What makes Huel different from competitors?
Huel is nutritionally complete, affordable, sustainable, convenient food. It is our mission after all. But, with emerging names and competitor products coming to light, why should you choose Huel?
It can be hard to break down the differences between competitors, so let’s highlight the top 5 reasons why we think Huel should be your first choice.
Customer support
We genuinely care about our Hueligans and the support they receive when they talk to us, so a high-quality customer experience is extra important to us.
We are real people behind the screens who love what we do. Say goodbye to automated replies by a bot and hello to genuine, personalised responses. It might sound cheesy, but we grow up with our parents saying ‘treat others how you would want to be treated’. Within Huel Customer Experience we take this exact principle and apply it to our daily ‘work’.
There are so many different ways to reach out to us, depending on what suits you (and don’t worry, no question is silly and we can reassure you that if you don’t ask it, someone else will!):
✓ Phone
✓ Live chat
✓ Multiple social platforms
We aim to be super speedy and get back to you as soon as possible. Something that we are also proud of is our delivery times, we aim for next day delivery in the UK (orders over £20)!
Community
It comes up all the time, but we truly are an extended family here. We are so proud of the community of Hueligans and the environment that Huel has created!
✓ We love to engage with you all: be that sassy comments on our social media channels, long discussions on our forum (check out our forum if you haven’t already), feedback on personal journeys on Reddit, or simply just a chat on one of our live channels, such as the phone.
✓ We listen to suggestions: in the background, we are continuously striving to make the products the best they can be, so we love taking suggestions on board! Banana RTD, a savoury range, higher protein powder (Black Edition) peanut butter flavour (US)- to name a few that have been raised countless times and we’ve gone for it.
✓ Support from the wider Huel team: it isn’t just the Customer Experience team who are at the forefront, the customer first mindset spreads throughout the larger team. For example, we may not have an answer straight away for you, but we have a team of qualified nutritionists who are always happy to help.
All of these simple factors play a big part in the community feel!
Nutrition First
Nutrition first, taste a close second - it’s what we stand by.
A substantial amount of convenience food brands put taste first, and nutrition is the afterthought. At Huel, we prioritise the very reason we need food in the first place; the nutrition team are key in decision-making (oh, and we actually have one).
Just a heads up, we have many more articles on the site that provide more detail than the relevant product information if you'd like to take a look; we think it’s important to educate Hueligans in the right way!
Here are just some of the reasons why Huel takes gold over our competitors:
✓ Whole ingredients: The main ingredients in Huel products are often in their whole form, this means Huel contains a much larger proportion of whole ingredients than competitors use. For example, oats and flaxseed are used in the Huel Powders over maltodextrin and isomaltulose.
✓ Fatty acid profile: Huel is high in omega-3 fats, mainly from flaxseed. The amount of omega-3 fats is also stated on every Huel nutritional label. If a company is missing this, you’re probably not getting enough.
✓ Phytonutrients: To put it simply, these are compounds produced by plants. Huel is made from oats and flaxseed amongst other whole ingredients which are rich in naturally occurring phytonutrients. Not forgetting the phytonutrients we add too, lycopene (gives the red colour to tomatoes), lutein, and zeaxanthin (give orange-yellow colours to fruits and vegetables).
✓ Protein: Whilst Huel is vegan we use both rice and pea protein so that each product contains all the protein that we need, whilst ensuring that it can be absorbed effectively!
✓ Probiotics: Huel contains the probiotic Bacillus coagulans MTCC 5856. There’s no need to worry as it has been proven safe for consumption, and stable during processing and shelf-life.
✓ Vitamin & mineral blend: Huel contains all of the 26 essential vitamins and minerals! We also want to highlight that we have made sure that the additional vitamins and minerals are high quality and in the most available format. A simple example of how we differ from our competitors - we use an expensive form of vitamin B9 (folate) because the body can absorb it more effectively.
No Allergens
We want Huel to be accessible to as many people as possible. Check out just a few ways we turn our words into action.
✓ Vegan: All Huel products are 100% vegan and are therefore free from dairy (& lactose!).
✓ Gluten-free: We have a gluten-free option of our v3.0 powder, and the rest of the range is naturally free from gluten.
✖ No soy: Unlike many of our competitors, there is no soy in Huel.
✖ No nuts: Don’t worry, most of our products don’t contain nuts, but do keep an eye out to avoid bars (they are made in a factory that handles nuts) & peanut butter flavoured powder!
✓ Suitable for Type 1 and 2 Diabetics: Huel is low in sugar, has a low GI of 16 (v3.0) and you can accurately measure the amount of carbohydrates you're consuming in each meal.
✓ Low FODMAP: Huel Powder v3.0 and Black Edition are low FODMAP. This means that they can be used alongside a low FODMAP diet.
Your way not our way
The good news is, Huel is very versatile, there isn’t one set way to have Huel.
Any of our products could be right for you depending on your needs. You might even choose to use a mix if you’re looking for variety. Another great thing about the Huel product range is that the core (v3.0) and Black Edition powders provide flexible macronutrient profiles. Unlike some of our competitors, there is so much to choose from, you can have a different product or flavour every day of the week if you wish!
To help by showing you, here’s an example day:
- Breakfast: v3.0 banana powder, blended with almond milk, ice and a teaspoon of honey (trust us, it’s delicious).
- Lunch: 1 and a half scoops of Mexican Chilli Hot & Savoury.
- Snack: Peanut butter or raspberry and white chocolate Huel Bar and a piece of fruit.
- Dinner: A home-cooked meal.
Huel can also align with your individual goals, here are a few that might resonate with you:
✓ Weight loss: We often receive great feedback on Huel aiding weight loss journeys. Huel is great for monitoring your own calorie intake and it can make it easier to stick to your plan (which we all know is the hard part). Another common message we receive is - ‘I can’t believe how full I feel after Huel’. The combination of the complex carbohydrates, high fibre and protein used in Huel Powder help to keep you satiated (and avoid the appealing biscuit jar).
✓ Get fit: Quite simply, when exercising you are putting your body under physical stress, so in return, your body demands more fuel. Whatever regime you follow, we know that it can be difficult to get the requirements right. Huel does this for you, providing a balance of protein, carbohydrates, fat, and all 26 essential vitamins and minerals.
✓ Intermittent fasting: As we know, intermittent fasting is all about when you eat, but you still need to make sure that you are maintaining a balanced diet during the ‘eating periods’. Huel helps as it is nutritionally balanced and you know exactly how many calories you are consuming, which helps you stick to your calorie goals if you have them.
✓ Increasing your plant-based food intake: For some people, using Huel is a way of taking that small step towards having a more positive footprint on the world around them. We aren’t suggesting that we all become vegans, but even lots of small changes can add up to a big impact.
Summary
So there we have it, the top 5 reasons why Huel stands out from the crowd. By choosing Huel, you receive nutritionally complete, balanced food, whilst also helping the environment and saving money too.
Need some help choosing between Huel products? We've got you covered.
