PepsiCo has acquired fast-growing functional soda brand Poppi for £1.5bn ($1.95bn).

The group’s chairman and CEO Ramon Laguarta said the deal comes as “more than ever, consumers are looking for convenient and great-tasting options that fit their lifestyles and respond to their growing interest in health and wellness”.

Poppi combines prebiotics, fruit juice and apple cider vinegar to create low calorie soda with no more than five grams of sugar per serving.

Co-founder Allison Ellsworth, who first created the product in her kitchen, said she was “fuelled by a desire to create a better-for-you soda”.

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Ellsworth added: “We believe Poppi is the soda that will be embraced for generations to come, and we’re beyond grateful to the amazing team, our partners who believed in us from the very beginning and most importantly our incredible community.

“We can’t wait to begin this next chapter with PepsiCo to bring our soda to more people – and I know they will honour what makes Poppi so special while supporting our next phase of growth and innovation.”

The Pepsi Max and Walkers owner has also looked to reorient its portfolio offerings as of late, through innovating its brands in new spaces and through acquisition.

PepsiCo Beverages US CEO Ram Krishnan said that Poppi’s “unique intersection with wellness and culture is a perfect addition to our portfolio”.

“Allison and the Poppi team have built a magnetic brand that’s ahead of the trends, with a loyal consumer base and a demonstrated capacity for growth.

“We are big fans of the Poppi brand movement and believe this incredible brand paired with our commercial capabilities will drive continued growth and innovation for years to come.”

The news follows the launch of other functional drink brands in UK supermarkets, including celebrity actor Gillian Anderson’s soft drink brand G Spot, which made its supermarket debut with the launch of three products in Sainsbury’s last month.

In January, Sainsbury’s also launched its own functional health range, featuring products designed to help customers make healthier choices, including four raw pressed juices in Collagen, Immunity, Daily Greens and Digest, as well as an immunity shot and collagen shot.