Nov 18, 2025

Stainless Steel vs Plastic: Why Canadian Supplement Brands Need Both in 2026 (And How Each Drives a Different Growth Lever)

The Canadian supplement market is growing fast. Whether it’s protein, greens, pre-workout, hydration, or daily wellness products, more Canadians are building routines around supplements—and competition has never been tougher.

Brands are fighting for attention, customer loyalty, subscription retention, and reorder frequency. But there’s one tool that plays a much bigger role in customer behaviour than most brands realise:

The shaker bottle.

After producing millions of custom shaker bottles for Canadian supplement brands, gyms, retailers, and wellness companies, we’ve learned something that almost nobody talks about:

Custom stainless steel shaker bottles and custom plastic shaker bottles don’t do the same thing.

They’re not interchangeable. They support completely different moments in the customer journey. And the brands growing the fastest in Canada are the ones who use both intentionally.

This article breaks down how each bottle helps you grow your supplement brand—and why 2026 is the year to double down on both.

How Custom Stainless Steel Shaker Bottles Build Loyalty, Habits, and Daily Use

Let’s start with stainless steel. Because in 2026, custom stainless steel shaker bottles are becoming one of the strongest retention tools in the supplement category—especially in Canada’s colder climate where durability and insulation matter.

Here’s the behavioural truth:

Customers use stainless steel bottles more often because they enjoy them more.

And when they use their shakers more, they use their supplements more.

This behavioural loop is what we call The Daily Use Effect™—the idea that daily shaker use drives daily supplement use.

Custom stainless steel shaker bottles amplify this loop because they’re:

premium – they look and feel better in the hand
durable – they last longer and stay looking new
odour-resistant – huge for customers mixing dairy-based proteins
more visible – people leave them on the counter instead of hiding them in a cupboard
camera-friendly – influencers prefer stainless steel for content

In Canada, stainless steel also performs well because it suits the local lifestyle—gyms, commutes, workdays, outdoor activities, and busy schedules.

When a bottle becomes the customer’s “favourite bottle,” it becomes part of their routine. And once the bottle becomes part of the routine, the supplement becomes part of the routine.

Why Custom Plastic Shaker Bottles Still Matter for Canadian Supplement Brands

Here’s the misconception we hear all the time:

“If stainless steel is the future, plastic must be dead.”

Not even close.

Plastic is still essential for acquisition, visibility, and scale.

Custom plastic shaker bottles remain the best tool in Canada for:

giveaways
membership bundles
gym partnerships
events and trade shows
influencer and ambassador onboarding
wholesale and retail promotions
new customer welcome kits

Plastic allows supplement brands to distribute widely, inexpensively, and at scale—something stainless steel simply can’t match for mass volume needs.

Custom plastic shaker bottles are the “first impression” tool that introduces your brand to more people.

They help customers:

start their routine
mix their first shake properly
experience your product without friction

Plastic fuels acquisition. Stainless fuels retention.

Both matter. Both carry impact. Both support different elements of your brand’s growth engine.

The Perfect Combination: Custom Stainless and Custom Plastic Shaker Bottles Working Together

Here’s where Canadian supplement brands unlock serious growth:

By using both types of custom shakers intentionally.

Because each one supports a different phase of the customer journey.

Here’s a simple framework:

1. Use custom plastic shaker bottles to attract new customers

Plastic is perfect for:

customer onboarding
first-time purchase bundles
gym giveaways
brand launch events
expo activations
subscription welcome kits

Plastic gives you reach, volume, and exposure.

2. Use custom stainless steel shaker bottles to deepen loyalty

Once a customer knows your brand, stainless steel becomes the upgrade that strengthens their connection and routine.

Stainless is ideal for:

long-term subscriber gifts
VIP customers
challenge or transformation programmes
exclusive product launches
ambassadors and influencers

Stainless drives retention, habit formation, and reorder frequency.

3. Plastic keeps your brand everywhere

Plastic bottles appear in gyms, workplaces, backpacks, studios, and community events across Canada. They spread your brand fast.

Stainless, on the other hand, stays in the customer’s daily life.

4. Stainless lives in the customer’s routine

It’s the bottle they keep. The bottle they love. The bottle they use most often.

This strengthens daily supplement consumption—which drives repeat sales.

Acquisition + retention = real growth.

The Daily Use Effect™: The Behavioural Reason This Strategy Works

This is where everything comes together.

Custom stainless steel shaker bottles make customers more likely to use your supplement daily because:

they feel premium
they look good
they last longer
they integrate into daily life naturally

Custom plastic shaker bottles help customers start their routine, while custom stainless steel shaker bottles help customers maintain their routine.

In a category built on repetition, consistency, and habits, this behavioural loop is invaluable.

Which Should Your Brand Choose in 2026?

The answer is simple:

You shouldn’t choose. You should combine.

Think of the roles like this:

Plastic = reach, volume, acquisition
Stainless steel = loyalty, retention, repeat orders

Brands that focus only on plastic miss long-term loyalty. Brands that focus only on stainless miss wide exposure.

The winning strategy is both.

Internal Links: More Resources for Canadian Supplement Brands

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See Your Brand on Custom Stainless Steel or Plastic Shakers

If you'd like to see a custom mockup of your brand on stainless steel or plastic shakers, we can create one for you—free.

Click here to request your free custom mockup.

Premium tools build premium habits—and premium habits build premium supplement brands.