Soda is kind of having a mid-life crisis. For decades, it was the king of the cooler, the bubbly accompaniment to every backyard BBQ and movie theater popcorn bucket. Then, the health revolution happened. Suddenly, sugar was the enemy, and "soda" became a dirty word whispered in aisles filled with kombucha and expensive sparkling water.
Enter Poppi.
If you watched the Big Game in 2024, or the even more star-studded follow-up in 2025, you saw it. The poppi commercial super bowl strategy wasn't just a 60-second ad; it was a $7 million to $8 million bet that the world was ready to forgive and forget. They didn't want you to just drink a "health beverage." They wanted to reclaim the word "soda" itself.
The Ad That Changed the Conversation
Honestly, Poppi's 2024 spot, titled "The Future of Soda is Now," was a masterclass in rebranding an entire category. It didn't lead with science or boring talk about gut microbes. Instead, it felt like a tech launch—think Apple, but for something you can actually drink.
The visuals were crisp. The music was upbeat. It hit on a universal truth: we all love the fizz and the flavor of a cold soda, but we've been conditioned to feel guilty about it. By positioning Poppi as the "next chapter," the brand effectively told the audience, "You can have your fizz and drink it too."
By the Numbers: Did it Work?
According to data from Samba TV, that 60-second spot was actually the most-watched ad of Super Bowl LVIII, reaching about 29.1 million households. That’s a lot of eyeballs. In the hour after it aired, Google search volume for the brand accelerated by 100x.
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It wasn’t just a spike in curiosity. Amazon sales and website traffic grew 10x compared to their previous airings during the Grammys and NFL Championships. People weren't just looking; they were buying.
Moving From 2024 Hype to 2025 Controversy
Fast forward to 2025. Poppi returned to the Super Bowl stage with a new commercial called "Soda Thoughts." This one leaned heavily into "analysis paralysis"—that annoying internal debate you have at the drive-through or the movies where you want the soda but end up ordering water because you're trying to be "good."
Featuring heavy hitters like Alix Earle, Jake Shane, and Love Island USA’s Rob Rausch, the ad felt like a targeted strike at Gen Z and Millennials. But the commercial itself wasn't what got people fired up.
It was the vending machines.
The Pink Vending Machine Debacle
Before the 2025 game, Poppi sent 32 custom pink vending machines—estimated to cost around $25,000 each—to high-profile influencers. We're talking an $800,000 giveaway before a single can was even sold.
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The internet, being the internet, had thoughts.
- The Backlash: Critics on TikTok and X (formerly Twitter) were frustrated. Why send $25,000 machines to people who are already rich? Why not put them in hospitals or schools?
- The Rivalry: Olipop, Poppi's biggest rival, didn't even run a Super Bowl ad, yet they managed to go viral by "trolling" the situation, engaging with critics, and positioning themselves as the more "relatable" alternative.
- The Defense: Founder Allison Ellsworth eventually had to clarify that the machines were loans, not gifts, and that the brand had donated millions of cans to nonprofits.
It was a messy, fascinating look at how modern marketing works. You can spend $7 million on a "perfect" TV spot, but a few disgruntled TikTok comments about a pink vending machine can dominate the narrative for a week.
Is Poppi Actually "Healthy" Though?
This is where the nuance comes in. If you compare a can of Poppi to a traditional cola, the differences are stark.
- Sugar: Poppi has 5g or less. Traditional soda can have 35g to 40g.
- Calories: You're looking at about 25 calories versus 150.
- Ingredients: Poppi uses apple cider vinegar (ACV), agave inulin, and fruit juice.
However, nutritionists like Dr. Sean Paul Spencer from Stanford have pointed out that while these are "better-for-you" options, they aren't exactly a replacement for eating your vegetables. The inulin fiber used—extracted from agave or chicory root—can actually cause bloating or gas if you aren't used to it.
Basically, it's a "compromise" drink. It's the "healthier" choice for when you really want a soda, but it's not a magic health potion.
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The $2 Billion Acquisition Rumors
The real story behind the poppi commercial super bowl push is business. Big Soda is sweating. Coca-Cola and PepsiCo have seen the writing on the wall: people want functional beverages.
Reports surfaced in 2025 that PepsiCo was looking to acquire Poppi for nearly $2 billion. Think about that for a second. A brand that started at a Texas farmers market by a husband-and-wife duo (Allison and Stephen Ellsworth) is now playing in the same league as the giants.
By running these Super Bowl ads, Poppi wasn't just talking to you; they were talking to investors. They were proving they could command "cultural cache."
How to Navigate the "New Soda" Trend
If you're looking to jump on the prebiotic soda bandwagon after seeing the ads, here are a few things to keep in mind so you don't end up with a stomach ache or a wasted ten bucks.
- Start Slow: Because of the inulin fiber, don't drink three in one day if you've never had them. Your gut needs time to adjust to the prebiotics.
- Check the "Caffeine": Some flavors, especially the colas and "Doc" styles, contain green tea extract or other caffeine sources.
- Watch the Price Point: These are premium products. If you're on a budget, look for sales at Target or Walmart where they often do "buy 3, get 1 free" deals.
- Manage Expectations: It tastes like soda, but it's not an exact 1:1 match for a classic Coke. The apple cider vinegar gives it a slight "tang" that some people love and others find weird.
The "Future of Soda" might not be perfectly healthy, but it's certainly more interesting than the past. Whether you loved the ads or hated the vending machines, you can't deny that Poppi has successfully changed the way we look at that colorful can in the fridge.
Next Steps for Your Health & Wallet
- Audit your sugar intake: Check the labels on your current favorite "healthy" drinks. Many bottled teas or juices actually have more sugar than a Poppi.
- Compare the brands: Grab a Poppi and an Olipop. See which fiber source (inulin vs. a blend of several fibers) sits better with your digestion.
- Look for the "Shark Tank" episode: To see how the brand evolved, watch Allison and Stephen's original pitch (under the name Mother Beverage) to see the massive branding shift firsthand.