Up&Up is a house brand from the big box retailer Target that is sold throughout its stores, and it spans all sorts of categories, some of them related to the health and nutrition industry and some of them so distant you wouldn’t even think it dabbles in supplements with the likes of toilet paper and plastic cups. This year, Target rebranded Up&Up with several updated items and extensions, but one of its most recent has landed it in headlines as Stack3d as it puts the house brand in one of the busiest categories out there.
Similar to Costco and its Kirkland Whey Protein, Target has decided to take on the incredibly saturated and competitive category of protein powder with Up&Up Whey Protein Powder. The supplement isn’t overly lean, and we’re gathering that’s because the second biggest ingredient is maltodextrin. You still get a respectable level of protein at 25g per serving from whey concentrate and a touch of isolate, but that’s alongside 7 to 10g of carbohydrates, 2g of that sugar, 3g of fat, and, depending on the flavor, 160 or 170 calories.
Most protein powders give you that same 25g of protein per serving and around 120 calories, and while more carbohydrates and calories aren’t necessarily bad, it’s worth paying attention to as it can bump up the serving size. A heavier serving, due to more macronutrients that aren’t protein, leads to fewer servings per tub, and that can distort the perception of value. Up&Up Whey Protein Powder is a traditional 2lbs, however, you only get 21 to 23 servings due to the serving size being 40 to 43g. NutraBio’s Classic Whey is a great comparison as 2lbs of that has about 26 or 27 servings, giving you as much as 28% more.
The value concept is worth understanding, and it is relevant in this situation with Target and Up&Up’s Whey Protein Powder, as 21 servings in a 2lb bottle isn’t a lot. In saying that, the price of the house brand supplement is still incredibly competitive, so if the carbohydrates and whey concentrate base fit within your lifestyle, you might want to grab a bottle. From Target, Up&Up Whey Protein Powder will cost you $19.99 in your choice of two of the most traditional flavors in the category with Chocolate and Vanilla.