Liverpool FC recruits bespoke sports nutrition player; vegans score
Nutritional products that can aid players in training, match days and recovery, is the focus according to SiS marketing director Ashley Read, who said the bulk of the nutritional products provided will come from SiS’s core range of protein, recovery, energy and immunity products.
Custom vegan products for players
But Read said some players do have specific requirements: “Just as consumers are getting more interested in vegan and vegetarian diets, we do source and do some bespoke products for some specific player requirements. A number of the Liverpool first team are vegans, and our core range doesn’t support that – we have a whey protein range.
“So we work with the club to develop a number of vegan proteins, such as a rice or soy protein, which we wouldn’t make available for the core consumer because we don’t believe the demand is there from a consumer point of view.
“However, to ensure we’re servicing the athlete and partner in an effective way, we will source, develop, manufacture and test that product, bring it through our factory, and supply that to Liverpool Football Club,” he added.
While most of the players have similar nutritional profiles most of the time, Read said SiS will provide bespoke packages for players facing injury and illness.
Vitamin boosts for immunity
He said improving player immunity was also a consideration: “Throughout very intense periods of the season, for example around Christmas and January, there may be issues around athlete health and immunity – that may be a time when we recommend or provide a range of products aimed at boosting players’ immunity levels, whether that’s vitamin C or D solutions.
“There are also a number of international players coming to the UK who are adapted to a little more sunlight than we can provide in the winter months – so areas like vitamin D supplementation are very important,” Read added.
He also said preventing banned substances entering the product line is a top priority: “SiS has a world-class approach with the Informed Sport certification. Before we even get to the point of discussing products for the athletes, the number one priority is providing them with the highest level of banned substance testing possible.”
According to Read, SiS supplies 18 Premier League and Championship football teams, in addition to its formal sponsorship agreements with Liverpool and Reading FC.
