From 1991 until today, athletes the world over have come to the same conclusion: GU works. Based in Berkeley, California, GU started with the original GU Energy Gel, a revolutionary and more effective method to keep athletes fueled during exercise. Since then, GU has continued to improve the recipe, incorporating the latest scientific research into the products. 2010 sees GU bringing their products to the UK for the first time. Every product is formulated to further GU’s mission: to help athletes go faster and longer than ever before. We are sure GU will go down a storm with UK athletes, just as it has in the States where GU has been the market leader for nearly 20 years now!

The GU Factory

Athletes everywhere appreciate the taste, convenience and performance enhancing benefits of GU Energy Gel. But few give much thought to how or where these gels are produced and packaged. You might be interested to learn a bit about the GU factory and the exceptional care that goes into every packet created.

As each batch of GU is mixed, the formula for every flavour is double checked against the super-secret master recipe. The Director of R&D sources only the highest quality ingredients and happily rejects raw materials if they are off spec. He also oversees the production process from start to finish, ensuring precision in the mixing process. Texture, taste, pH? all good? Only then does the GU leave the factory.

When all ingredients have been accurately measured, the batches are carefully blended only at the proper speed and temperature to ensure repeatable high quality and consistency. The production team is comprised of several long-time employees; collectively boasting more than 50 years experience. Together the team has produced tens of millions of packets of GU! Talk about athletic kilowatts. As the gatekeepers of day-to-day manufacturing, anything short of perfection just isn't good enough!

GU quality control continues when the gel is ready for packaging. Customised machinery fills each packet with a precise amount of gel. There’s nothing quite like a stroll through the manufacturing building when Chocolate Outrage is running, the intoxicating aroma of pure Belgian chocolate wafting through the air. Time it just right and you can sample a warm packet fresh off the line, a decadent and lipsmacking treat. It’ll send you running for some vanilla ice cream to complement the outrageousness. Then, the boxes are folded, glued and packed by a fully automated line. Every box is certain to have the proper number of packets as each is weighed before being sealed and packed for its final destination, your kit bag and ultimately, your mouth.

GU's state-of-the-art production line and exacting quality control process are impressive, but what do they mean to you, the athlete? You can trust that the premium gel you rely on undergoes the most rigorous quality checks in the sports nutrition industry. GU watch over every batch of gel they produce and maintain a production facility that is free from the risk of contamination by foreign substances. Most other gel manufacturers outsource production to third party contract manufacturers where who-knows-what was produced in the previous batch. This can be a serious concern in a supplement business that is lightly regulated and too often not completely above board.

GU makes sure you can focus on training and reaching your goals in upcoming races. Breathe easy and leave your gels in the hands of the energy food experts at GU. Just suck down a packet of your favorite flavor and go (fast)!