Grenade Protein Bars have been massively popular for quite some time. You'll see them everywhere across gyms, offices, and high street shelves - even petrol stations! And for good reason. Known for their chocolate-bar like texture and macro-friendly formula, Grenade’s Carb Killa bars are an elite protein snack.
But are they actually good for you? Do they live up to the hype in 2025 with everything else on the market? And how do they compare to the likes of Barebells and Warrior Crunch?
Here’s a full breakdown - flavour, function, benefits, and brand history.
A Quick History of Grenade
Founded in 2010 in the UK, Grenade was founded by husband and wife Alan & Julie Barratt, as a hardcore sports nutrition brand aimed at fitness fanatics and bodybuilders. Its name and branding (complete with grenade-shaped bottles) were designed to stand out in a sea of generic protein tubs.
Grenade's first major hit was a fat burner supplement called Thermo Detonator. But I guess the real breakthrough came with the launch of Carb Killa Protein Bars in 2015. These bars offered something few competitors had mastered: a chocolatey, indulgent taste without the sugar crash.
I started selling them on my first retail site - ironority.com back in 2016. Alan probably doesn't remember this but I had helped introduce the Grenade brand to Costco, and he did me a solid favour of listening to my business idea and offering some fairly constructive feedback.
Carb Killa bars flew of the digital shelves for me, but unfortunately I ran out of money before I could see that business become a success :(
The brand took on a bit of private equity and I believe by 2021 it was acquired by Mondelēz International (the parent company of Cadbury, Oreo, and more), signalling its move from niche to mainstream. It’s now one of the UK’s top-selling protein snack brands and continues to innovate with new flavors, shakes, spreads, and more.
Grenade Protein Bar Macros (Average Per Bar)
| Nutrient | Amount |
|---|---|
| Calories | ~220 kcal |
| Protein | ~20g |
| Carbs | ~15g |
| Sugars | ~1.5g |
| Fat | ~8–10g |
| Fibre | ~6–7g |
It's pretty good right? Hitting the key metrics:
✅ Low sugar
✅ High protein
✅ Contains fiber
✅ Keto-friendly options
Suggested Flavours to Try
- White Chocolate – I love white chocolate. Can taste a bit too sweet - so reserved for a here/there for me personally
- Fudge Brownie – dense, rich, chocolate lover’s dream
- Birthday Cake – colorful and indulgent with sprinkles. Not one of my favourites as such only cause the sprinkles become a right mess, but I do have time to time
- Oreo – both Milk and White chocolate. Love Oreos. Love Oreos in a Protein Bar lol
- Salted Caramel - one of my favourites.
Are there any Downsides?
Look we've got to get real about this. Protein Bars are great. But they are not a meal substitute and shouldn't be a daily replacement or a core replacement. They're a protein snack as part of a rounded, balanced diet.
The reason is - they do contain what we could term as shite. Most protein bars (and Grenade is no exeption) contains artificial sweeteners (e.g. maltitol, sucralose) – may upset sensitive stomachs, and there are questions about the safety and efficacy of these sweeteners if you've been reading up on the news.
That's not to say don't buy them. Heck yeah buy them! Buy from us! But, please be sure to eat your whole foods, vegetables, get adequate intake of vitamins/minerals/water/fibre, keep the carbs up unless you're on keto, keep the fats in. Stay balanced.
Final Verdict: Are Grenade Bars Worth It in 2025?
If you’re looking for a low-sugar, protein-packed, and satisfying snack that doesn’t taste like cardboard, Grenade bars still reign supreme in 2025. They combine taste, performance, and convenience like few others in the game.
Whether you’re on a cut, bulking clean, or just need something to keep your hands out of the biscuit tin - Grenade is a go-to.