The sport’s nutrition industry has been stuck in the same old patterns for a while now. Enhanced Performance Nutrition (EPN) is a new company that’s promising to change all that with an innovative business model and a commitment to offering high-quality products at surprisingly low prices. That definitely sounds great, but does EPN actually live up to expectations?
To help answer that question, I reached out to EPN a few months ago. The team was kind enough to send me samples of some of their products and answer a bunch of my questions. So, without further ado, here’s my review of Enhanced Performance Nutrition!
The Athlete Program
The first, and most requested aspect of Enhanced Performance Nutrition I want to cover is the EPN Sponsored Athlete program. They put a lot, of emphasis on it. Scrolling through the @epnsupplements Instagram page you’ll see their athletes publicized on their newsfeed. So, what’s the deal? You might have heard of similar programs before, but in case you haven’t I’ll break it down.
The EPN Sponsored Athlete program is a way for the company to raise awareness by supporting up-and-coming athletes. Bodybuilders, fitness enthusiasts, and athletes who get hand-picked for the program are offered free products, discount codes for their followers, and a portion of the revenue they generate. They also have the opportunity to make additional money by reaching sales goals and bonuses, just like in every other job. In exchange, they spread the word about Enhanced Performance Nutrition and their products.
As I mentioned before, these kinds of programs are fairly common. However, I will say that the EPN Athletes I reached out to on Instagram couldn’t say enough good things. They were especially impressed with the program’s benefits and the EPN team’s support. I have to say, I’m not surprised the response was positive. Since launching the program in early-2020 EPN has shipped it’ athletes over 2,700 free products and paid out over $150,000 in referral bonuses. That’s some serious cash!
The Business Model
EPN is a breath of fresh air when it comes to its company structure. Most sports nutrition companies make their money by marking up the cost of their products beyond the cost of production – sometimes up to 50%. EPN takes a different approach. Customers can opt into a membership program (think Costco or BJ’s Wholesale Club) that gives them access to cost production prices for all EPN products.
When you write it out, the membership business model seems like a no-brainer. Yet, somehow, this is an industry first!
The Products
EPN offers a wide variety of products and is constantly working to expand its offering. Here’s a quick overview of the current catalog:
Pre-Workout: EPN’s pre-workout formula contains a strategic formulation of caffeine, teacine, beta-alanine, and a few other energy boosters. It’s great for increasing endurance, performance, and focus in the gym. The fact that it tastes great is a welcome bonus!
Protein Powder: Protein powders are expected fare from a supplement company, and EPN doesn’t disappoint. Their powders are packed with high-quality ingredients, flavor, and lots of high biological value protein.
Others: On top of your standard protein powders and pre-workout formulations, EPN offers several health and fitness supplements. You’ll find creatine monohydrate, collagen peptides, fat burners, BCAAs, and even a specially formulated mixture of greens and super fruits.
Quality
When it comes to supplements, you don’t want to be messing around with anything that’s low-quality. Heavy metals are surprisingly common in low-quality supplements and can cause some serious health problems. With that being said, I’m pleased to report that Enhanced Performance Nutrition doesn’t cut any corners when it comes to product quality. All their products are made in an FDA-registered and cGMP-certified (Current Good Manufacturing Practice) facility, meaning that they meet the highest quality standards in the industry.
On top of that, Enhanced Performance Nutrition takes a research-based approach to its formulation that you definitely don’t see from all supplement brands. One great example of this is the inclusion of proteases in all of Enhanced Performance Nutrition’s protein powders. Proteases are digestive enzymes that help your body absorb protein, recover after workouts, and reduce inflammation.
Price
Compared to most other sports nutrition companies, Enhanced Performance Nutrition’s products are extremely affordable. This is due to the fact that they don’t have to worry about middleman markup as a result of their innovative business model (as I discussed earlier).
Taste
Another thing that I really appreciate about EPN’s products is that they actually taste good. I mean, really good. You can tell they’ve put a lot of thought into creating a range of products that taste amazing. Plus, many of the flavors are pretty creative.
You’ll find a protein powder that tastes like a bowl of Cinnamon Toast Crunch, BCAAs that will make you think you’re drinking a Grape Slushie, and – my personal favorite – a pre-workout mixture that tastes exactly like Peach Rings. You can browse through the full range of products and flavors here.
Shipping
EPN’s shipping is fairly standard for an e-commerce brand. If you’re a domestic customer, expect to receive your order in 2-5 days. If you’re an international customer, be prepared to wait 10-21 days.
When I reached out to the EPN team they were quick to acknowledge that the company’s shipping times were nothing to write home about. With that being said, EPN is a young company in the midst of a growth spurt. I fully expect shipping to improve with time.
The Verdict
EPN is an extremely promising newcomer to the sports nutrition industry. They have a stellar team, high-quality products, and an affordable price point. If you’re looking for an innovative, research-based, and delicious sports nutrition brand, I highly recommend giving Enhanced Performance Nutrition a try. Lastly, if you’re an athlete who is lucky enough to be reached out to by EPN, we would confidently be able to back this sponsorship program up based on the athletes we were able to get in contact with.
