Rise Wellness has added Protein Pop Balance to its ready-to-drink lineup — a lightly carbonated, clear prebiotic soda delivering 15 grams of protein and 5 grams of fiber per can. The product is live now on proteinpop.com and Amazon, with distribution expanding to Target and other major retailers in mid-September.

The SKU launches in four flavors: Lime Slush, Tropical Pineapple, Watermelon Lime, and Fruit Punch. Each can contains 10 grams of clear whey protein isolate and 5 grams of collagen, plus added prebiotics for gut support. The formula contains zero sugar, no artificial sweeteners, no caffeine, and no gluten, sweetened instead with a premium stevia leaf extract blend (Reb A, Reb M).

Portfolio Positioning

Protein Pop Balance completes a three-tier RTD lineup for Rise Wellness, a wholly owned subsidiary of USANA Health Sciences (NYSE: USNA). The original Protein Pop delivers 22 grams of whey protein isolate in a non-carbonated format. Protein Pop Max — formerly Protein Pop Plus — steps up to 30 grams of protein and bovine collagen in a carbonated can. Balance slots in as the lightest and most gut-forward offering, targeting consumers who want functional nutrition without the heaviness of a traditional protein shake.

"Protein Pop Balance is all about giving people a lighter way to stay on track," said Darin Perry, CEO of Rise Wellness. "It's a smart way to support your gut and your protein goals at the same time — without it feeling heavy."

What It Means for Operators

For foodservice and retail buyers, the launch reflects broader momentum in the functional beverage category, where gut health and protein are converging in a single SKU. Clear protein beverages — visually indistinguishable from a flavored sparkling water — have carved out shelf space precisely because they sidestep the texture and opacity that limit traditional protein drinks in grab-and-go cooler sets.

With Target distribution beginning mid-September, the brand is moving quickly into mass retail, a channel where better-for-you RTD beverages have consistently outperformed legacy sports nutrition formats in recent years. Operators sourcing grab-and-go inventory for hotel markets, fitness-adjacent foodservice, and convenience-oriented café formats may find Balance's zero-sugar, soda-like profile easier to merchandise alongside sparkling water and lightly functional soft drinks than a conventional protein shake. The three-SKU Protein Pop family — with protein counts ranging from 15 to 30 grams — also gives buyers tiered options for different daypart and consumer need-state strategies.

Rise Wellness is one of several brands under USANA's portfolio, which also includes Hiya Health Products, focused on children's wellness, and Rise Bars. The Protein Pop expansion signals that USANA is prioritizing functional RTD beverages as a growth vehicle alongside its core nutritional supplements business. For buyers and category managers tracking better-for-you functional drinks, this three-SKU platform approach — differentiated by protein level and functional benefit — is increasingly the template that emerging RTD brands use to capture multiple consumption occasions with a single brand identity.

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.