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The soda industry has gone through many eras, from the early days of real sugar cane-sweetened sodas to the diet drink boom of the ’70s and ’80s. But this decade marks the rise of a new kind of soda—one that follows today’s biggest trend: wellness.
From Olipop to Poppi to Slice, prebiotic sodas are popping up left and right, aiming to redefine an industry long considered one of the least healthy in the food system. With lower calorie counts, reduced sugar, and gut-friendly prebiotics, these modern sodas are reshaping the market, and it seems every major beverage company wants a piece of the new soda pie—including PepsiCo.
PepsiCo Acquires Poppi Sodas
Beverage giant PepsiCo just made a massive move in the wellness drink space, acquiring Poppi in a $1.65 billion deal, according to a press release. The acquisition is part of PepsiCo’s strategy to expand its “better-for-you” portfolio and meet evolving consumer preferences.
Poppi is still a relative newcomer in the soda space, but has already built a major following since its 2018 debut on Shark Tank. The Austin, Texas-born brand started as a farmers’ market favorite and has since found its way onto the shelves of major retailers nationwide. With a lineup of flavors like Wild Berry, Doc Pop, and its latest addition, Cream Soda, each can combines fruit juice, apple cider vinegar, sparkling water, and prebiotics for a refreshing, functional twist on soda.
“We’ve been evolving our food and beverage portfolio over many years, including by innovating with our brands in new spaces and through disciplined, strategic acquisitions that enable us to offer more positive choices to our consumers,” said Ramon Laguarta, CEO of PepsiCo, in a press release. “More than ever, consumers are looking for convenient and great-tasting options that fit their lifestyles and respond to their growing interest in health and wellness. Poppi is a great complement to our portfolio transformation efforts to meet these needs.”
The functional soda frenzy is real, folks. In fact, this move follows Coca-Cola’s recent foray into the prebiotic soda space. But, rather than acquiring an established soda brand, Coca-Cola introduced a wellness soda line under its Simply brand, which has been a beverage aisle staple since 2001. While the Poppi deal is still subject to regulatory approval, its acquisition suggests that PepsiCo has opted to buy rather than build its own prebiotic soda brand from scratch—at least for now.
One thing is for certain—the modern soda revolution is changing the way consumers think about soft drinks. Once an occasional indulgence, soda is now becoming a daily habit, thanks in part to brands like Poppi that offer wellness benefits alongside bold flavors. This shift also means bigger sales potential, as soda drinkers move away from the once or twice a week splurge and toward an everyday ‘little treat.’
With the category continuing to grow, we’re interested to see how these mega-brands adapt to the shifting trends. And, will Olipop be the next soda brand up for bidding? Time will soon tell.
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