced of the quality of Bulk Powders’ products, Certificates of Analysis (COAs) are available to download from the website or on-demand. Just get in touch with their customer support asking for them.
Strict quality control
To ensure the products are of the highest quality, the company follows strict guidelines and their quality control process includes the taste testing protocol and macronutrient testing.
During the taste testing, one of their product team specialists will test the flavour, texture and mixability of the product. He will then compare it to the approved retained sample to make sure it’s of the same quality.
Furthermore, the sample will be sent off to an independent laboratory where they will test the product, confirming it contains the ingredients as stated on the label. Every batch goes through this procedure and if for some reason, the product doesn’t pass some of these tests, it will never be sold to the customers.
Bulk Powders’ products – Tried & Tested (Review)
As the products from Bulk Powders are so affordable, I now regularly shop on their website (although it’s also worth checking prices on Amazon as they sometimes differ). Here is briefly what I’ve tried so far and my quick reviews of these products:
Bulk Powders Almond Butter
If you like almond butter, this is the cheapest almond butter you can buy online. It comes in a 1kg tub and it will certainly last you for a while. I love almond butter and like to eat it with dates as a dessert so I thought to try the one from Bulk Powders and see what I think.
Before I ordered this almond butter, I thought that all the brands should be quite similar in taste, but I didn’t realise that you get almond butter made with whole almonds, including the skin and then there is almond butter made with skin-off almonds. The Bulk Powders’ almond butter is made with roasted skin-off almonds.
To be honest, I prefer the one that includes the skin. It has more flavour and tastes better. For this reason, I won’t buy this type of almond butter again but there was nothing wrong with the product really. It’s just a personal preference. Some people prefer skin-off almond butter. So do try it and see which one you prefer.
Bulk Powders Vegan Protein Blend
This is my favourite product from Bulk Powders and I keep buying it as it’s really good (the vanilla flavour). I’ve tried so many vegan protein powders so far but this is certainly the best, or at least one of the best, I should say. It’s not too sweet, has a good amount of protein and it tastes really good. I like eating it in my porridge or muesli. It’s naturally sweetened with stevia extract and does not contain any nasty ingredients
Bulk Powders Organic Cacao Powder
I always love to have cacao or cocoa powder at home. It’s a good source of iron and magnesium and other minerals. I use it in smoothies, in my porridge and sometimes for baking. Organic cacao powder from Bulk Powders is of great quality, certified organic by The Soil Association. I have no complaints about it.
Bulk Powders Organic Pumpkin Seed Protein
It’s only recently when I discovered pumpkin seed protein and I really like it as it’s naturally rich in certain minerals and vitamins. I’ve tried another brand first and after that, I tried the Bulk Powders brand as it was cheaper. The one from Bulk Powders is paler in colour and smoother in texture. It’s easier to mix into food or drinks. I found it great as its flavour is not very strong. I would buy it again as it’s organic and the taste is not overpowering.
Bulk Powders Brown Rice Protein Powder
When I first started adding protein powders to my foods, I started using brown rice protein as it had a quite neutral flavour (not like green powders). I’ve tried a few different brands first before trying Bulk Powders’ and in terms of quality, it’s great. It contains an impressive 80% protein and keeps me fuller for longer.
Later on, I decided to go for vegan protein blend as it seems to have a better balance of essential amino acids (although it’s not as high in protein). Brown rice protein powder is, however, still a great product that can be used in your smoothies. I wouldn’t recommend having it on its own as it wouldn’t taste that good. The best is to make a smoothie with it (some fruits, almond milk, cacao powder, brown protein powder).
Bulk Powders Protein Cookie Mix (Chocolate Hazelnut)
I always wanted to make protein cookies at home but never knew how to make them. To make my life easier I decided to buy a protein cookie mix from Bulk Powders. It seemed really easy to make these cookies. You just add melted coconut butter and eggs to the mix, bind everything together and put the shaped cookies in the oven.
I must say the instructions could have been more clear, to suit those new to baking. I wasn’t sure how thick the cookies should be or how big. Also, you need to keep in mind that these cookies rise in the oven so you have to leave enough space between them (it doesn’t say that in the instructions). Mine came out too dry as I probably left them in the oven too long but also maybe because I added some more protein powder after adding slightly too much milk to the mix. Those experienced with baking will probably know better! I don’t think I will buy this mix again but it did give me some ideas of the ingredients I can use in my own mix and I’ve also learned from my mistakes, so all good! In terms of taste, these cookies were ok, they smelled amazing and they were not very sweet.
BULK POWDERS BESTSELLERS
If you haven’t tried anything from Bulk Powders yet, it’s worth checking out their bestsellers.
These are the most popular products that people love and keep buying:
- Peanut Butter
- Cutting Edge™ (Vegan weight loss supplement)
- Liquid Egg Whites
- Vegan Protein Powder
- Elevate™ (the UK’s best pre-workout supplement)
- Pure Whey Protein
- Pure Whey Isolate
- Complete Multivitamin Complex
My favourite vegan protein powder is on the list which is great to see. The Cutting Edge supplement sounds interesting and seems to accelerate weight loss in many people so I am really tempted to try it.
WHAT PEOPLE SAY – ONLINE REVIEWS
Bulk Powders certainly have a good number of loyal customers and fans. You can see this by reading their reviews and checking on social media.
Here are some screenshots that I came across that I thought they would be good to share, in case you have some doubts:
