Brand Overview#
Rule One Proteins (R1) is a sports nutrition company founded in 2014 by Tony and Mike Costello, the former founders and owners of Optimum Nutrition. Headquartered in Aurora, Illinois, the company manufactures all products in-house at a state-of-the-art 250,000 sq. ft. GMP facility, bringing 40+ years of manufacturing expertise to the sports nutrition market.
History#
- Pre-2014: Tony Costello founded Optimum Nutrition, growing it to 550,000+ sq. ft.
- 2014: Tony and Mike Costello founded Rule One Proteins
- 2014+: Built 250,000 sq. ft. manufacturing facility in Aurora, IL
- Present: Added 90,000 sq. ft. distribution center
Corporate Structure#
- Legal Entity: Rule One Proteins, LLC
- Parent Company: Nutrivo, LLC
- Type: Family-owned, private company
- Headquarters: 1785 North Edgelawn Drive, Aurora, IL 60506
- Employees: 11-50
- Leadership: Tony Costello (Co-Founder & CEO)
Founders#
Tony Costello#
- Co-Founder & CEO of Rule One Proteins
- Former Founder & Owner of Optimum Nutrition
- Started in supplement industry at Grove’s Gym
- Built Optimum Nutrition to 550,000+ sq. ft. operation
Mike Costello#
- Co-Founder of Rule One Proteins
- Former Co-Founder & Owner of Optimum Nutrition
- Brother of Tony Costello
Optimum Nutrition Legacy#
The Costello brothers founded Optimum Nutrition, which became one of the largest sports nutrition brands globally. After exiting Optimum Nutrition (later acquired by Glanbia), they started Rule One Proteins to maintain their vision of quality manufacturing and product integrity.
Product Focus#
- Product Count: 112 products (iHerb)
- Formats: Powders, capsules
- Philosophy: In-house manufacturing, complete quality control
- Specialty: Whey protein isolate/hydrolysate, amino acids
Key Product Lines#
| Line | Description |
|---|---|
| R1 Protein | Ultra-pure whey isolate/hydrolysate blend |
| R1 LBS | High-calorie weight gainer |
| R1 Creatine | 100% pure creatine monohydrate |
| R1 Pre Train | Pre-workout formula |
| R1 BCAAs | Branch chain amino acids |
| R1 Casein | Slow-release protein |
Flagship Products#
- R1 Protein - 25g pure whey isolate/hydrolysate, 6g BCAAs
- R1 LBS - 1,000+ calories, 200g+ complex carbs
- R1 Creatine - Unflavored, pure creatine
Manufacturing & Quality#
| Aspect | Details |
|---|---|
| In-house Manufacturing | ✅ 100% in-house |
| Manufacturing Facility | 250,000 sq. ft. |
| Distribution Center | 90,000 sq. ft. |
| Location | Aurora, Illinois |
| GMP Certified | ✅ |
| Informed Choice | ✅ Certified |
| Executive Experience | 100+ years combined |
| Manufacturing Experience | 40+ years |
Quality Philosophy#
“We will never put a product on our site - or on a shelf - that we wouldn’t put in our own gym bag.”
Retail Presence#
| Channel | Status | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Official Website | ✅ Active | ruleoneproteins.com |
| Amazon | ✅ Active | Official store |
| iHerb | ✅ Active | ~112 products |
| GNC | ✅ Active | Retail partner |
| Bodybuilding.com | ✅ Active | Sports nutrition channel |
UPC Information#
Multiple UPC prefixes identified:
- 858925 - Primary prefix (original products)
- 196671 - Secondary prefix (newer products)
Investigation Notes#
- DSLD Presence: Present in database
- UPC Prefix: 858925 (primary)
- Business Model: B2C with retail partnerships
- Ownership: Costello family via Nutrivo, LLC
- Key Differentiator: Founded by Optimum Nutrition creators
Status Determination#
| Criterion | Finding |
|---|---|
| Official Website | ✅ Active (ruleoneproteins.com) |
| Retail Availability | ✅ Multiple channels (Amazon, iHerb, GNC) |
| DSLD Presence | ✅ Present |
| Informed Choice Certified | ✅ Certified |
| Founder Pedigree | ✅ Optimum Nutrition founders |
Status: active (High Confidence)
Relationships
From this profile →
- → Founded by: Tony Costello (external) (2014)
- → Founded by: Mike Costello (external) (2014)
- → Owned by: Nutrivo, LLC (external) (2014)