With bold fruity flavors and prebiotic fiber, the brand has built up a cult following in the US. It’s now launching in the UK, where it sees the same trends emerging – and the same demand from consumers for better-for-you options.
The drink – acquired by PepsiCo for $1.95bn in 2025 – will be distributed in the UK by Carlsberg Britvic.
It will be available in 330ml cans, sold both individually and in four-packs, with five flavors: strawberry lemon, orange, raspberry rose, lemon lime and wild berry.
Poppi will launch in Tesco and Pret before a wider rollout later this year.
UK market has ‘strong parallels’ with US
Poppi is one of the leaders in the US ‘modern soda’ set: which boasts sodas that are lower in sugar and often with added functional benefits.
Founded by Texas husband-and-wife duo Stephen and Allison Ellsworth, Poppi is low in sugar (no more than 5g sugar per can), low in calories, high in fibre and made with real fruit juice. The drink rose to fame with a Shark Tank investment in 2018, before being acquired by PepsiCo last year.
For PepsiCo, the acquisition of the brand represented a big entrance into the gut health soda arena as it continues to direct its portfolio towards the better-for-you space.
“The UK felt like the natural first step for Poppi as we look to redefine what soda can be,” Natalia Fillipociants, GM Europe FOBO at PepsiCo told us.
“It’s a dynamic, trend‑setting market where people are curious, culturally plugged‑in, and open to trying new drinks that deliver on flavour and feel good to drink.
“There are strong parallels with the US in terms of consumer appetite for lower sugar, lower calorie options that still bring full taste and real enjoyment.
“With PepsiCo’s scale and Carlsberg Britvic’s local expertise, launching in the UK is a huge moment, for poppi and for the wider soft drinks category.”
Building the functional beverage shelf
In the UK, Poppi will find itself alongside a largely different competitor set. In the US, there’s brands such as Olipop, Culture Pop and Coca-Cola’s Simply Pop.
In the UK, prebiotic-focused brands on shelves include Hip Pop, Fhirst, Living Things and XOXO.
And Fillipociants believes Poppi’s point of difference will come from the branding and marketing that’s proved so popular in the US: marketing that focuses on the fun and flavour of the drink.
“We’re here to help revolutionise the soda category, and poppi does that by leading with taste, culture, and energy not by shouting claims,” she said.
“Poppi is playful, fun, and delicious first and foremost, designed to fit naturally into everyday moments rather than feeling like a compromise.”
That means a ‘fresh, modern attitude’, a bold design, and a social-first, creator-led approach to marketing.
“It’s about creating a brand people want to be part of, one that feels alive in culture, not just on the shelf, and bringing a new kind of momentum to the category.”
Poppi will concentrate on building the brand’s visibility over the first year.
“We’ll lean on strong retail partnerships, memorable launch moments, and consistent storytelling to build awareness and trial across the UK,” said Fillipociants.
And that will also help PepsiCo as it shifts its entire portfolio towards better-for-you products.
“As part of the PepsiCo portfolio, poppi is here to complement the wider range, bringing new shoppers into the category, opening up new occasions, and helping make soda feel more fun and modern.”
