Why Is Protein Powder So Expensive? (5 Reasons)

If you have been a fan of protein powder over the last few years, you may have started to notice an increase in the pricing.

There is no question protein powder has gotten more expensive.

Most products that have proven to be good for your health and diet have gotten more expensive.

This is a sign of the times we live in.

However, there are several reasons protein powder is so expensive, and we will look a bit deeper into each of them.

Why Is Protein Powder So Expensive? (5 Reasons)

1. Imported

The top reason you will see protein powder being offered at relatively high prices is that it is imported.

Imported food is always more expensive because there are many steps involved with getting it into the country and in the hands of the consumers.

For starters, the imported food is going to cost more to get here because of shipping.

The shipping costs on international freight will have to be worked back into the product’s pricing itself.

The powder will also have to go through several checks to ensure it is safe for consumers to have.

These tests cost money, and they can hold up the process, thus increasing the time it takes for the food to get to the intended country.

During this time, the protein powder business still has employees working to grow the business and keep it operating.

The protein powder’s price will have to increase to accommodate these people through the lengthy importation process.

If the protein powder were made in this country, you might notice it is slightly less expensive.

2. Convenience

Let’s face it, protein powder is a convenience.

Have you ever considered making your own protein powder?

Would you even know where to start?

Manufacturing protein powder is not an easy process, and therefore people will not make it on their own.

Another convenience you pay for when you have protein powder is getting a large nutritional benefit in a small scoop of powder.

Protein itself is expensive.

When you purchase meat and try to create a high protein diet for yourself, you will see that the pricing quickly adds up.

To purchase the amount of food you would need to get the same amount of protein as you do from a scoop of powder would cost you quite a bit.

Another thing to consider is the physical ability to eat this much food.

One scoop of protein can give you more than several chickens or steaks.

People usually cannot sit and consume this much food, and therefore the protein powder is a convenience.

You can look at it the same way you look at vitamins or supplements.

When you are missing a piece of your diet, you can replace it with these simple fixes as opposed to having to rework your diet and spend a lot of time in the kitchen.

Being in the kitchen to create high protein diets is something most people just don’t have time for.

If this describes you, you are not alone.

Cooking takes time, and the cleanup takes even more time.

Buying protein powder saves you time, money, and it saves your diet all at the same time.

This is undoubtedly a lot of benefit from one product, and that is why we see the higher pricing that comes along with the protein powder.

3. Expensive Manufacturing Process

Have you ever thought about what it takes to create protein powder?

It is not as simple as blending a bunch of chicken and turning it into a powder.

The manufacturing process of protein powder is both extensive and expensive.

It takes a lot to extract the protein from a plant or animal product.

The process takes time and employees, and those costs need to be considered with the final pricing on the protein powder.

Once the product is manufactured, you also have to consider the marketing and the packaging of the product.

Most of the time, protein powder is going to last for quite some time without going bad.

Having a product that does not go bad after a month or so on the counter will increase the price you pay for it.

The packaging is a big part of this as it must ensure that the protein powder stays in its original state.

With all of the products on the market, the protein companies have to compete to make sure that their powder sells.

Unfortunately, these prices usually go back into the cost of the product.

4. Quality of Ingredients

Not all protein powders are created equal.

If you are purchasing a protein powder, you should understand what is in them and what makes a good or a bad protein powder.

Sometimes, if you see a protein powder priced quite higher than other protein powders, there is a reason behind it.

This reason is very likely the quality of ingredients included in the product.

Protein powders can be made with eggs, whey, casein, pea, hemp, rice, and even soy.

Each of these ingredients has a different value tied to it, and some will be more expensive than others.

Once you decide which type of protein powder you want to purchase, you need to look and see the additives that are included as well.

Of course, protein powders are not natural products, but some will have fewer additives than others.

When you look at the back of the package and read the ingredients, you should not feel like your brain will explode.

The best protein powders will have fewer additives, and they will have more natural ingredients in place.

Lots of protein powders get a bad name because of all of the poor ingredients that are put in as filler.

Think carefully about what you put into your body.

By adding a protein powder to your diet, you are probably trying to get healthier in some way.

When you use a protein powder that is filled with poor ingredients, you may not be doing your body any good.

There are enough quality options on the market to choose from, even if it costs you a few dollars more.

5. Supply and Demand

The last reason protein powder is so expensive is the simple business concept of supply and demand.

There is no question that protein powders have gotten more popular, and people need more options that are better and healthier.

Protein powders can be used for several different reasons, which has led to an increase in the appeal.

The three main reasons people want protein powders are muscle gain, weight loss, and diet supplements.

3 Main Reasons People Use Protein Powders

1. Muscle Gain

People who spend a lot of time working out are trying to build muscle.

If you are spending time in the gym, you will want to take protein powder to help you build muscle mass.

Since the protein powder will offer more protein per serving than a steak or a piece of chicken, the powders are a better solution for a person who works out quite a bit.

Without the use of protein powder, many believe they would not be able to fuel their body in the same way or gain the muscle that they need.

Some also feel like they would not get the nutritional benefits their body needs to stay energized and alert.

Protein powders offer quite a bit of amino acids.

These amino acids are good for muscle recovery and muscle growth as well.

2. Weight Loss

Protein helps you stay less hungry.

When your diet is high in protein, you usually feel as though you can go longer between meals, and you will keep your muscles lean.

Protein powder is a very easy ingredient to add to your favorite foods.

When you are baking or making smoothies, you can add protein powder to help you gain some muscle, boost calorie burn, and consume less of the foods that make you gain weight.