As the calendar flips to 2026 and we settle into new, health-focused routines, many of us are thinking about what it might feel like to wake up genuinely refreshed. But as more adults recommit to sleep as the foundation of their well-being, one surprising trend is reshaping the nighttime ritual: a growing move away from melatonin.
For years, melatonin gummies dominated nightstands and bathroom cabinets. Today, consumers are asking tougher questions. Headlines have highlighted everything from inconsistent potency to lingering grogginess the next morning.
Others are rethinking the idea of taking a hormone nightly, especially after experiencing vivid dreams or the so-called “melatonin hangover.” The more people talk about sleep, the more they’re searching for gentler support, something that works with their body, not against it.
That shift has created space for an unexpected Nebraska-born solution: Brik Sleep Gummies.
Nebraska Innovation Meets a Better Night’s Sleep
Brik comes from the husband-and-wife team of Scott Utech and Tessa Porter, a candy scientist known in the gummy vitamin world for pushing boundaries long before gummies were trendy. Porter developed Brik’s flagship “Berry Bliss” flavor in her Omaha candy innovation studio, Sprinkk, while production happens just a few hours away in Albion. The whole brand is rooted in Nebraska, its values, its work ethic and its knack for smart, simple solutions.
What truly sets Brik apart is what’s not inside: melatonin.
Instead, each gummy is powered by PeptiSleep™, a plant peptide engineered to support the body’s natural sleep cycle. Think of it as nudging the body toward rest rather than flooding it with a hormone. For many adults trying to reclaim healthier habits, especially at the start of a new year, that difference is meaningful.
“We Tried It and It Worked Shockingly Well”
The path to launching Brik wasn’t part of a long-term plan. Porter had been exploring peptide applications when PeptiSleep™ landed on her radar. She and Utech tried it casually, more out of curiosity than anything else, and were stunned by how deeply and naturally they slept.
“We weren’t trying to start a sleep gummy company. We just tried something that worked shockingly well,” Utech says. “Once we experienced it for ourselves, we knew we could offer a melatonin-free option that supports rest naturally.”
A week before their wedding, they launched Brik.
Turning a Cultural Shift Into a Nightly Ritual
Their timing couldn’t have been better. Since November alone, more than 10,000 melatonin-related news stories have emerged nationally, fueling conversations about dosage, dependency and long-term use. Suddenly, consumers who never questioned melatonin are rethinking it and looking for alternatives that feel modern, gentle and rooted in science.
Brik is designed to fit seamlessly into this next era of sleep. The gummies are dye-free, gluten-free and free of artificial sweeteners. They are meant to be part of a calming nightly ritual, something that helps you unwind, fall asleep faster, stay asleep longer and wake up ready for whatever January and beyond brings.
This is only the beginning. Brik Nutrition plans to grow its “Build Your Stack” lineup with additional sleep and wellness offerings, aiming to become a go-to for people who take rest seriously.
A Fresh Start, Powered by Better Sleep
As we settle into a new year and rediscover our routines, the idea of waking up energized feels more essential than ever. Whether you’re rebuilding healthy habits, reclaiming your evening wind-down or simply looking for a sleep solution without melatonin, Brik offers a distinctly Nebraska-made answer, rooted in science, crafted with intention and created by two people who just wanted to feel rested again.
Learn more at BrikSleep.com.