Hey Pies -
Fresh off a pollen-filled flurry of spring strategy sessions and global food summits, we’re feeling grounded, and more deeply tracking by the bold political winds slapping our faces and pockets - daily.
This week’s Pie dives into the customer sentiment and desire for long-running unicorns following continued chatter post Poppi acquisition. We are diving into the 2,256% explosion in prebiotic soda sales, how global nutrition is getting done without the usual players, and what Journey Foods is building next with AI, sustainability, and supplier strategy. We also spotlight NCAA champ Paige Bueckers and the cultural resonance of food rituals, from courtside to cafeteria.
I started the week telling a group of students at Georgia Tech that Trump is going to TikTok announce a 90-day Tariff ban, and confirmation broke at a couple of hours ago on global media. He just announced, "a 90 day PAUSE, and a substantially lowered Reciprocal Tariff during this period, of 10%..." While US and Asian stock markets have had some of their best individual days in a while, damage is already done to our supply chains and manufacturing morale across the world. Winners will be crafted this summer. My advice: prepare to grind the seeds.
Feature: The Death of 🦄.
As Q2 begins and the season shifts, one thing’s clear: we’re entering a new era where local leadership, smarter systems, and deep belly laughs drive global progress. There's rising demand for near-shore businesses, and insights from a new Journey Foods partnership conversation. Read more below:
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People are still more disappointed than wowed by Poppi’s billion-dollar acquisition, but it marks a major shift. Prebiotic sodas have surged from $33M in 2022 to $777M in 2025—a 2,256% jump—as consumers look for gut-friendly, low-sugar options that blend wellness with flavor.
This isn’t a fad—it’s a rebrand of soda for the health-conscious era. Brands like Olipop and Culture Pop are winning with nostalgic, functional appeal. At Journey Foods, the data confirms it: better-for-you products will lead the next wave—if they balance health, price, and real storytelling.
PepsiCo’s $1.95 billion acquisition of Poppi may be making headlines, but for many in the industry, it feels more like déjà vu than disruption. People still haven’t moved past the acquisitions of Siete, Simple Mills, and other beloved better-for-you brands—and this trend isn’t slowing down. Yes, these deals help the acquirers gain strategic footing in high-growth categories. But for the brands? The outcome is often dilution, not evolution.
No longer do we have the Hersheys and King Arthur Flours of the past—brands built on legacy, family stewardship, and staying power. Today, even the most mission-driven, consumer-adored companies are as shaky as celebrity couples when it comes to longevity. We’re watching this shift closely and building the tools for emerging brands to scale without the founding teams surrendering their soul to earlier returns.
Please, forget hype and hero ingredients... The NEXT big brands will win by navigating global chaos. Tariffs, climate shocks, and supply chain shakeups aren’t side issues anymore.
The smartest companies are building with geopolitics in mind: sourcing locally, planning around policy, and staying agile. That’s the new edge. At Journey Foods, we’re not just tracking it. We’re building for it.
It's been a deep call-to-action for years. North American manufacturing is the way to global balance in the coming years. We’re seeing a real chatter in U.S. manufacturing, driven by demand for domestic and near-shore ingredients amid rising tariffs and supply chain disruptions. We are seeing it in each region, West Africa, South America, Asia and beyond. Truly, the future of manufacturing is continent-based while the future of power and cost-dominance will be dominated by the counties that spend the most money on wars and ports - our two scents.
Our partners' work aligns with Journey Foods’ tools—ingredient listings, AI insights, and supplier matchmaking—which are now essential for brands navigating cost and sourcing challenges. This partnership highlights how local manufacturing is evolving from a nice-to-have to a strategic must, powered by agile, tech-enabled services.
At last month’s Nutrition for Growth (N4G) Summit in Paris, the global community sent a powerful message: nutrition must be funded, even if traditional leaders are absent. With the U.S. and U.K. notably missing in action, multilateral organizations and philanthropic foundations stepped in to deliver over $27 billion in new funding.
Highlights include $6.5 billion from the EU (with a focus on sub-Saharan Africa), $9.5 billion from the African Development Bank, and $5 billion from the World Bank. The summit also marked the launch of the Global Compact for Nutrition Integration, with over 40 countries and major NGOs pledging to embed nutrition into cross-sector planning — a major milestone for food security governance.
On a cultural note, this week also crowned a new NCAA basketball champion. Paige Bueckers not only led her team to victory. Paige cemented her legacybut reminded us that power and joy can coexist in the simple things. Her favorite snack? Goldfish crackers. It’s a small detail, but one that speaks to how even elite athletes balance nostalgia and fuel, function and flavor.
In a moment when the food industry is under scrutiny — from ultra-processed yogurt ingredients to politicized dietary trends — we believe it's more important than ever to anchor in authenticity. Plus, we love a reformulated fish challenge. Not cell-based that is - at least this year.
Upcoming Features...
Allergies?
Get a friend that gives you papaya, prebiotics, manuka honey, nettle and quercetin instead of Zyrtec. Thank us for many years ahead!
For more insights and updates, follow us on social media or visit our website at Journey Foods.
Eat well.
