GORGIE launches Rocket Pop Protein, blending nostalgia with energy and protein

GORGIE is betting that protein sells better when it tastes like summer. The wellness-minded energy brand launched Rocket Pop Protein on June 17, pairing its modern energy formula with a nostalgic, candy-colored flavor built to feel more like a treat than a supplement.

On GORGIE’s product page, Rocket Pop Protein is described as a sparkling protein sip inspired by the classic red, white and blue popsicle, with cherry, citrus and berry notes. The label matters as much as the flavor: each drink lists 8g protein, 150mg caffeine and 0g sugar, a combination that pushes protein out of the gym aisle and into the same everyday beverage moment as energy drinks and flavored sparkling water.

The launch fits a bigger shift in how beverage brands talk about function. Beverage Industry has said sports and protein drinks are moving beyond athletes into broader wellness occasions, while Mintel has tracked energy drinks becoming routine for Gen Z and Millennials, with higher expectations around health, ingredient quality and functional benefits. Prepared Foods has also pointed to nostalgia, bold flavors and unconventional protein formats as defining beverage trends for 2025 and 2026. GORGIE’s answer is to make protein feel social and seasonal rather than clinical.

That strategy has been building for months. Founded by Michelle Cordeiro Grant in 2022, GORGIE launched its first line of sparkling energy drinks in 2023 and said in April 2025 that it had raised $24.5 million in Series A funding, for $37 million total since launch. The company also said it had expanded to more than 1,900 Target stores, after earlier reporting that it was in 863 Target locations nationwide. By January 2026, GORGIE had already introduced its first-ever Protein Energy Drink in two limited-edition flavors, setting up Rocket Pop as part of a broader protein push rather than a one-off summer flavor.

The brand has also leaned hard into community and lifestyle signaling. Alix Earle became a strategic investor in December 2025, and Jon Bon Jovi joined as an investor and strategic partner in May 2026. GORGIE’s Protein 12-pack is listed at $39.99, underscoring that this is a premium play aimed at shoppers who want energy, protein and a sense of identity in the same can. Rocket Pop Protein shows how fast the category is moving: the winning formula may no longer be just better macros, but better mood, better taste and a story that feels fun enough to share.