- As Love Island USA premieres its eighth season this week, prebiotic soda brand Poppi is getting in on the action, crafting a tie-in with breakout character Olandria Carthen.
- In a new campaign, developed in-house, Olandria takes a “Vibe Break” on a beach with a can of Punch Pop. As she takes a sip of the drink, she proclaims, “It’s giving summer.”
- The campaign is part of a larger global partnership between Love Island and the brand, spanning in-show integrations, retail activations and immersive fan experiences in both the U.S. and the United Kingdom.
The tie-in is part of Poppi’s overall strategy to be part of the cultural conversations, said Sophia Sesto, vice president of culture at Poppi. There is a natural overlap between the brand’s target of “highly engaged, social-first” consumers and the show’s audience, who “embody that same energy,” she said.
“This partnership isn’t just about reaching viewers; it’s about showing up where our audience is already gathering, engaging, and creating culture together,” she said. “Whether it’s watch parties with friends, live-posting reactions, or debating your favorite couple, Love Island is inherently social. That’s the same spirit that fuels the poppi brand.”
According to Sesto, Poppi is the show franchise’s first-ever global partner, and the brand is primed to take advantage of its USA and U.K. editions. “As the season unfolds, we’re excited to connect with fans around the world through moments that feel authentic and relevant to each market,” she said.
In 2025, Love Island fan-favorite Rob Rausch appeared during Poppi’s Super Bowl commercial and last year the brand collaborated with cast member Amaya Espinal on a limited-time “Amaya’s Island Colada” flavor. “After the success of those moments, we knew we had an opportunity to go even bigger, Sesto said. “This year, we’re fully integrated into the Love Island experience, making poppi part of both Islander and fan rituals all season long.”
Poppi selected Punch Pop as its promotional flavor due to its overwhelming summer popularity, Sesto said. The strategy behind the campaign is to bring together two fan favorites, she said
“The flavor itself captures everything we wanted this partnership to represent: it’s bold, vibrant, nostalgic, and unmistakably summer,” she said. “At Poppi, we’re always looking for ways to turn product innovation into participation. Punch Pop gave us the perfect canvas to create something fans could discover, talk about, and make part of their own Love Island rituals all season long.”
