Living Things
Living Things is a UK-based consumer brand (Functional Soda Co Limited) producing low-sugar, lightly sparkling prebiotic sodas built on chicory root inulin and lactic acid bacillus, sold DTC online and via Tesco, Waitrose, Boots and other retailers in 14 countries.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded2023
- HeadquartersLondon, United Kingdom
- Headcount1–10
- GTM typeB2C
- OfferingHardware or Manufacturing
What Living Things does
Living Things (legally Functional Soda Co Limited) is a UK-based consumer brand founded in 2023 by Jonathan Relph and Ben Vear, with James Watt (former CEO of BrewDog) as co-founder. The company produces a range of lightly sparkling, low-sugar soft drinks built around a 2.4% chicory root inulin prebiotic base and lactic acid bacillus probiotic culture, sweetened naturally with fruit juices and free of artificial sweeteners. Core SKUs span six flavours (Cherry & Lime, Rhubarb & Apple, Watermelon & Lime, Peach & Blood Orange, Raspberry & Pomegranate, Lemon & Ginger) sold in 12x330ml packs at £23.99, alongside a Mixed Case variety box.
The business operates a hybrid go-to-market: direct-to-consumer e-commerce through a Shopify storefront at drinklivingthings.com, offering one-time purchase and a Subscribe & Save option at a 10% discount on monthly or bi-weekly cadence, combined with wholesale distribution to UK retailers (Tesco, Waitrose, Boots, Amazon, Wholefoods, TK Maxx) and progressive European expansion across 14 countries. Pricing is positioned at mainstream premium-soft-drink rather than ultra-premium craft tiers, targeting health-affluent millennials and Gen Z consumers seeking functional, better-for-you soda alternatives.
The company is venture-backed: a £500,000 pre-seed round was closed in June 2024 (co-invested by James Watt), and a subsequent round in March 2026 was led by The Source Ventures, the venture arm of Belgian beverage group Spadel, alongside former Coca-Cola executive Kris Robbens and Fulfil Nutrition founder Barry Connolly. Capital is being deployed against a stated medium-term ambition to become a €100m+ brand in the European soda market. Distributed points of sale have scaled to approximately 25,000 across the UK and Europe as of early 2026, up from 300+ at the 2024 launch.
Living Things firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- Living Things
- Legal name
- Functional Soda Co Limited
- Website
- https://drinklivingthings.com
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 2023
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 1–10 employees
- Short description
- Living Things is a UK-based consumer brand (Functional Soda Co Limited) producing low-sugar, lightly sparkling prebiotic sodas built on chicory root inulin and lactic acid bacillus, sold DTC online and via Tesco, Waitrose, Boots and other retailers in 14 countries.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
Living Things industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Functional Beverages
- NAICS
- Soft Drink Manufacturing (312111)
- SIC
- Bottled & Canned Soft Drinks & Carbonated Waters (2086), Beverages (2080)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Probiotic/Prebiotic Functional Beverage Production (Non-Fermented) (AFAFAFAE)
- akta.pro secondary industries
- Prebiotics & Dietary Fibers (Inulin, FOS/GOS, Resistant Starch, Beta-Glucan, Psyllium) (AFAJAKAF), Probiotics (Strains, Spore-Formers, Synbiotic Components) (AFAJAKAE), Probiotic, Prebiotic & Gut-Health Foods Manufacturing (Fermented Functional Foods, Synbiotics) (AFAKAJAH)
Keywords
Where Living Things is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- London
- HQ country
- United Kingdom
- HQ region
- Europe
Offices1 record
Markets served
Living Things business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2C
- Offering type
- Hardware or Manufacturing
- Cost components
- Supply Chain, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Personnel, Technology or R&D
Revenue model
- Direct-to-Consumer E-commerce: Living Things sells its prebiotic soda 12-packs directly to consumers through its Shopify-powered e-commerce site (drinklivingthings.com), offering one-time purchases and subscription options (10% discount on Subscribe & Save). Revenue is generated on a per-transaction basis with recurring subscription mechanics.
- Retail Distribution: Living Things generates revenue through wholesale distribution to major UK retailers including Tesco, Waitrose, Boots, Amazon, and Wholefoods, as well as TK Maxx. Products are sold as stocked SKUs across approximately 25,000 retail points, with distribution spanning 14 countries including Ireland, Netherlands, Switzerland, and Czech Republic.
- Wholesale / B2B: Living Things has a wholesale page on its website (drinklivingthings.com/pages/wholesale) indicating it sells to other retailers and businesses in bulk.
