Startup CPG Newswire: The Brand That Pioneered Protein Soda Evolves into SkyPop™ and Launches Nationwide

Startup CPG Newswire:
The Brand That Pioneered Protein Soda Evolves into SkyPop™ and Launches Nationwide

PRESS RELEASE — NEWS PROVIDED BY Dave Cohen for SkyPop Protein Soda

LOS ANGELES, CA (FEBRUARY 2026) — DON’T QUIT®, the better-for-you beverage company that created the Protein Soda category, has rebranded as SkyPop™. Following strong early results with its first-to-market Protein Soda across Albertsons banners and Walmart stores, leading national retailers are embracing the innovation and featuring SkyPop™ within their modern soda sets.

Now supported by more than 65,000 retail facings, SkyPop™ represents the next evolution of protein beverages—approachable, flavorful, and built for everyday life. Each can delivers 10g of real whey protein, zero sugar, and just 45 calories, combining vibrant flavor with real, easy-to-understand benefits designed to be enjoyed anytime, anywhere.

SkyPop™ is launching nationwide at Target, Walmart, Kroger, Albertsons, Safeway, CVS, Gopuff, and more—marking one of the fastest national expansions in modern soda. As the first brand to bring protein into the modern soda set at scale, SkyPop™ broadens the category beyond gut-health-led offerings, introducing a tangible functional benefit consumers can easily incorporate into daily routines.

The brand’s flavor lineup spans nostalgic soda classics like Root Beer, Grape, and Orange, alongside modern favorites including Ice Pop, Strawberry Cotton Candy, Fruit Punch, and Peaches & Cream.

SkyPop™ is backed by a blue-chip investor group spanning CPG, sports, media, and entertainment, including Keurig Dr Pepper, Madison Square Garden, Taste Tomorrow Ventures, L Catterton, iHeart Media, LA Libations, and Solyco Capital. That support extends to elite professional athletes such as Russell Westbrook, Saquon Barkley, Damar Hamlin, and Lavonte David.

The launch coincides with major shifts in consumer behavior, as demand for protein accelerates and modern soda brands see renewed growth. SkyPop™ sits at the intersection of these trends, blending performance nutrition with flavor-forward refreshment.

“Modern soda is entering its next era, and protein is at the center of that evolution,” said Mark French, Co-Founder and CEO of SkyPop™. “Expanding nationwide with world-class retail partners validates our product-market fit and our decision to evolve into SkyPop.”

About SkyPop™

As a Keurig Dr Pepper portfolio brand, SkyPop™ Protein Soda is a next-generation soda where fun, flavor, and real benefits come together. Originally launched as Don’t Quit®, the company pioneered the Protein Soda category, generating strong early retail results and demand from leading national retailers. Building on that momentum, the brand evolved into SkyPop™ to support broader scale and everyday occasions. SkyPop™ delivers bold flavor with real protein benefits and is now rolling out nationwide at Walmart, Target, Kroger, Albertsons Companies, Safeway, CVS, and Gopuff, with a focus on expanding distribution and accelerating velocity.

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