Myprotein

History

Myprotein was first established in the UK in 2004 and was later acquired in June 2011 by The Hut Group. In 2010 it launched five more websites in Germany, France, Ireland, Italy, and Spain, and as of 2016 the firm has over 40 international websites in more than 20 languages and with more than 20 different currencies and payment methods. Myprotein uses The Hut Group's global internet retailing platform to scale its brand across the globe whilst retaining the majority of staff at its HQ in Cheshire. A manufacturing facility is in construction in Kentucky, USA, in order for the firm to ship goods faster within North America.

The Hut Group has recently commissioned a 1 million square feet warehouse. The £100m warehouse is located between Manchester and Liverpool.

Litigation

Oliver Cookson was involved in a long running case of litigation with The Hut Group over the sale of Myprotein in 2011. Cookson was sued for £15 million with The Hut Group claiming overestimation affected the valuation of the company when they bought it. Cookson counter sued for £12.7 million claiming a breach of warranty and fraudulent mis-representation. The matter went to the High Court in London in October 2014 and after a month-long trial judgement was given by William Blair in November 2014 giving Oliver Cookson an overall net result win of £6.5m in damages.

At the costs hearing in December 2014, the judge awarded a payment of just under £7.5 million to be made by The Hut Group to Cookson and the Trust in respect of all of the claims and counterclaims in the action and one third of the costs incurred by Mr Cookson and the Trust.

Oliver Cookson and the Trust appealed the court's decision to award The Hut Groups damages. The court of appeal dismissed the appeal on the 22 March 2016.

Manufacturing

Myprotein has recently invested over £6 million in its manufacturing capabilities and supply chain infrastructure in both Warrington and in the USA.

In December 2015, Myprotein announced an agreement with Kentucky Cabinet for Economic Development to build their first production facility outside of the UK in Bullitt County, Kentucky. As part of the agreement, Myprotein (registered as Cend Limited) plans to create up to 350 jobs in the region, and will receive up to $2.6 million in tax incentives.

Products & price

Myprotein has an informed sports range, which means that nutritional supplements and ingredients in this range have been tested for any banned substances by the anti-doping laboratory, LGC Sport Science.

Social Media

As of August 2016, Myprotein has more than 2 million social media followers across various social networks including Facebook, Instagram, Twitter and Snapchat.

Awards & recognition

Myprotein has earned several accolades and distinctions since its foundation. In 2007, it was voted Young Company of the Year at the prestigious Growing Business Awards, held by Real Business in association with Lloyds Bank and supported by the CBI.

In 2009, Myprotein won the Regional Award for the Small to Medium Sized Business of the Year for the North West of England at the National Business Awards.

Additionally, in 2009 the Hut Group ranked 21st in the Sunday Times Fast Track 100 list, which recognizes Britain's 100 private businesses with the fastest growing profits and in 2014 and in 2015 they won this award. Additionally, in 2009, Myprotein® won the Regional Award for the Small to Medium Sized Business of the Year for the North West of England at the National Business Awards.

Myprotein achieved ISO9001 production certification in 2007 and also have GMP (Goods Manufacturing Practice) and HACCP (Hazard Analysis Critical Control Points) accreditations.