iStockphoto / simonapilolla
The prebiotic soda brand Poppi has found itself in embroiled in Soda Wars with rival Olipop after the company’s decision to send $25K Poppi vending machines to 32 influencers has backfired. This all comes amid Poppi shelling out a fortune for a Super Bowl LIX commercial and Olipop appears to be reaping all of the benefits.
There are videos below explaining the Poppi vending machines drama and how rival Olipop has been cleaning up. Basically, prior to running a Super Bowl LIX commercial Poppi wanted to increase its brand footprint so they sent thirty-two influencers Poppi-branded vending machines. Those influencers posted videos of it across TikTok and Instagram and those videos were seen millions of times prior to the Super Bowl.
Some people liked the videos and thought it was a cute stunt. But a LOT MORE folks took the stance of ‘why did you just waste $800,000 sending 32 people gifts when you could’ve put these vending machines on college campuses, in high-trafficked areas, anywhere, or done anything constructive at all with that money other than spend it on influencers?’
It was Poppi soda‘s rival Olipop who swooped into comments of people complaining about the brand stunt to tell people ‘these machines cost $25K’ and from there, Olipop started commenting/replying on more posts and ended up gaining A TON of brand exposure in the process. Here are two videos explaining the Poppi vending machines debacle from start to finish:
The great soda controversy of 2025
Poppi sent influencers $25k/machines to boost coverage for upcoming superbowl ad.
Some love it, many hate it and warring rival olipop retaliates.
A breakdown: pic.twitter.com/I5UvANYK4m
— Ashwinn (@Shwinnabego) February 9, 2025
On Instagram, some people are claiming that Poppi is deleting any and all negative comments from their posts. One person commented yesterday, saying “Love how you’re deleting all the negative posts… you should be proud of that 🙄.” And at least one person claiming to be a teacher wrote that the teachers at their school would really love one of the $25K Poppi vending machines sent out to influencers…
The drama was picked up on Reddit where one influencer was specifically called out. OP questions how brands can’t see this as “genuinely destroying the environment” to build a massive branded machined, 32 times over, and spend a fortune to ship those to influencers.
I’m not typically in the business of highlighting anytime a brand takes a massive L but my wife recently got me hooked on Olipop sodas. I’ve been a soda/carbonated water hater for years but with my newfound appreciation for Olipop, watching them take on their competitor this way who is getting DRAGGED on TikTok for this influencer strategy misfire, I felt like I had to share the story with you all.
Ultimately, a brand spending $800K on a stunt is just a drop in a bucket of water for many major corporations. Nobody should be shocked that the brand sent 32 people $25K Poppi vending machines. However, those who have come up with constructive ways Poppi could have used that money might be making some pretty valid points.
If the mission is “to revolutionize soda, one can at a time” which Poppi’s website states it is, why not find schools with unhealthy soda vending machines and swap them for Poppi? Or the same with other areas that may not have access to healthy alternatives? A lot of this boils down to: if you are serious about creating a world with healthier soda then spend the money in constructive ways to do that, not as gifts to influencers.