Rise Wellness, the wholly owned subsidiary of USANA Health Sciences (NYSE: USNA), has launched Protein Pop Balance, a clear, lightly carbonated prebiotic soda delivering 15 grams of protein and 5 grams of fiber per can with zero sugar. The product is available immediately online and on Amazon, with distribution expanding to Target and other major retailers in mid-September 2026.
The Formulation
Each can of Protein Pop Balance contains 10 grams of clear whey protein isolate and 5 grams of collagen, alongside added prebiotics and dietary fiber. The beverage is sweetened with a stevia leaf extract blend (Reb A and Reb M) and contains no artificial sweeteners, no caffeine, and no gluten. It launches in four flavors: Lime Slush, Tropical Pineapple, Watermelon Lime, and Fruit Punch. The clear, sparkling format positions the product explicitly against conventional opaque protein shakes, which have historically dominated the ready-to-drink functional beverage segment.
Expanding the Portfolio
Protein Pop Balance is the third product in the Protein Pop lineup. The original Protein Pop delivers 22 grams of whey protein isolate in a non-carbonated clear format, while Protein Pop Max — rebranded from Protein Pop Plus — offers 30 grams of protein and bovine collagen in a carbonated can. The new Balance SKU slots in as a lighter, gut-health-oriented option, rounding out a tiered portfolio that spans 22 to 30 grams of protein at the higher end and now a 15-gram, fiber-forward entry designed for broader daily consumption occasions.
"Protein Pop Balance is all about giving people a lighter way to stay on track," said Darin Perry, Chief Executive Officer of Rise Wellness. "Balance brings together prebiotics, protein, collagen, and fiber in one can that's easy for consumers to grab and go."
Market Context
The launch lands squarely in one of the fastest-moving lanes in functional beverages. Prebiotic sodas — led by brands such as Poppi and Olipop — have drawn significant retail shelf space and investor attention over the past two years, with category velocity prompting major grocers to expand dedicated gut-health sets. By combining that prebiotic positioning with a meaningful protein payload, Rise Wellness is targeting a consumer who shops both the sports nutrition and digestive-wellness aisles, a crossover segment that has attracted growing activity from legacy supplement brands and emerging better-for-you beverage startups alike.
USANA's portfolio strategy mirrors a broader industry pattern in which established nutritional supplement companies are building or acquiring ready-to-drink beverage platforms to capture incremental shelf space and recurring purchase occasions. USANA also holds a 78.8% controlling stake in Hiya Health Products, focused on children's wellness, giving the parent a diversified consumer health footprint across multiple age demographics and retail channels.
For operators and retail buyers, the mid-September Target rollout is the critical inflection point: distribution at a mass-channel partner of that scale typically signals that a brand has cleared minimum velocity thresholds and secured co-marketing commitments. Whether Protein Pop Balance can sustain turns beyond the introductory period will depend on how clearly it differentiates from both the established prebiotic soda set and the crowded RTD protein category. Analysts tracking functional beverage trends and better-for-you innovation will watch early scanner data closely.
Written by Michael Politz, Author of Guide to Restaurant Success: The Proven Process for Starting Any Restaurant Business From Scratch to Success (ISBN: 978-1-119-66896-1), Founder of Food & Beverage Magazine, the leading online magazine and resource in the industry. Designer of the Bluetooth logo and recognized in Entrepreneur Magazine's "Top 40 Under 40" for founding American Wholesale Floral, Politz is also the Co-founder of the Proof Awards and the CPG Awards and a partner in numerous consumer brands across the food and beverage sector.
