Much difference between bulk suppliers & named brands?

Is there really much difference between the quality/profile of bulk suppliers like MyProtein, Ironscience, BodybuildingWarehouse & MaxiRaw and the top names brands such as Reflex, Optimum Nutririon, Gaspari & USN when looking at comparable products, eg. standard whey protein powder?
Seems that because the price of bulk suppliers is so much better, some offer 5kg for the same price it costs for 5lbs from a top named brand, then why spend more money unless purely for taste?

Quality/profile....no! The bulk suppliers source from the same few european whey processors. Taste? Maybe, I don't get flavoured whey but Gaspari get good reviews.

Of course Gaspari is from the states and other US brands will have shipping and probably import taxes added. I get CFM isolate. And it's the same isolate from a bulk supplier as from a bigger brand. I got it the other day for less than £9 a kg!

In terms of product - like for like - no.

Taste wise, yes.

Other than that i dont think there is any difference.

Money is the only real  difference . 
 
I personally just dont bother with brand protein now unless theres some sort of deal.

 
I have branded and unbranded depending on what I'm wanting to use

No, use your noggin and read the contents

No difference.
 
Both 'bulk' and 'branded' (silly name really as all companine are a'brand' surely) can be disreputable :]

Was just trying to prove a point to 2 mates of mine who use ON gold standard & Reflex instant whey, they reckon they will get more results because theirs is more expensive & has a fancy name and marketing, tried to reason but i'll just let them keep throwing money away while i get twice as much bang for my buck from MP.

Lots of valid points coming out there but what you need to remember is that "Branded" products (by which I'm assuming you mean more well known) such as USN, PHD, REFLEX, MUSCLETECH, etc. since all products have a label so are therefore "Branded". These more well Known companies tend to have been around for a lot longer therefore have more money to spend on research so producing more advanced products... HOWEVER some products such as L-glutamine, Creatine Monohydrate, ZMA's and so on are all basic chemicals so are pretty much the same regardless of packaging.
 
The only real issue with Protein powders from the cheaper brands is in some cases they may have poor absorption qualities. Meaning some of what you consume simply gets waisted.

There are very few brands which have protein in them which is absorbed better as is. Those which might include some sort of digestive aid (enzyme or friendly bacteria) and very specific blends might be the exception. I'd like to see how much of a difference between a 'unbranded' bulk WPC and a branded named protein there is in terms of absorption etc there is.

Mobster


There are very few brands which have protein in them which is absorbed better as is. Those which might include some sort of digestive aid (enzyme or friendly bacteria) and very specific blends might be the exception. I'd like to see how much of a difference between a 'unbranded' bulk WPC and a branded named protein there is in terms of absorption etc there is.

my guess is very little if any at all.
 

BodySharp fit store


Lots of valid points coming out there but what you need to remember is that "Branded" products (by which I'm assuming you mean more well known) such as USN, PHD, REFLEX, MUSCLETECH, etc. since all products have a label so are therefore "Branded". These more well Known companies tend to have been around for a lot longer therefore have more money to spend on research so producing more advanced products... HOWEVER some products such as L-glutamine, Creatine Monohydrate, ZMA's and so on are all basic chemicals so are pretty much the same regardless of packaging.

The only real issue with Protein powders from the cheaper brands is in some cases they may have poor absorption qualities. Meaning some of what you consume simply gets waisted.

advanced products? like what?

Sorry, that wasn't to clear...
By advanced products I mean products containing digestive enzymes to aid the breakdown of proteins so to assure better absorption. 
If you was to put 2 whey protein powders with nothing what so ever added next to each other, one from a well known label and one from a young, unknown label, the only real difference will be taste. 

Mobster

I'd like to see how much of a difference between a 'unbranded' bulk WPC and a branded named protein there is in terms of absorption etc there is.

There wouldn't be any difference as long as the product is as is!

.

BodySharp fit store


Sorry, that wasn't to clear...
By advanced products I mean products containing digestive enzymes to aid the breakdown of proteins so to assure better absorption. 
If you was to put 2 whey protein powders with nothing what so ever added next to each other, one from a well known label and one from a young, unknown label, the only real difference will be taste. 

thats not exactly true, as absorption is person dependant
 
one person could benefit from digestive enzymes whereas another person may not, therefore the arguement that it is a better or mare advnace product does not stand up.
 
if we took 2 people one who used a product with Digestive Enzymes and one without, there woudl be no difference in results.
 

you may be confusing absorption with protein % ?
 
 

TJL500


Was just trying to prove a point to 2 mates of mine who use ON gold standard & Reflex instant whey, they reckon they will get more results because theirs is more expensive & has a fancy name and marketing, tried to reason but i'll just let them keep throwing money away while i get twice as much bang for my buck from MP.

Lol ON and Reflex source from Glanbia as do MP.