Protein Works has grown from a spare bedroom operation to a global business with more than 2.5 million customers
A Liverpool enterprise has transformed from a spare bedroom venture into a £55 million success story since its inception.
Protein Works unveiled a £10m cutting-edge warehouse facility in Speke this May, showing how far it has come from its humble beginnings back in 2012 when it was established by Mark Coxhead.
In 2025, it’s perhaps unsurprising how the company, which markets protein shakes and wellness supplements alongside high-protein snacks and complete meal replacements, has achieved such remarkable growth.
A quick scan of any supermarket aisle will likely reveal the word “protein” emblazoned across everything from yoghurt to coffee.
Protein Works has distributed over 450 million shakes across the globe and maintains a customer base exceeding 2.5 million worldwide – a dramatic leap from the solitary industrial unit in Runcorn where the brand began, reports the Liverpool Echo.
Chief executive Laura Keir, originally from Manchester, joined the business in 2015 and outlined how promoting protein beyond traditional gym enthusiasts has been crucial to the brand’s triumph.
“There was a gap in the market”, Laura explains, noting that despite today’s protein obsession, it was previously targeted at fitness enthusiasts rather than ordinary consumers. It also, she said, was not marketed towards women.
“No one would have predicted protein exploding,” she added. “But we know it’s one of the most important macro nutrients. Mark knew if he could crack the code and bridge the gap between gym-goers and every day people’s needs it would be a success”.
Protein Works was ahead of its time, having been established three years before major rival Huel, which debuted in 2015.
Laura said: “We have trust with people too. Everything we make it rigorously tested and we only use high quality ingredients. If it doesn’t pass an 80% customer satisfaction rate for anything to do with taste for instance, it will be tweaked”.
Remembering her arrival in 2015, she said: “At the time Joe Wicks had around 20,000 followers on Instagram. Wellness was only just starting to become more accessible. I had just had my first baby and was looking to get back into shape. As fate would happen Mark was looking for a Market Director”.
A decade later and the protein sector displays no signs of deceleration. Protein Works shifted over 1.18 million shakes during Black Friday alone (28 November) and now in its thirteenth year the firm continues to expand.
Laura notes that all functions are handled internally from distribution to promotion, and says the company is committed to investing in talent in the North West. She said Protein Works hopes to double in size over the next three years and that she hopes it will become a household name.
