Weekly Pickups: Greens in a can, a celebrity soda, and more
Ft. Alyssa Tucker, Founder @ Live From Snack Time
Welcome back to Weekly Pickups!
We’ve seen a lot of new subscribers coming in from TikTok (if that’s you, hi! welcome!!!).
I’ve had a handful of TikToks somehow go semi-viral, and I’m always blown away by how much TikTok actually converts. If I had a brand, I’d be going all in on TikTok—first by capitalizing on the content that’s already out there.
Syncly Social is the first AI-powered social listening tool for TikTok and video that actually hears every spoken brand or product mention with FULL context—the tone, intent, and meaning that captions don’t capture. Plus, Syncly Social helps you:
Track brand sentiment and campaign impact in real-time
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Discover emerging trends before every brand jumps on it
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Chances are, you’re sitting on tons of free customer insights and content opportunities. You just need the right tool to surface them—and that’s Syncly Social.
Now, let’s get into what we’ve been loving this week →
Nate’s Pickup:
Stiller’s Soda
So Ben Stiller, yes Derek Zoolander and the mind behind Severance, launched a soda brand. And yes it is another celebrity CPG play, but I am into it!
Also Stiller’s team, if you’re reading this, DROP A BLUE STEEL FLAVOR! It’s right there people!
Quick Facts: Premium sodas with less sugar (around 8g per can vs. the standard 39g), launching with three classic flavors: Lemon Lime, Shirley Temple, and Root Beer. Co-founded with beverage entrepreneur Alexander Doman (the guy behind AVEC Drinks).
Reasons to love:
It’s just soda. In a world where every beverage needs to do something for your gut, for your mind, for your skin, Stillers is just...soda. And thank god. My tummy can’t handle any more damn prebiotics. All they did was make a better and slightly healthier soda, that’s it. Simple is sometimes just the better move.
Ben’s actually in it. This isn’t your typical celebrity one-and-done launch post situation. Stiller has been all over social since launch, actively sharing content, engaging with his brand, and clearly invested beyond just lending his name. You can tell this is a genuine project for him, not just a quick cash grab. It’s nice to see someone who actually gives a damn about what they’re putting out there.
They actually taste like the real thing. I was pleasantly surprised that all three flavors delivered. But the Shirley Temple especially did it for me. Taking that first sip instantly transported me back to being eight years old at a fancy restaurant, feeling very grown up with my “cocktail.” It made be realize how long it’s actually been since I had a Shirley Temple. I plan to order Shirley Temples and even better a dirty Shirley next time I’m out.
Where to buy: Available online at stillerssoda.com (shout out Barrel for building a solid website!!) and rolling out to select retailers across NYC
Deon Libra - Unbothered Elixir
I’m not usually one to buy the whole elixir thing, but this one I’m willing to change my opinion. Not only is it in a cute container that actually looks good on my kitchen counter (vital in this day and age), but it’s become the thing I reach for after my second coffee
Quick Facts: A vegan, gluten-free, caffeine-free powder blend of mushrooms and herbs designed to help manage stress and stay balanced. Made by Deon Libra, a brand focused on “stress care for every hood” and wellness for high-functioning people. The elixir has a cacao chai flavor and mixes seamlessly into coffee, smoothies, or oatmeal.
Reasons to love:
It actually tastes great. When you hear the word elixr, I don’t always think delicious….but this tastes genuinely good. The cacao chai flavor is rich and warming without being too sweet, and the spice blend (cinnamon, cardamom, ginger, clove) has a nice sophisticated depth to it.
The ritual. I consume a metric ton of caffeine, so it’s nice to have something that brings me back down. But beyond that, there’s something about stirring this into my mid-morning coffee that signals to my brain: I’m choosing calm.
Super simple. Coconut milk powder, cacao powder, natural chai flavor, cinnamon, cardamom, clove, ginger, Himalayan sea salt, and monk fruit extract. There’s nothing too crazy going on here. Just like with Stiller’s, it’s simple.
Where to buy: Available Online
Jenna’s Pickup:
Huel Daily Greens Ready-to-Drink - Apple Cucumber + Mint
I officially have no excuse not to get my greens in.
