In February 2025, prebiotic‑soda brand Poppi sent custom vending machines to 32 influencers ahead of its Super Bowl spot. The stunt went viral, but not the way Poppi hoped. Commenters blasted the brand for flaunting $25,000 machines while everyday shoppers struggled with rising grocery costs. The backlash underscored an old truth hiding beneath the noise of “trend‑jacking”:…
