A few weeks ago, TikTok proved it could make the world crave a Dr Pepper.
Dr Pepper let the moment sit. They watched the views climb from the sidelines, leaving the “viral” energy untapped. But this time, the algorithm is doing more than creating a craving, it’s driving a retail stampede for Vita Coco.
It started with a raw, off-the-cuff jingle from creator Romeo. It was organic, unpitched, and effortlessly catchy. But unlike Dr Pepper, Vita Coco didn’t hesitate. They saw the spark and poured gasoline on it, turning a viral sound into an official partnership.
The results aren’t in the views; they’re in the comments.
People aren’t saying “I want one.”, They’re saying “I just bought one.”
Here is how a simple song turned into a massive retail moment, and what it says about how we shop for food in 2026.
Related: TikTok Accidentally Made the Best Dr Pepper Ad Ever, and No One Got Paid.
Everyone Suddenly Wanted Vita Coco
Scroll the comments on Romeo’s videos and you’ll notice something missing: the irony.
Usually, we all play along with the “TikTok made me buy it” joke. We laugh about being “influenced,” we complain about the song being stuck in our heads, and we keep scrolling.
But with Vita Coco, the vibe is different. People have stopped joking, they’re just narrating their trip to the store.
The comments read like a retail checklist:
- “I’ve never bought this in my life, but I’m going now.”
- “This is my first Vita Coco ever.”
- “I don’t even like coconut water, but I just tried it.”
- “Driving to Walmart as we speak.”
When Romeo’s Dr Pepper jingle first blew up, the influence lived in that weird gray area between a meme and an ad. We bought it, but we kind of winked at each other while we did it.
Vita Coco closed that gap. By making the jingle official and being transparent about paying the creator, they removed the need for irony altogether. They gave the audience permission to stop “winking” and start buying.
That shift mirrors how fans chose between Dr Pepper and Vita Coco.
Why This Worked on People Who Hate Coconut Water
Coconut water is a notoriously hard sell.
Coconut water is a notoriously difficult category. You either love it, or you think it tastes like “sweetened lightning.”
Most people associate it with wellness culture or hangover cures, not impulse buys. That’s what makes this moment different.
The jingle didn’t try to convince anyone coconut water was good for them. It didn’t explain hydration benefits or pitch a lifestyle. It didn’t even feel like a sales message at all.
It just felt fun.
And once Vita Coco made the moment official, trying the drink stopped feeling like falling for an ad. It felt like participating in something the internet had already agreed was okay.
For a lot of commenters, that was enough to cross the line from “no thanks” to “fine, I’ll try it.”
From Scroll to Store
The Dr Pepper jingle showed how TikTok creates cravings. The Vita Coco jingle shows what happens when a brand adds velocity.
One moment lived in the comments; the other sent people to Walmart. This is the shift brands are watching closely in 2026. Attention is easy to find, but conversion is a battle.
And increasingly, winning that battle doesn’t come from pretending something isn’t an ad.
It comes from making it official.
Curious what food TikTok is obsessed with next?
Explore more viral food trends and social media hacks →
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