Fizzy first movers
What do Barbie, Spongebob, Minions, the Lakers, and Minecraft have in common? They’ve all teamed up with fizzy, fruit-forward prebiotic sodas - and not just for the aesthetics. Two once-niche beverage brands are now dominating a billion-dollar category, thanks to smart timing and even smarter partnerships.
In this article, Hollywood Branded explores how Poppi and Olipop took over the prebiotic soda market with first-mover advantage and brand partnerships.
Bubbling Up: A New Kind of Soda Emerges
Not long ago, prebiotic soda was a niche health aisle item, reserved for wellness diehards and Whole Foods loyalists. But over the last few years, Poppi and Olipop have transformed it into a billion-dollar category - by launching early and branding smart. These two challenger brands didn’t just create a new beverage segment - they defined its image, voice, and cultural relevance.
How? Through a powerful blend of first-mover advantage and strategic brand partnerships that helped them tap directly into Gen Z and millennial fandoms. Let’s take a look at how Poppi and Olipop captured the category before Big Soda could even get its fizz together.
Olipop's Functional Nostalgia and the Barbie Moment
Launched in 2018, Olipop positioned itself early as a gut-friendly soda alternative with retro inspiration - flavors like Vintage Cola and Root Beer packaged in pastel cans that look just as good on your shelf as they taste in your glass. But what truly accelerated its cultural presence was its bold move into branded partnerships.
In 2023, Olipop released a limited-edition Barbie-themed drop to coincide with the Barbie movie’s global premiere. Featuring playful cotton candy and pink lemonade flavors in collectible packaging, the collab brought function and fantasy together - earning Olipop a spot in viral TikToks, Target shelves, and nostalgia-obsessed carts everywhere.
Photo Credit: OLIPOP
Photo Credit: BevNET
Then in summer 2024, Olipop followed up with a SpongeBob SquarePants collab, launching SpongePop Pineapple, a tropical flavor inspired by Bikini Bottom’s most beloved resident. The campaign leaned into millennial and Gen Z nostalgia, with cans featuring SpongeBob’s cheerful face and a flavor that appealed to both families and cartoon-core fans. It was another reminder that Olipop isn’t just selling soda - it’s selling feelings.
Photo Credit: OLIPOP
Photo Credit: Walmart
In early 2025, Olipop tapped into Illumination’s global Minions franchise with a mischievously sweet campaign that brought Banana Cream and Tropical Tangerine flavors to life. Wrapped in collectible cans featuring beloved Minions like Bob and Kevin, the launch balanced the brand’s playful aesthetic with mainstream blockbuster appeal. From themed influencer boxes to retail endcaps at Walmart and Kroger, the Minions collab was a cross-generational hit - positioning Olipop as a soda that speaks to kids, parents, and pop culture collectors alike.
Photo Credit: Refinery29
Photo Credit: OLIPOP
These pop culture collabs have become a key part of Olipop’s strategy: embracing multi-generational fandoms, colorful storytelling, and joyful nostalgia to make soda fun (and functional) again.
Poppi's RIse: From Shark Tank to Curtside Credibility
While Olipop leaned retro, Poppi burst onto the scene with neon-bright branding, bold fruit flavors, and a Gen Z sensibility that felt like it was made for the algorithm. Launched in 2020 after a Shark Tank appearance, Poppi carved out a space as the playful, fashion-forward face of prebiotic soda - less vintage diner, more pop star’s mini fridge.
Poppi’s early wins came from smart digital marketing and influencer love, but it was their celebrity and brand partnerships that turned the fizz into fire. In 2024, they became the Official Soda of the Los Angeles Lakers, bringing Poppi courtside at Crypto.com Arena and on social feeds across basketball culture. The collab merged wellness with high-energy sports fandom - showing that gut health could be hype-worthy.
Photo Credit: ColorsCollab
Photo Credit: ClassicBevSoCal
In early 2025, Poppi followed up with a limited-edition tie-in for the upcoming Minecraft Movie, releasing pixel-themed four-packs inspired by fan-favorite characters like Creeper and Bee. The cans, available at Target and Walmart, came with a Fandango ticket promo and custom retail displays stacked like real-life Minecraft builds. It was a brilliant fusion of gaming, nostalgia, and shoppable fun.
Photo Credit: Beverage Industry
Photo Credit: Colors Collective
Poppi understood the assignment: pair functional benefits with experiential, cultural partnerships to stand out in the feed and the fridge.
Why Being First Mattered So Much
Olipop and Poppi weren’t just first to the prebiotic soda aisle - they were first to make it aspirational. By entering early, they:
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Owned search results and shelf space before Big Soda moved in.
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Established the aesthetic tone: clean, colorful, and gut-health-forward.
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Made it easier to command attention from press, influencers, and retail partners.
Now, even with Coca-Cola’s Simply Pop and Pepsi’s new Prebiotic Cola entering the chat, Poppi and Olipop still hold cultural mindshare. They became synonymous with the category, not just participants in it.
Photo Credit: Coca-Cola
Photo Credit: Food Business News
First-mover status gave them the head start - but brand partnerships kept them accelerating.
Culture, Not Just Calories: What Sets These Brands Apart
Poppi and Olipop aren’t just selling soda - they’re selling identity. Their partnerships are effective because they:
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Tap into fandoms (Barbie, Spongebob, Minions, Minecraft, Lakers).
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Reflect aesthetics that align with Instagram and TikTok culture.
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Bridge function with emotion - they don’t just make you feel good physically, they make you feel included, stylish, and in-the-know.
Both brands have transformed beverage marketing by recognizing that storytelling is as important as ingredients - and the right partnership can be just as powerful as prebiotics.
From Gut Health to Cultural Health Symbols
Poppi and Olipop didn’t just enter the market early - they shaped it. With first-mover advantage and clever partnerships across sports, entertainment, and influencer culture, they turned prebiotic soda from a functional supplement into a lifestyle statement.
Photo Credit: PHS News
As Pepsi and Coca-Cola scramble to catch up with their own gut-healthy launches, Poppi and Olipop are already lightyears ahead - not just because of what’s in the can, but because of who’s holding it. The next era of functional beverages won’t be won in the lab - it’ll be won in the culture.
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