Prime Highlights: 

The company introduces a new prebiotic soda brand to compete with Olipop and Poppi.  

Prebiotic sodas have gained popularity as consumers seek healthier alternatives to traditional sodas. 

Key Background: 

Coca-Cola is venturing into the growing prebiotic soda market with the launch of Simply Pop, aiming to compete with established brands like Olipop and Poppi. The new brand, set to debut in late February in select regions on the West Coast and Southeast, marks Coca-Cola’s foray into the rapidly expanding segment of digestive health beverages. 

Soda consumption has generally declined in the U.S. over the past two decades, driven by health concerns and the rise of alternative drinks such as energy drinks, cold brew coffee, and bottled water. However, prebiotic sodas, which promote gut health, have gained significant traction in recent years. Brands like Olipop and Poppi have led this trend, with Olipop recently raising $50 million and achieving a $1.85 billion valuation. 

The prebiotic soda category has grown substantially, from $197 million in 2020 to an estimated $440 million in 2024, according to Euromonitor International data. Although this represents a small portion of the overall soda market, its rapid growth demonstrates increasing consumer interest in healthier beverage options. 

Simply Pop’s product lineup includes fruit-flavored options such as pineapple mango, lime, strawberry, fruit punch, and citrus punch, all featuring 25% to 30% real fruit juice. The drinks contain no added sugar, and they are fortified with vitamin C, zinc, and 6 grams of prebiotic fiber—more than Poppi’s offerings, though less than Olipop’s nine grams. The prebiotic fiber is marketed to support gut health, although the long-term health benefits of prebiotics are still under debate. 

Becca Kerr, CEO of Coca-Cola’s North American nutrition unit, emphasized that Simply Pop was developed with consumer preferences in mind, targeting younger, health-conscious demographics, particularly Millennials and Gen Z. Despite this strategic entry, Coca-Cola faces challenges, having previously struggled with other drink trends, such as its Aha sparkling water and Coke Spiced flavor. As Coca-Cola enters the prebiotic soda market, it leverages its extensive marketing and distribution power to take on smaller competitors, with PepsiCo also preparing to launch a similar product in 2025.