Weeks ago, we announced the nominees for our 2025 Functional Brand Of The Year, and for those who missed it, there was just one nominee in the legendary protein bar market Barebells. We’ve considered the brand’s flagship product as the best-tasting protein bar in the world ever since we tried it back in early 2018. It only had four flavors at that time and wasn’t available in many places, but that is no longer the case.
Barebells can now be found all throughout the world and in far more flavors than those original four, and due to its incredibly impressive innovation over the last 12 months, it is finally taking home our prestigious Functional Brand Of The Year. We judge the award on consistent innovation in flavors, formats, and delivery, and genuinely, no one executed things better than Barebells in 2025, and at the level it did.
Barebells came out with a whole host of flavors for its signature Barebells Protein Bar and the smoother Soft Protein Bar. It also came out with several completely new innovations including the candy bar-like Chewy Protein Bar, the German-exclusive Spread Protein Bar, and the hybrid caffeinated clear-style Protein Soda. This is all in addition to remaining the best tasting protein bar in the world, a position that was only strengthened with all of the new flavors it brought to market in 2025 like Coco Caramel Almond, Cinnamon Bun, Lemon Cheesecake, Sunny Smoothie, Marshmallow Peanut Road, and the unique Licorice Night Craver.
With the level of taste, texture, and creativity in the flavors and products Barebells introduced this year, we felt there was no one else that deserved the title of Functional Brand Of The Year, let alone, came close enough to also be nominated. The most exciting part is that Barebells has gradually been picking up its innovation and drops year by year, meaning 2026 is shaping up to be as intense and busy as everything we just witnessed.
