Bloom Nutrition – and by extension, Keurig Dr Pepper (KDP) – is entering the red-hot “modern soda” category.
Bloom Pop, a shelf-stable prebiotic soda, will launch at Walmart and major retailers nationwide on Labor Day in five flavors — including Shirley Temple, Raspberry Lemon and Orange — in 12 oz. aluminum cans, with distribution via KDP. All varieties will contain 1 gram of PreticX, a proprietary prebiotic strain that has been clinically shown to increase good bacteria.
Bloom’s entrance marks yet another player in the evolving soda market, which has seen low-sugar, gut-friendly products emerge as major category drivers. Led by Poppi and OLIPOP, BevNET’s Brands of the Year in 2024, the space now includes names like Talking Rain, Culture Pop, Health-Ade (SunSip) and Slice (Suja), as well as Coca-Cola and Pepsi. Walmart has been one of the more active retailers in responding to the trend, creating a “modern soda” section in its stores.
“Bloom has always taken swings in highly saturated areas and we’ve always made products with key distinctions: more accessible, more flavorful and with strong functionality that Bloom has always been known for,” said Greg LaVecchia, co-founder and CEO of Bloom Nutrition. “So first and foremost we are launching in Walmart, where legacy sodas are set to be disrupted.”
Bloom Pop marks the brand’s second venture into ready-to-drink products, following the launch of Bloom Sparkling Energy with Target last year; that line has since expanded to Walmart, where it’s one of the top five bestselling brands in the category.
That experience has helped the company build contacts with manufacturers and with distribution partner KDP, said LaVecchia, who called Bloom Pop “a natural next step in our product mix.” The soda is designed to complement Bloom’s suite of powder-based wellness products, while giving consumers a caffeine-free RTD option that works for any time of day.
“The beautiful thing is that a lot of people responsible for the presence of Bloom Sparkling Energy overlap with those responsible for the presence of Bloom Pop,” he noted. “So we’re able to cover both products in one meeting, have our manufacturers make both products and have distributors place them on the same trucks. Internally, we have a dedicated beverage team who work on both products.”
The launch also reflects how the company has evolved since sports nutrition company Nutrabolt, makers of C4, invested in Bloom Nutrition last year with the goal of accelerating innovation and demand-generation. Nutrabolt drinks are distributed through KDP as part of a $863 million strategic pact signed in 2022; KDP owns a 30% ownership stake in the nutrition brand.
“Our partnership with Bloom is focused on driving beverage innovation and bringing [co-founders Mari Llewellyn and LeVecchia’s] vision to life,” said Doss Cunningham, Nutrabolt’s Chairman and CEO. “Bloom Pop is a prime example of what we can accomplish together and further solidifies Bloom’s leadership in the beverage category.”
Note: This story has been updated from its original version.