PepsiCo launches prebiotic cola and expands clean-label snacks

With functional beverages and permissible snacks gaining traction, PepsiCo’s latest innovations aim to meet evolving consumer expectations — and create fresh opportunities for vending, micro market and OCS operators.

PepsiCo is leaning into health-forward innovation with the launch of Pepsi Prebiotic Cola — its first functional soda in the cola category — and a growing line of better-for-you snacks.
PepsiCo will remove artificial ingredients from Lay’s and Tostitos by the end of the year.
The company will test lines like Doritos Naked and Cheetos Naked to gauge consumers’ appetite for such changes in brands that rely more strongly on product appearance as part of their appeal.
These developments send a strong signal to convenience service operators: health-focused products continue to gain traction.

Functional fizz: Pepsi Prebiotic Cola hits the scene

On the heels of its acquisition of Poppi earlier this year, PepsiCo has launched its first prebiotic cola in the traditional cola category.

Pepsi Prebiotic Cola tastes like Pepsi, the company says, yet contains only 5 g of sugar and has 3 g of prebiotic fiber. Additionally, it does not contain artificial sweeteners, and each serving contains 30 calories.

Launching in Original Cola and Cherry Vanilla flavors, Pepsi Prebiotic Cola will be offered in 12 oz. single cans for trial and 8-packs of 12 oz. cans. The product will debut online this fall and in retail in early 2026.

Healthier snacks now a $2B business and growing

The Pepsi Prebiotic debut comes only a few days after company chairman and CEO Ramon L. Laguarta shared insights into the F&B powerhouse’s beverages and snacking business as part of its second-quarter earnings report on July 17.

Among the insights related to snacking, Laguarta noted during the live webcast:

Snacks are evolving, with healthier and value-driven choices driving gains. The permissible snacks portfolio — which includes healthier options such as Sun Chips, PopCorners, Simply and Siete — has grown to exceed $2 billion and is gaining consumer traction.
Innovations include protein‑enhanced snacks like PopCorners and chips made without artificial colors/flavors, with rollouts planned for Lay’s, Tostitos, Doritos and Cheetos.
North American beverage revenue grew by 1%, largely driven by Pepsi and its Pepsi Zero Sugar and other flavor extensions.
Functional and wellness drinks also performed well, with Propel doubling its retail volume since 2019.

Zero artificials: Lay’s, Tostitos, Doritos and Cheetos to get cleaner recipes

In an interview with CNBC, Laguarta addressed consumers’ desires and how they are changing the company’s products. “We continue the journey, and we follow the consumer,” Laguarta said, noting that 60% of the company’s products in the U.S. already do not contain artificial colors. Further brands will follow, as he said, “Lay’s and Tostitos, two of our largest brands in the U.S. will move to zero artificials by the end of the year.”

“Different platforms in brands that we have, we’re less sure how the consumer would react if we eliminate the colors, and those are Doritos and Cheetos, where we know that our colors are relevant for the taste experience, the taste perception,” Laguarta continued. “So, we will launch sub-segments. In this case Doritos Naked and Cheetos Naked — a line of no artificials and no colors — we will see how consumers react.”