Poppi: The Billion-Dollar Brand PepsiCo Didn’t See Coming

3–4 minutes

It started with a gut feeling—literally.

Poppi, the fizzy, fruity, prebiotic soda that now flies off Target shelves and floods TikTok feeds, was once a humble apple cider vinegar experiment in a Texas kitchen. Today? It’s being called the “Gen Z Pepsi” — a billion-dollar disruptor in the beverage space that’s redefining what soda means in the age of wellness, influencers, and functional everything.

Here’s how Poppi became the drink PepsiCo didn’t know it needed—and still doesn’t quite know how to beat.

A Bubbly Beginning: From Shark Tank to Shelf Space

Poppi (originally called “Mother”) debuted on Shark Tank in 2018, where co-founder Allison Ellsworth and her husband Stephen snagged a deal with Rohan Oza (aka “the brandfather” behind Vitaminwater and Smartwater).

Their pitch? A soda with real fruit, apple cider vinegar (ACV), and a gut-health benefit that actually tasted good. And it worked.

Fast forward to today, and Poppi is:

In over 30,000 retail locations (Target, Whole Foods, Amazon, etc.)
Valued at over $500 million, with eyes on unicorn status
One of the top-selling functional beverages in the U.S.

What’s in a Can? (Besides the Vibe)

Each can of Poppi contains:

Apple cider vinegar (1 tbsp, the “prebiotic” element)
Fruit juice or natural flavoring
5g of sugar or less
20–25 calories per can
Sparkling water base

Flavors range from fan favorites like Strawberry Lemon and Raspberry Rose to nostalgic hits like Classic Cola and Root Beer.

And unlike traditional sodas, there’s:

No HFCS
No artificial sweeteners
No caffeine (in most flavors)

Poppi vs Pepsi: It’s Not Just About Ingredients

Let’s be clear: Poppi isn’t outselling Pepsi. But it’s outselling Pepsi in a very specific and powerful category—cultural relevance.

Pepsi = legacy. Poppi = lifestyle.

Gen Z and wellness-savvy Millennials aren’t interested in big cola marketing wars. They want:

Functional benefits
Digestive support
Clean labels
A brand that feels like them

Poppi nailed this by building its brand almost entirely on TikTok, turning a niche gut health drink into a fashion accessory. Their videos? Snappy, relatable, and soaked in good lighting. Their audience? Obsessed.

Featured:

What is Poppi soda?
Poppi is a prebiotic soda made with apple cider vinegar, fruit juice, and sparkling water. It’s low in sugar, supports gut health, and has become a trending wellness drink, especially among Gen Z.

How It’s Winning: The Poppi Playbook

TikTok virality: Over 1 billion views on #drinkpoppi
Retail domination: From Erewhon to Walmart
Brand identity: Bright cans, feel-good names, and real founder storytelling
Health halo: Gut health is in. ACV is now cool. Poppi rode that wave perfectly.
The vibe shift: Poppi isn’t fighting soda—it’s rebranding it.

Why Pepsi Should Be Watching Closely

While PepsiCo has acquired or invested in wellness brands like Kevita, SodaStream, and Health-Ade, it hasn’t quite nailed the youth + health + taste trifecta that Poppi owns right now.

Unless they innovate fast or cut a check Poppi is carving out the future of soda one prebiotic bubble at a time.

And that’s not just smart marketing. That’s market share.

Should You Drink It?

If you:

Love soda but hate the sugar crash
Want to support gut health without choking down vinegar
Enjoy fun, fruity drinks that double as desk candy

Then yes, Poppi soda is worth the hype. It’s light, refreshing, and surprisingly satisfying—even to soda skeptics.

Just remember: While it supports gut health, it’s not a cure-all. Think of it as your wellness wingman, not your probiotic prescription.

Final Sip

Poppi didn’t just create a better soda. It created a better narrative one that centers health, style, and story in every sip.

And in the new world of functional beverages, that might just be the most powerful ingredient of all.

Poppi: The Billion-Dollar Brand PepsiCo Didn’t See Coming