Footballers team up with UK university to launch UNITY supplements range

08 Jun 2021 --- Professional footballers Mathieu Flamini and Mesut Özil have joined forces with the University of Westminster to launch a new range of health supplements for the UNITY brand.

Former French professional footballer turned environmental entrepreneur, Mathieu Flamini, is the co-founder of UNITY, a supplements brand.

Özil, who has played in the Spanish, German and Turkish football leagues, is also a co-founder. The duo have kick-started a partnership with the University of Westminster, UK, to create the new U ULTRA supplement range.

The new supplements line was developed at Westminster’s recently opened Centre for Nutraceuticals, and consists of four full-spectrum power blends, including Energy Sport Pro, to achieve peak performance, Immunity, to always feel your best, Mind, to perform under pressure and Recovery, to recover faster.The athletes teamed up with The Felix Project and will donate two healthy meals to school children in need for every supplement sold.

These factors work together to support the four pillars of human performance: training, nutrition, mindset and recovery.

“The U ULTRA range is aimed at all consumers, from casual and recreational to elite athletes,” professor Mohammed Gulrez Zariwala, director at Center for Nutraceuticals, University of Westminster, tells NutritionInsight.

“We want the product to be accessible to all and not just a select group. The basic principles of sports and nutrition remain the same, but partnering with elite athletes such as Mathieu and Mesut gives the benefit of their input and experience in the product development,” he adds. 

Focus on nutrition
“Given what we’ve all faced with the pandemic, it’s never been more important for people to look after their health. Having worked with the world’s top coaches and performance experts, we understand first-hand how everything from training burnout to stress and poor nutrition can affect your everyday performance,” explains Flamini.

Industry has previously highlighted that nutritional solutions are in high demand due to pandemic stress.

The Centre for Nutraceuticals is an initiative in nutraceuticals, supplements, and functional foods that will serve as a catalyst for enhancing health and wellness through research and innovation.

“We collaborated with world-renowned scientists at the University of Westminster to produce the most effective supplements, using the highest quality, clinically proven, highly bioavailable ingredients and our trademarked ultratech technology and delivery system,” Flamini adds.

U ULTRA supplements in focus
U ULTRA supplements are vegan and gluten-free, and are designed and produced in the UK.

Talking about the supplements, Professor Mohammed Gulrez Zariwala, director at the center for nutraceuticals, University of Westminster, says: “We have developed a new supplement range that uses the optimum dosage of the most effective, clinically-proven ingredients in the market globally, which ensures maximum absorption in the body for optimum performance.” 

“The supplements target a range of health and well-being goals, from a lack of energy to focus and more,” he adds.

Are high-profile athletes sought after by brands?
The new athlete-backed supplement range comes amid an increasing interest from high profile people, often celebrities or sports personalities, who are investing in wellness and nutrition-focused brands.

Other recent high-profile examples include in the alt-milk space where Oprah Winfrey, Jay-Z and Natalie Portman have all financially backed Swedish vegan oat milk brand, Oatly.The Informed Sport program ensures that items have been tested for a variety of banned drugs in sports and has certified Energy Sport Pro.

The Informed Sport program ensures that items have been tested for a variety of banned drugs in sports and has certified Energy Sport Pro.

This is further illustrated by Innova Market Insights’ 2021 trend “Age of the Influencer” which reveals that, in times when influencer endorsements give products a push, a slow shift to more reliable influencers occurs.

“We want to help everyone take control of their health. Being healthy starts with access to healthy food,’” Mesut Özil, co-founder of Unity, says.

Another example of elite athletes entering the nutrition industry is Nick Samra, a former professional hockey player, who has been working on the Forme shaker for almost a year.

“After searching for the best supplements and being disappointed by what was on offer, we decided to take matters into our own hands by creating our own range,” says Flamini.

This is further supported by Innova Market Insights’ third trend, “Tailored to Fit.” It shows that 64 percent of global consumers are looking for food and beverages that fit their individual lifestyles, putting personalized nutrition at the forefront.

Influencer-backed brands are viewed as assisting in the education of consumers. Previously, Left Hook CBD was launched by Emerald Corp in collaboration with US boxer Roy Jones Jr.

Additionally, American football player Brett Favre recently became a brand ambassador for Green Eagle CBD products.

The California Prune Board has partnered up with several Canadian athletes, including those preparing for the Olympics, to raise awareness about the importance of proper nutrition and exercise in bone health.

By Nicole Kerr