Pricing tiers
| Model | Billing | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Unit Pricing | Pay-as-you-go | 12x330ml cans — one-time purchase at £23.99 |
| Subscription | Monthly | 12x330ml cans — subscription at £21.59 (10% off) |
| Unit Pricing | Pay-as-you-go | TK Maxx x3 Can Soda Bundle — free with discount code |
| Unit Pricing | Pay-as-you-go | Mixed Case (Variety Box) — 12 cans at £23.99 |
Go-to-market motion2 records
Distribution channels8 records
Marketing channels6 records
Living Things product offering
Product offeringCore offering
Living Things produces and sells lightly sparkling prebiotic sodas that are low in sugar, high in fiber, and contain probiotic lactic acid bacillus. Each 330ml can delivers chicory root inulin (2.4%) as a prebiotic fibre source combined with natural fruit juice sweetening and zero artificial sweeteners. Products are sold as 12-packs in six flavor variants via direct-to-consumer e-commerce with subscription, and through major UK and European grocery and health retailers.
Product overview
Living Things is a UK-based gut-health soda brand (trading as Functional Soda Co Limited) offering a range of lightly sparkling prebiotic sodas. The product portfolio consists of six core flavor variants (Cherry & Lime, Rhubarb & Apple, Watermelon & Lime, Lemon & Ginger, Peach & Blood Orange, Raspberry & Pomegranate), a Mixed Case variety box for trying multiple flavors, and a promotional TK Maxx bundle. All products share a common formulation approach: low sugar, high fiber through chicory root inulin (2.4%), added lactic acid bacillus for gut-health benefits, and natural flavors with no artificial sweeteners. Products are sold as 12-packs (330ml cans) and are available for direct-to-consumer purchase via subscription or one-time buy, with wholesale distribution through major UK retailers.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Products and services
- Cherry & Lime Living Things Soda Lightly sparkling prebiotic soda with cherry and lime flavours, containing carbonated water, 8.4% white grape juice, chicory root inulin (2.4%), and lactic acid bacillus. Low sugar (2.0g per 100ml), high fibre (2.0g per 100ml), 16 kcal per 330ml can, with no artificial sweeteners. Sold as a 12-pack to individual consumers via the Living Things e-commerce store and retail partners.
- Rhubarb & Apple Living Things Soda Lightly sparkling prebiotic soda with rhubarb and apple flavours, containing chicory root inulin (2.4%), 9.7% fruit juices, and lactic acid bacillus. Approximately 13–15 kcal per serving with 2.2g fibre per 100ml. Sold as a 12-pack to individual consumers.
- Watermelon & Lime Living Things Soda Lightly sparkling prebiotic soda with watermelon and lime flavours, containing chicory root inulin (2.4%), 8.6% white grape juice, natural watermelon flavouring, lime extract, and lactic acid bacillus. 14 kcal per 100ml with 2.0g fibre. Sold as a 12-pack to individual consumers.
- Lemon & Ginger Living Things Soda Lightly sparkling prebiotic soda with lemon and ginger flavours, containing 9.8% white grape juice, chicory root inulin (2.4%), ginger root extract, antioxidant ascorbic acid, and lactic acid bacillus. 15 kcal per serving. Sold as a 12-pack to individual consumers.
- Peach & Blood Orange Living Things Soda Lightly sparkling prebiotic soda with peach and blood orange flavours, containing chicory root inulin (2.4%), 13.6% peach juice, blood orange extract, and lactic acid bacillus. 13 kcal per serving with 1.6g carbohydrates. Sold as a 12-pack to individual consumers.
- Raspberry & Pomegranate Living Things Soda Lightly sparkling prebiotic soda with raspberry and pomegranate flavours, containing chicory root inulin (2.4%), 8.6% white grape juice, black carrot concentrate, and lactic acid bacillus. 13 kcal per serving. Sold as a 12-pack to individual consumers.
- Mixed Case (Variety Box) Living Things Soda Pre-selected assortment containing 3 cans each of Raspberry & Pomegranate, Peach & Blood Orange, Lemon & Ginger, and Watermelon & Lime, priced at £23.99 per 12-pack. Allows consumers to try the full Living Things core flavour range in a single purchase.
- TK Maxx x3 Can Soda Bundle Promotional 3-can bundle of Living Things Watermelon & Lime soda, worth £8, offered free exclusively to TK Maxx customers using a unique discount code distributed by TK Maxx.
