Pepsi officially acquires cult-favorite soda brand in massive $1.65 billion deal

PepsiCo announced Monday it has officially acquired Poppi, a healthier soda brand.

The move comes after PepsiCo’s acquisition of both food makers Siete and Sabra, all “aimed at aligning with consumers’ modern wellness priorities,” PepsiCo said in a statement.

The deal had a net price of $1.65 billion, with the acquisition costing $1.95 billion minus $300 million of anticipated cash tax benefits, according to PepsiCo.

“Poppi represents a compelling strategic fit within our short- and long-term vision for the future of beverages,” said Ram Krishnan, CEO of PepsiCo Beverages U.S.

Poppi, a popular fast-growing soda brand made with prebiotics, fruit juice, and apple cider vinegar, was founded by a husband and wife duo, Stephen and Allison Ellswort, based in Austin.

The brand is “on a mission to modernize soda” and made its mark first on Shark Tank, coupled with a strong social media presence with viral TikTok campaigns and influencer partnerships, “all of which have cultivated a loyal community and effectively engaged Gen Z and millennial audiences,” a press release stated.

“PepsiCo’s belief in the poppi brand is a tremendous validation of the work we’ve done to advance our mission,” said Chris Hall, CEO of poppi. “Their partnership and resources will be instrumental as we scale to our next phase of growth. We’re incredibly grateful to our passionate community and look forward to welcoming even more consumers into the Poppi portfolio.”