Pepsi Launches Prebiotic Cola Amid Gut-Friendly Soda Boom
Launching this fall, Pepsi Prebiotic Cola reflects the brand’s push to meet evolving consumer preferences for lower sugar and added functional benefits. Protein-packed beverages are also on the horizon
PepsiCo is the latest brand to give soda a gut-friendly upgrade.
The food and beverage giant is set to launch Pepsi Prebiotic Cola this fall, a lower-sugar soda with 30 calories, 5 grams of cane sugar, 3 grams of prebiotic fiber and no artificial sweeteners. It will debut in two flavors: Original Cola and Cherry Vanilla.
The new soda will be available online this fall in 12-ounce single cans and eight-packs, with a retail rollout expected by early 2026.
“From the iconic blue can to the consumer-preferred Pepsi Zero Sugar, our portfolio has always adapted to the needs and flavor preferences of the consumer,” said PepsiCo Beverages U.S. CEO Ram Krishnan. “Pepsi Prebiotic Cola represents the next leap forward in giving consumers choice, optionality and functional ingredients in their cola experience, without sacrificing the iconic Pepsi taste we’re known for delivering. We can’t wait for the world to try the taste of Pepsi Prebiotic Cola for themselves.”
The move follows PepsiCo’s $1.95 billion acquisition of Poppi, a prebiotic soda brand, earlier this year.
PepsiCo isn’t the only brand tapping into the trend. Across the board, the functional soda market is bubbling over. Coca-Cola has rolled out Simply Pop, a fruit-forward beverage line that reimagines the Simply Orange Juice brand with added vitamin C, zinc and up to 30% real fruit juice.
Bloom Nutrition is also entering the space with Bloom Pop, a prebiotic soda in flavors like Shirley Temple and Raspberry Lemon, which are set to hit Walmart and other major retailers by Labor Day. Meanwhile, Olipop continues to gain traction with its low-sugar, fiber-rich sodas, and has secured a $50 million investment from J.P. Morgan’s Growth Equity Partners, bringing its valuation to $1.85 billion.
Beyond its better-for-you soda push, PepsiCo is eyeing the growing demand for protein, executives confirmed on the company’s most recent earnings call. CEO Ramon Laguarta noted that the “big push to protein” will center on beverages, with new product launches expected in the fourth quarter and early 2026.
“We will be participating in the liquid protein space with, I think, superior propositions that have no artificials, that are great tasting, and that I think will give us the return on what is clearly a consumer trend that is scaling up in the U.S. and it’s part of the repertoire of our consumers,” he said.