Huel has been around for a while now, with millions of superfans around the world (including Idris Elba? I’ll have what he’s having). The company initially took off for its complete meal-replacement shakes—think: Soylent, AKA peak tech bro optimization. Because meal replacement shakes aren’t really my jam (I prefer to chew my meals), I’ve never really considered trying Huel.
But this product changed my perception of the brand. It’s such a fun way to take your daily vitamins—not another gummy, not another messy/chalky powder. It’s a ready-to-drink, tasty juice, without the sugar. I love cracking open an afternoon bev, and this hits the SPOT and comes with a side of a superiority complex (tell me you wouldn’t get an ego boost from drinking a day’s worth of micronutrients while your contemporaries are chugging coffee #2…).
Quick Facts: All of your daily greens in a canned, lightly sparkling drink.
Reasons to love:
That! Nutrition! Label!!!! This bev is jam-packed with the good stuff: 42 vitamins, minerals, superfoods, adaptogens, electrolytes, and 4g fiber. It’s got your daily value of basically every essential vitamin, and then some. And though it’s made with real fruit juice, it has only 1g of sugar (and 0 added sugar).
So refreshing. I’ve been looking forward to drinking this product every day. All three flavors are delicious (and honestly taste kinda similar?), but the Apple Cucumber Mint has my heart. It’s bright, refreshing, and juicy, with a hint of carbonation—more of a light sparkle than bubble, which is my favorite kind of bev.
She’s got range. I love the thinking around this product from a merchandising standpoint. Because it’s shelf-stable and both a beverage and a supplement, this RTD can catch customers in so many different aisles. As Tyler Noyes, Huel’s Head of US Sales, told me: “On the shelf, Huel Daily Greens RTD has the versatility to live across multiple sections of the store, ranging from functional beverages to grab-and-go endcap fridges and even produce sections, giving retailers more flexibility to drive trial and sales.”
Canned greens in the produce aisle?! Genius. I’d love to see this product in those mini fridges by some retailers’ checkouts—I can’t think of a better impulse purchase to snag instead of a Celsius or Olipop.
Where to buy: Online or at Sprouts, Target, and LifeTime Fitness—more retailers to come!
✨ Special Guest ✨ Alyssa Tucker
Alyssa Tucker is the co-founder of Live From Snack Time, a popular platform that captures and shares the brilliant and unfiltered things children say. The project began when Tucker, an educator in New York City, was inspired by the hilarious and insightful comments from her students. Live From Snack Time evolved from a social media sensation into a larger brand featuring merchandise, a published book, and partnerships with major brands
Let's dive into her picks! →
What are they?
Justin’s Dark Chocolate Peanut Butter Cups!\
Where'd you purchase it, and why that channel?
Fresh Direct! I place an order every weekend to prepare for the week. It’s easy and convenient. I have 2 toddlers and it’s become really hard to shop in store, they are curious and want to grab everything off the shelves and “help” me. It’s just way easier to order what I need for the week online. FreshDirect has the most variety and the fees are reasonable, so that’s what I do!
What about this product intrigued you?
It caught my eye because the packaging is simple, it made me feel like I am eating simple, clean ingredients. It’s easy to read, clean, and the label says organic. I definitely look for these types of products since having kids I am turned off by overly processed foods. I am by no means a health freak, but I make healthier choices when they are available. I am completely obsessed with peanut butter cups and Justin’s seems like a much healthier choice.
Why do you love it?
I first discovered Justin’s through their 1.15oz nut butter packets, super convenient for on-the-go snacks with my kids. When they were younger I even used them during the pediatrician’s “try new nuts” phase since it saved me from buying a bunch of full jars. Now I’m loyal to the brand and instantly notice it online or in stores. The peanut butter cups are delicious and an easy “add to cart” every time. No complaints whatsoever.
Anything else you’d like to share?
This interview has inspired me to reach out to the brand! I run a viral IG account called @LiveFromSnackTime, and I like to collab with brands that i genuinely love. I think I’ll send them an email now haha
We are now posting our podcast weekly, diving into the latest stories around consumer brands and retail! Be sure to check out our most recent one here!
Thanks for reading! Anything you think we should try for an upcoming edition of Express Checkout? Email us at nate@expresscheckout.co and jenna@expresscheckout.co