Online retail group THG said sales have been boosted by record demand for protein powder.

The Manchester business, which sells protein powders and shakes through its MyProtein brand, said sales for the six months to June 30 rose by around 6.5 per cent.

Matthew Moulding, boss at THG, whose brands also include CultBeauty and Look Fantastic, said MyProtein was ‘reaching more consumers than ever’. 

He said it was set to reach even more customers with new products such as protein water.

Its nutrition segment’s growth came despite ‘unprecedented’ inflation in the cost of whey protein, amid a boom in wellbeing, driven by health-conscious consumers. 

Profits rose 36 per cent to £94million.