From Gut Check to Grocery Aisle Staple: How OLIPOP and Poppi Made Probiotic Soda Cool

Once upon a time, gut health belonged to the world of kombucha, kefir, and chalky supplements tucked away on dusty wellness store shelves. Fast forward to now, and you'll find prebiotics and probiotics front and center, in soda form, no less, with pastel cans, playful branding, and celebrity collabs lighting up your TikTok feed.

So, how exactly did OLIPOP and Poppi turn functional fizzy drinks into a billion-dollar category? Let’s break it down.

OLIPOP: The Gut-Health Glow-Up Soda

Founded in 2018, OLIPOP positioned itself not just as a soda alternative  but as a functional soda. It wasn't just about being low-sugar, it was about offering something better.

Nostalgia Meets Nutrition

Flavors like Vintage Cola, Root Beer, and Orange Cream tap into soda’s feel-good past, while the formula is packed with prebiotics, plant fiber, and botanicals designed to support digestive health. Think of it as a hug for your gut.

The Smart Sell: Wellness Without the Woo

OLIPOP’s success lies in how it reframed soda entirely. Instead of focusing on what it didn’t have (sugar, artificial ingredients), it spotlighted what it did: benefits, function, and feel-good fizz. That subtle shift in messaging made health-conscious consumers feel like they weren’t missing out, they were trading up.

Poppi: The TikTok Darling with a Vinegar Twist

Originally launched as “Mother,” Poppi got its big break with a Shark Tank appearance and a 2020 rebrand that changed everything.

What’s Inside?

Poppi’s star ingredient is apple cider vinegar, the raw, murky kind your wellness friend swears by. Naturally rich in probiotics, ACV gave Poppi a differentiator and a built-in fanbase among health devotees.

Branding That Pops

With a bright, playful aesthetic, bold fonts, and flavor names like Raspberry Rose and Strawberry Lemon, Poppi nailed shelf appeal. But it was their influencer-forward strategy from TikTok micro-creators to celebrity partnerships that turned the brand into a cultural mainstay.

Meet People Where They Scroll

Poppi didn’t just rely on grocery store shoppers. They showed up where wellness-curious Gen Z and millennials spend their time: Instagram, TikTok, and YouTube. The message was clear: this isn’t your grandma’s vinegar tonic, this is cool-girl wellness in a can.

So, Who Really Started the Probiotic Soda Craze?

It depends who you ask.

• OLIPOP helped make the category credible,  launching with science-backed benefits and soda flavors that made people believe gut health could taste good.

• Poppi made it cool,  leveraging viral marketing and a heavy social presence to bring probiotics into pop culture.

Some might argue Health-Ade Pop was a player, too, but OLIPOP and Poppi undoubtedly turned “gut health soda” from niche to next-big-thing.

What Marketers Can Learn from the Probiotic Soda Boom

• Function needs flavor: Health benefits only sell if the product tastes good.

• Branding matters: Bright, clean design isn’t just pretty, it signals freshness, fun, and modern wellness.

• Make it relatable: Scientific benefits don’t have to sound clinical. OLIPOP says “plant botanicals,” Poppi says “glow up from the inside out.”

• Influencer reach still works: When it’s authentic and aligned with your audience, it drives real traction.

• Reinvent the familiar: Nostalgia is powerful. OLIPOP didn’t create soda,  they reinvented it.

  
  

The Takeaway

Probiotic soda didn’t rise because someone invented a healthier drink. It rose because smart brands like OLIPOP and Poppi understood how to position health: as exciting, craveable, and cool.

They made it okay to care about your gut and still sip something fizzy, fun, and familiar. And in doing so, they redefined what it means to drink to your health, one colorful can at a time.