Poppi began as Mother Beverage, a drink Allison and Stephen Ellsworth sold at Dallas farmers’ markets. After their 2018 Shark Tank appearance and an investment from Rohan Oza, the company expanded and rebranded. PepsiCo announced its acquisition in March 2025 and completed it on May 19. The often-quoted $1.95 billion deal value included anticipated tax benefits; PepsiCo’s announcement called $1.65 billion the net purchase price.
How a farmers’ market drink became Poppi
From kitchen experiments to Mother Beverage
Allison Ellsworth began experimenting with the drink in her kitchen in 2015, according to PepsiCo’s July 2025 retrospective and contemporaneous reporting by the Associated Press. She and her husband, Stephen, sold the early product as Mother Beverage at Dallas farmers’ markets. PepsiCo’s account of Poppi’s early history
The 2018 Shark Tank appearance and rebrand
The couple appeared on Shark Tank in 2018, where PepsiCo says Rohan Oza invested. The company later expanded its operations and distribution and adopted the Poppi name. PepsiCo’s retrospective says the signature cans reached store shelves by 2020.
PepsiCo also credits Allison Ellsworth’s TikTok storytelling and the brand’s widening retail footprint as parts of Poppi’s visibility story. Those are company-reported milestones, not a measured breakdown of what caused the business to grow. The available sources do not establish the original investment’s exact amount, equity percentage or valuation.
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#1 Best Overall
- ULTIMATE FLAVOR VARIETY: Includes twelve 12 fl oz cans featuring 2x Cherry Limeade, 2x Raspberry Rose, 2x Watermelon, 2x Strawberry Lemon, 2x Ginger Lime, 2x Orange. A major flavor experience that makes an easy addition to your daily beverage cart.
- SAMPLER RESTOCK: The ultimate variety pack size for discovering favorites, quick pantry replenishment, and setting up a seamless recurring delivery.
- ICONIC SODA VIBES: Delivers obsession-worthy taste and all the classic soda feels you crave, making it a staple for your weekly grocery list.
- PREBIOTIC FORMULA: Expertly formulated with prebiotics derived from agave inulin and cassava root fiber.
- 5G SUGAR & 35 CALORIES: Features 5 grams of sugar and 35 calories or less per can, making it easy to compare against traditional soda assortments. A refreshing beverage assortment that doubles as the ultimate drink mixer, perfect for casual hosting or satisfying everyday cravings without overthinking it.
What Poppi sold—and what “prebiotic” does and does not establish
PepsiCo described Poppi as a low-calorie soda made with prebiotics, fruit juice and apple cider vinegar, with no more than five grams of sugar per serving. In its July 2025 retrospective, PepsiCo described a 15-flavor lineup and said each flavor had five grams of sugar, with prebiotics from organic agave inulin and cassava root fiber. These are company descriptions tied to their respective dates; the acquisition announcement listed 14 flavors in March 2025.
“Prebiotic” describes the product’s positioning and ingredients; it is not, by itself, proof that drinking the soda produces a clinical gut-health benefit. In a March 2025 report, the Associated Press described consumer claims alleging Poppi’s products did not improve gut health as suggested by marketing. AP reported that Poppi denied the allegations and said it had removed “gut health” references from packaging in late 2023. The report described a proposed $8.9 million settlement fund and a scheduled hearing, but it does not establish the case’s current disposition. Associated Press report on the claims and proposed settlement
Rank #2
- ULTIMATE FLAVOR VARIETY: Includes twelve 12 fl oz cans featuring 2x Lemon Lime, 2x Grape, 2x Orange Cream, 2x Cherry Cola, 2x Wild Berry, 2x Doc Pop. A major flavor experience that makes an easy addition to your daily beverage cart.
- SAMPLER RESTOCK: The ultimate variety pack size for discovering favorites, quick pantry replenishment, and setting up a seamless recurring delivery.
- ICONIC SODA VIBES: Delivers obsession-worthy taste and all the classic soda feels you crave, making it a staple for your weekly grocery list.
- PREBIOTIC FORMULA: Expertly formulated with prebiotics derived from agave inulin and cassava root fiber.
- 5G SUGAR & 35 CALORIES: Features 5 grams of sugar and 35 calories or less per can, making it easy to compare against traditional soda assortments. A refreshing beverage assortment that doubles as the ultimate drink mixer, perfect for casual hosting or satisfying everyday cravings without overthinking it.
Why PepsiCo acquired Poppi
In announcing the acquisition, PepsiCo presented Poppi as a fast-growing functional soda with a loyal fan base and said the brand fit consumers’ interest in convenient, great-tasting options and wellness. That is the buyer’s stated strategic rationale, not an independent assessment of Poppi’s growth or consumer demand.