Quantifiable outcome
- 25,000+ retail distribution points across UK and Europe (March 2026)
- +3 more outcomes
Companies that use Living Things
Customer profileNamed customers6 records
Segments2 records
Ideal customer profiles2 records
Living Things technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed No
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Feature3 records
Living Things partnerships and signals
Strategic signalScale indicators7 records
Recent moves6 records
Expansion highlights6 records
Living Things competitors and assessment
Company assessmentDirect peers
- Olipop: Olipop is the leading US prebiotic soda brand, combining inulin and other botanical ingredients with low sugar in sparkling formats. It is the most directly comparable business model and category peer to Living Things, though at significantly larger scale.
- Poppi: Poppi is a US prebiotic soda brand featuring apple cider vinegar and low sugar, recently scaled via national retail and aggressive marketing. Directly comparable to Living Things on product category, target consumer (health-conscious millennials/Gen Z), and D2C-plus-retail go-to-market.
- Hip Pop: Hip Pop is a UK-based functional sparkling soda brand offering low-sugar drinks with added functional ingredients. It is a direct UK peer competing for the same Tesco/Waitrose shelf space and same health-conscious UK consumer as Living Things.
- Culture Pop: Culture Pop is a US prebiotic soda brand combining probiotics and fruit juice in sparkling format. Comparable to Living Things on the gut-health positioning and lightly sparkling, fruit-juice-sweetened profile.
- Remedy Drinks: Remedy Drinks is an Australian-origin functional beverage brand (kombucha and functional sodas) with strong UK/European retail presence. Comparable to Living Things as a UK-available gut-health functional drink targeting mainstream retail.
- Equinox Kombucha: Equinox is a UK-based organic kombucha and functional drinks brand sold through UK grocers. Comparable to Living Things as a UK gut-health beverage peer, though it operates in the fermented kombucha segment rather than sparkling soda.
Broad incumbents
- BrewDog: BrewDog is the craft beer brand previously led by Living Things co-founder James Watt. Relevant as a scaling and brand-building precedent rather than a product peer — Living Things explicitly leverages Watt's track record of building a disruptive UK beverage brand.
- Fever-Tree: Fever-Tree is the UK-listed premium mixer brand that redefined its category with a premium positioning strategy. Relevant as a UK beverage brand that has scaled a premium-priced, mainstream-distributed functional/sparkling beverage format, similar to Living Things' positioning.
- Spadel: Spadel is the Belgian mineral water group (SPA, Bru brands) whose VC arm The Source Ventures invested in Living Things. Relevant as a strategic investor/incumbent European beverage player whose distribution muscle could accelerate Living Things' rollout.
- Britvic: Britvic is the major UK-listed soft drinks manufacturer (PepsiCo licensee, Robinsons, J2O). Comparable as the broader UK soft drinks incumbent against whom Living Things competes for shelf space in Tesco, Waitrose, and Boots.
Market position
Strengths4 records
Weaknesses4 records
Competitive moat3 records
Key risks6 records
Key highlights7 records
Customer concentration
Living Things social profiles
Digital presenceLiving Things financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
Living Things leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles3 records
Living Things funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds2 records
Investors1 record
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Living Things M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A
Investments
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about Living Things
What does Living Things do?
Living Things produces and sells lightly sparkling prebiotic sodas that are low in sugar, high in fiber, and contain probiotic lactic acid bacillus. Each 330ml can delivers chicory root inulin (2.4%) as a prebiotic fibre source combined with natural fruit juice sweetening and zero artificial sweeteners. Products are sold as 12-packs in six flavor variants via direct-to-consumer e-commerce with subscription, and through major UK and European grocery and health retailers.
Is Living Things a public or private company?
Living Things is a private company. It is classified as venture growth investor backed and is currently operating.
When was Living Things founded?
Living Things was founded in 2023. It employs 1 to 10 people.
Where is Living Things based?
Living Things is headquartered in London, United Kingdom, in the Europe region.
How does Living Things make money?
Three revenue lines are on record. Direct-to-Consumer E-commerce is the primary driver. The others are retail Distribution and wholesale / B2B.
Who are Living Things's main competitors?
Direct peers on record are Olipop, Poppi, Hip Pop, Culture Pop, Remedy Drinks and Equinox Kombucha. Broad incumbents are BrewDog, Fever-Tree, Spadel and Britvic.
Does Living Things have an API?
No public API is recorded for Living Things.
What industry is Living Things in?
Living Things's product category is Functional Beverages. Its primary akta.pro industry code is AFAFAFAE, Probiotic/Prebiotic Functional Beverage Production (Non-Fermented), with a secondary code of AFAJAKAF, Prebiotics & Dietary Fibers (Inulin, FOS/GOS, Resistant Starch, Beta-Glucan, Psyllium). Its NAICS code is 312111 and its SIC code is 2086.