PepsiCo adds 9 grams of protein to PopCorners snacks

PepsiCo is trying to make protein feel like part of a salty, satisfying snack instead of a separate health product. With PopCorners Protein, the company kept the brand’s popped, never-fried crunch and added 9 grams of protein per one-ounce serving, a move aimed at consumers who want a treat that also helps them hit daily nutrition goals.

The new line comes in Hickory BBQ, Zesty Cheddar and Cinnamon Delight, and PepsiCo said it uses pea protein isolate, rice protein isolate and rice flour. Each serving has 140 calories and no artificial flavors or colors. The snacks will be sold in 5-ounce bags and four-count multipacks, with select retailers and markets getting the first wave at the end of May 2026 before nationwide distribution in July 2026.

That positioning matters because PepsiCo is not treating protein as a niche claim anymore. The company says 86% of Americans are actively trying to add more protein to their diets, and 63% would choose snacks with added protein over standard options. Those numbers help explain why protein has spread far beyond bars and shakes and into chips, crisps and other everyday snack formats. PepsiCo has also been rolling out other protein products, including Propel Clear Protein and Quaker Protein Rice Crisps, signaling that it sees protein as a portfolio-wide growth theme.

The PopCorners move also reflects how the company has been building on its better-for-you snack base since it acquired BFY Brands, the maker of PopCorners, in December 2019. PopCorners says its snacks are made with a patented air-popping technique, and that familiar texture may be just as important as the nutrition panel. In a crowded protein market, consumers already have plenty of labels to choose from. What still separates one launch from another is whether it feels like a real snack first and a functional product second.

For that reason, 9 grams is the key question hanging over PopCorners Protein. It is a meaningful protein bump for a one-ounce snack, but not the kind of number that automatically rewires shopper habits on its own. PepsiCo is betting that taste, familiarity and a mainstream brand will do as much work as the protein claim itself, which is exactly how protein is becoming native to the mass snack aisle.