Maybe it was just that chocolate seems to be what a lot of people go for when buying snacks, and then vanilla is the default bland sweet flavour that people tend to be happy with.
1 Like
Success!
I will point out that it still isn’t actually on the shelves but Alex (one of their food managers) found it in the stockroom today. It was in two different places - one where their stock for the instore cafe is kept and one buried behind completely unrelated stock items.
I’m told it will be dressed in today.
So that’s 6 separate visits and discussions with 5 different managers but they finally know where it is and are about to put it on the shelves! I didn’t mention to any of them that I don’t actually shop at Sainsbury’s. 
I’d still have preferred to be able to buy Berry rather than Chocolate though.
@Tim_Huel - any other stores in the Woking/Guildford area you need checking (or hassling)?
9 Likes
Just in case there is any attempt to do a compliance check I can confirm Brookwood Superstore is putting it on the shelves today and Woking Local (Kingfield Road) has Vanilla in their Food to Go section.
I guess via here, Facebook and Instagram you could get pretty good coverage on a compliance check.
1 Like
Love the dedication @Liath 
1 Like
I have to fess up to a level of self interest. I prefer the powder so would always choose to buy that rather than RTD. But it is handy to have a few bottles of RTD in reserve, however I probably can’t justify buying a whole case as it’s not the main product I use. If I could add half a dozen bottles to my order, mixed flavours then I would but that isn’t an option. Or even if I could buy 6 bottles of Berry RTD with my powder order. So I really want Sainsbury’s to keep stocking it so I can buy 4-6 bottles every so often. Plus I really want them to start stocking Berry. Vanilla is fine, chocolate is a bit meh as it isn’t chocolatey enough for me.
I figure they won’t expand the range unless it sells well and it won’t sell well across the Sainsbury’s group unless the large format, high traffic stores have it stocked and available to buy. Talking to some of the staff on the customer service desk they were aware of Huel (comments like, oh, yeah, my boyfriend has that) but had no idea they’d started stocking it. I’d also think Surrey commuter belt is a prime location for the target market of busy professionals so if they can chuck a few bottles of RTD in their trolley with their weekly shop to bung in their work bag each morning it should do well here. But only if they get it out of the stockroom and on the shelves.
4 Likes
Just had my first RTD in Newcastle Sainsbury’s. Had vanilla it was in the bit where the sandwichs drinks and stuff is.
Here’s my verdict the first thing I should talk about is the taste. It was ok, just ok, was it nicer then let’s say a chicken sandwich with a packet of crisps and bottle of coke? No absolutely not.
But then again I wasn’t expecting it to be. Is the huel powder nicer then a takeaway? We except it’s not, wich is what we should expect of RDT.
Secondly and the main reason I won’t buy it again is the price. I know huel don’t have control over what Sainsbury’s wants to market it at, but one the main reasons I like the powder is I would struggle to make a nutritious meal for the same price. RTD was £3.50 at the Newcastle store I don’t know if the price varys in different parts of the country.
But for that price I could get a lot more.
In picked ip both Chocolate RTD and Vanilla RTD in the Camden Sainsbury’s in London also for £3.50 per bottle a few weeks ago in the drinks cabinet by the entrance. They have since disappeared but I don’t know if they just sold out.
I agree with Berserker that the taste was ok but didn’t wow me. I also felt like it left a slimy after texture in the mouth.
I am happy to see them in stores and would pick one up on a day when I needed some food while out and about but it wouldn’t be a regular product I would use especially for the price.
1 Like
1 Like
Hello Monzo 
1 Like
Thats why I didn’t bother looking in Selfridges when it came out there.
1 Like
How’s the compliance going @Tim_Huel? Sainsbury’s getting their act together yet?
Any news on expanding the range?
None in the big Sainsbury’s but the tiny Sainsbury’s local round the corner from my house had these…
Can’t argue with £3.50.
Finally get to try them by just buying two bottles instead of 24. I’m happy 
3 Likes
Theyre £2.50 in the one near me only seems to stock Vanilla - website seems to show all 3 flavours (which is a shame I want to try Chocolate RTD) stocked in the fridges near the milk if anyones looking ( I walked round for a fair amount of time trying to find it)
They are with the milk in all the stores.
They are supposed to be at the front of store with the food to go
1 Like
Actually they are supposed to be in both places. Some stock with the flavoured milks and some with the snacks and sandwiches or food to go.
Brooklands Sainsburys have both flavours with flavours milk but nothing in the food to go now. Progress I guess.
1 Like
One problem with being with the milk is a lot of the time the milk section is about as deep into the supermarket as you can go. That’s not a big issue for people like us who are prepared to go and find it, but being there is going to prevent any spontaneous purchases by new customers who are nipping in for lunch and won’t get past the grab and go section.
3 Likes
Exactly, the Sainsburys I’m in up there (North Cheam) even has a “Foods of the future” section about three metres from where the milk is. Seems like they don’t really understand what it is.
1 Like
It depends where you are but Huel RTD will be sold in one of these or both in a selection of Sainsbury’s:
- Front of store by the food to go
- Back of store in the chillers with the milk
Clearly the latter isn’t ideal, but it’s better than being in the medicine aisle by the protein shakes and supplements. The dairy buying team at Sainsbury’s are responsible for milk-alternatives, as well as juices too and they’ve decided that’s the team that’s buying Huel.
2 Likes