In July 2025, PepsiCo said it expected to bring its distribution, product-development, procurement and revenue-management capabilities to Poppi, with away-from-home expansion an immediate focus. These were stated plans; the announcement does not demonstrate post-acquisition results.
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- ULTIMATE FLAVOR VARIETY: Includes twelve 12 fl oz cans featuring 2x Shirley Temple, 2x Root Beer, 2x Orange Cream, 2x Lemon Lime, 2x Cream Soda, and 2x Cherry Cola. A major flavor experience that makes an easy addition to your daily beverage cart.
- SAMPLER RESTOCK: The ultimate variety pack size for discovering favorites, quick pantry replenishment, and setting up a seamless recurring delivery.
- ICONIC SODA VIBES: Delivers obsession-worthy taste and all the classic soda feels you crave, making it a staple for your weekly grocery list.
- PREBIOTIC FORMULA: Expertly formulated with prebiotics derived from agave inulin and cassava root fiber.
- 5G SUGAR & 35 CALORIES: Features 5 grams of sugar and 35 calories or less per can, making it easy to compare against traditional soda assortments. A refreshing beverage assortment that doubles as the ultimate drink mixer, perfect for casual hosting or satisfying everyday cravings without overthinking it.
Did PepsiCo pay $1.95 billion or $1.65 billion?
Both figures appear in PepsiCo’s March 17, 2025 announcement, but they describe different measures. The $1.95 billion headline transaction value included $300 million of anticipated cash tax benefits. PepsiCo described $1.65 billion as the net purchase price. The announcement also disclosed potential milestone-based earnout consideration and said additional terms were not disclosed. PepsiCo’s March 17, 2025 acquisition announcement
The acquisition closed on May 19, 2025. In a subsequent SEC filing for the quarter ended June 14, PepsiCo recorded $1.95 billion in cash consideration and $0.2 billion in contingent consideration at its fair value on the acquisition date. The filing also noted purchase-price adjustments and the possibility of additional conditional payments. This post-close accounting presentation is not interchangeable with the announcement’s net-price figure: the announcement and filing use different transaction framings. PepsiCo’s SEC filing for the quarter ended June 14, 2025
Rank #4
- MOUTHWATERING FLAVOR: Includes twelve 12 fl oz cans of Raspberry Rose. A major flavor experience that makes an easy addition to your daily beverage cart.
- FRIDGE RESTOCK: The perfect 12-pack size for quick pantry replenishment and setting up a seamless recurring delivery.
- ICONIC SODA VIBES: Delivers obsession-worthy taste and all the classic soda feels you crave, making it a staple for your weekly grocery list.
- PREBIOTIC FORMULA: Expertly formulated with prebiotics derived from agave inulin and cassava root fiber.
- 5G SUGAR & 35 CALORIES: Features 5 grams of sugar and 35 calories or less per can, making it easy to compare against any traditional soda. A refreshing beverage that doubles as the ultimate drink mixer, perfect for casual hosting or satisfying everyday cravings without overthinking it
| Measure | Figure | What it means |
|---|---|---|
| Announcement framing, March 17, 2025 | $1.95 billion transaction value, including $300 million of anticipated cash tax benefits; $1.65 billion stated net purchase price | PepsiCo’s figures in its acquisition announcement; potential milestone-based earnout consideration was also disclosed. |
| Post-close SEC accounting, 2025 | $1.95 billion cash consideration plus $0.2 billion contingent consideration at acquisition-date fair value | PepsiCo’s SEC filing also noted purchase-price adjustments and possible additional conditional payments. |
What the public figures don’t tell you
The public materials cited here do not provide an adequate audited, year-by-year revenue history for Poppi. They also do not establish the original Shark Tank investment terms or calculate any individual investor’s proceeds. The headline acquisition value alone therefore cannot show Poppi’s revenue trajectory, the founders’ proceeds or Oza’s return.
Quick Recap
Best Value
- MOUTHWATERING FLAVOR: Includes twelve 12 fl oz cans of Strawberry Lemon. A major flavor experience that makes an easy addition to your daily beverage cart.
- FRIDGE RESTOCK: The perfect 12-pack size for quick pantry replenishment and setting up a seamless recurring delivery.
- ICONIC SODA VIBES: Delivers obsession-worthy taste and all the classic soda feels you crave, making it a staple for your weekly grocery list.
- PREBIOTIC FORMULA: Expertly formulated with prebiotics derived from agave inulin and cassava root fiber.
- 5G SUGAR & 35 CALORIES: Features 5 grams of sugar and 35 calories or less per can, making it easy to compare against any traditional soda. A refreshing beverage that doubles as the ultimate drink mixer, perfect for casual hosting or satisfying everyday cravings without overthinking it
Product prices and availability are accurate as of the date/time indicated and are subject to change. Any price and availability information displayed on Amazon at the time of purchase will apply.
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