Coca-Cola, PepsiCo target Gen Zers with prebiotic sodas

The news: Coca-Cola and PepsiCo are looking to take the limelight back from upstarts like Olipop and Poppi with their own lines of prebiotic sodas.

• Coca-Cola launched its Simply Pop line, which features five fruity flavors that contain no added sugar, six grams of prebiotic fiber, and 25% to 30% fruit juice from concentrate—the last of which is a category-first, the company claimed in a press release.
• Pepsi’s prebiotic offering is slated to launch in the spring, according to The Wall Street Journal.

Late to the party: Both Coca-Cola and Pepsi have been slow to meet booming demand for “functional” beverages, which purport to deliver benefits ranging from improved gut health to immune support to weight loss. In their absence, brands like Poppi and Olipop are thriving, thanks to their claims of offering a “better-for-you” soda in packaging designed to appeal to younger consumers.