Last year, no drink had kids queueing round the block quite like Prime. Bottles flipped into collectibles, trading online like rare sneakers, and the hype machine of KSI and Logan Paul looked unstoppable. Their mission? In their own words: “surpassing some of the biggest beverage companies in the world.” For a while, it seemed like they just might. But has Prime really toppled the giants? To find out, let’s pit it against a heritage heavyweight: Sprite in our Top 100 Coolest Brand poll of 2025.
Sprite has been around since 1961, a Coca-Cola classic that’s survived every soda trend going. Far from being dusty, it’s booming with Gen Alpha and Gen Z alike. Right now, Sprite sits at #37 in the UK and has climbed into the Top 20 in the US. That kind of staying power tells a different story to Prime’s flashy arrival in 2022.
So, what’s Sprite’s secret? Innovation plus cultural fluency. The brand is rolling out bold new flavours like Sprite Chill and even TikTok-inspired collabs like Sprite + Tea (iced tea blended with lemon-lime). According to Beverage Digest, that flavour refresh has helped Sprite leapfrog Pepsi to become the third-largest carbonated soft drink in the U.S. by volume.
And Sprite’s marketing is just as spicy as its drinks. Think smart billboards that activate on hot days to push cold cans, or its global Hurts Real Good campaign with McDonald’s and Takis, tapping Gen Z’s obsession with spice. It’s heritage but never old.
Prime, meanwhile, is doubling down on sports and creator culture. From partnerships with FC Barcelona, Juventus, the LA Dodgers and WWE, to collabs with online influencers, Prime is trying to hold onto its audience. But partnerships alone don’t make a drink kids will actually stick with. And kids can spot when a product doesn’t match the hype.
The result: while Sprite continues climbing, Prime has dropped over 25 places out of the top 100 in both the UK and US. It is proof that hype doesn’t equal heritage or a product that simply delivers on expectations.
Or, as Sawyer, 14, puts it: “Sprite is actually really good in McDonald’s. There’s no caffeine in it and it’s just a simple good soda.”
Because in the end, short-term buzz might sell out a few drops, but it doesn’t build a brand with a discerning audience like Gen Alpha.
If you want to know what’s here to stay, what’s coming and how you can prepare your business, get the Top 100 Coolest Brands 2025 mini report here.
To get the full picture, get in touch with our team. We’d love to hear from you!