Weekly Pickups: New-age frosting, plant-based yogurt, and more...
Ft. Oset Babür-Winter
Welcome back to Weekly Pickups!
Big news dropped this week: PepsiCo is launching a prebiotic cola. Yes, you read that right….just months after acquiring poppi for $1.95 billion, they're creating their own "functional" Pepsi.
Pepsi was kind enough to send over a sample for us to try.
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I have to say it just tastes like a Pepsi. And I think this could be a good extension to get more consumers trying prebiotic soda who otherwise wouldn't. This in turn, should help Poppi scale up even more!
The strategy seems to be: let Poppi own the Instagram-ready, fruity flavors for Gen Z, while Pepsi Prebiotic captures mainstream consumers who want gut health benefits but aren't ready to abandon their familiar cola fix. Smart portfolio play or brand dilution? Only time will tell!
And now, onto our weekly pickups… →
Nate’s Pickups
FROST Buttercream
Sorry, Betty Crocker…..there's a new frosting in town, and it actually tastes like it came from a bakery.
Quick Facts: Gourmet buttercream frosting made with just 9 simple, non-GMO ingredients. Created by former investment banker Liv Truesdell who saw a gap in the market for store-bought frosting that doesn't taste like...well, store-bought frosting.
Reasons to love:
Real ingredients, real taste. This isn't your typical tub of sugar paste. FROST is made with actual farm-fresh butter, pasteurized egg whites, and real vanilla extract. No artificial dyes, no preservatives, no weird stabilizers. The texture is spot-on bakery quality: light, fluffy, and pipeable straight from the fridge.
It's not trying to be "healthy" (thank god). In a world where everything is keto-paleo-sugar-free-whatever, FROST is refreshingly honest about what it is: an indulgent treat made with pure cane sugar and real butter. Sometimes you just want actual frosting that tastes incredible, not a wellness product masquerading as dessert.
Where to buy: Available in select stores (about 10 locations) and online
WA-CHAA! Peanuts
Hot damn, these are some tasty-ass peanuts. And can we talk about the brand building here?? They sent me a poster that I liked so much I literally framed it.
Quick Facts: Sichuan-style spicy peanuts from Shandong, China, featuring mala spice (Sichuan peppercorns and chilis). Originally created under the Huang Fei Hong brand (over 2 decades old), now reimagined for the US market.
Reasons to love:
That tingly numbness is chef's kiss. If you've never experienced Sichuan peppercorns, prepare yourself. It's not just heat, it's also this fun numbing sensation that makes your whole mouth feel alive. Combined with the chilis, it creates this addictive flavor punch that regular spicy peanuts can't touch.
They're keeping it real with umami. While they've adapted for the US market by using mushroom powder instead of MSG (to avoid the pearl-clutching), they didn't compromise on that deep, savory umami flavor. These peanuts taste like the ones you'd get at a legit Sichuan restaurant, not some watered-down snack.
The storytelling is next-level. Named after the universal kung fu sound effect (you can hear it right?!), connected to a folk hero who's been in 100+ films, packaged with actual personality…this is how you bring a decades-old Chinese brand to new shores.
Where to buy: Online
Jenna’s Pickups
cocojune - Vanilla Cinnamon Greek-Style Coconut Yogurt
Quick facts: Organic, plant-based yogurt with 8g of protein that tastes more like dessert than health food.
Reasons to love:
Holy indulgent. This coconut-based yogurt has changed my perspective on plant-based yogurt, full-stop. It has the texture of a creamy pudding or mousse, which is a stark contrast to the typical, kinda watery texture of other yogurt alts—it may even be thicker than “real” Greek yogurt. Made with only organic coconut milk, pea protein, vanilla extract, live probiotic cultures, and just 7g of sugar, it somehow nails this dessert-like richness with one of the cleanest labels in the yogurt aisle.
A reason to go plant-based (sometimes). I *try* to avoid dairy for the most part, but two things always keep me running back: cheese because…cheese, and yogurt because it’s such an easy high-protein snack. But this yogurt gives me a legitimate reason to choose plant-based. With a solid 8g of protein, it’s by no means as protein-packed as its dairy counterpart, but it still offers a little extra something—with the probiotics to boot. I’m confident that anyone would love this, whether you’re looking for a dairy-free alternative or you’re a full-blown dairy fiend simply seeking a new treat.
A company worth getting behind. cocojune is one of those brands that just cares—from sourcing to shelf. It’s the very first certified plastic-neutral yogurt company in the U.S. (!!!) and it owns a production facility that runs mostly on hydropower and is entirely fossil fuel-free. It's rare to find a brand that walks the walk this thoroughly.
Where to buy: In retailers nationwide! Got mine at Whole Foods.
34 Degrees - Spicy Jalapeño Mates
The duality of (wo)man: Same week, one plant-based rec, one very dairy-based rec.
As mentioned, cheese has a chokehold on me—and these cheese crisps (made with real cheese), are no exception.
Quick facts: Light, crispy, naturally gluten-free cheese crisps made with real gouda—like (very) elevated Cheez-Its, with a jalapeño kick.
Reasons to love:
Crunchy cheese pillows with perfect heat. These cheese crisps have this incredibly delicate, airy crunch that's so satisfying—the platonic ideal of what a cheese cracker should be. They're light enough that you can mindlessly munch without feeling weighed down, but substantial enough to satisfy your snack cravings. They really are the perfect “mate”—they’d be fantastic on a cheese board, in a snack mix, or as a vehicle for dip. The jalapeño flavor builds with every bite without being too intense, and the ingredient list is refreshingly simple: gouda cheese, rice flour, potato starch, and jalapeño.
Innovation in an overlooked category. The cracker! aisle! is! tired!!! There's still so much room for creativity here, and 34 Degrees proves it. While everyone's busy seeking a bizarre way to sneak protein into everything, 34 Degrees is quietly perfecting something we already crave—just some dang good cheese crackers.
Supporting local sustainability. I'm currently in Denver, where 34 Degrees is headquartered! There's something special about supporting a brand when you're in their backyard—especially when it’s this committed to sustainability. All of the brand’s packaging is 100% recyclable and compostable, and its cardboard suppliers offset carbon consumption through wind energy credits.
Where to buy: Retailers nationwide (got these at WF too!) or 34 Degrees’ site.
✨ Special Guest ✨
We're thrilled to have Oset join us for this week's picks! Oset is a brilliant writer, editor (former Senior Drinks Editor at Food & Wine, in fact), and brand consultant who recently founded Prix Fixe, a gifting suite and discovery platform for food and beverage brands.
Oset constantly has her finger on the pulse of all things CPG, and we knew she’d be the perfect person to ping for a great recent product find.
Let’s dive into her weekly pickup! →
What was your favorite pickup this week?
Sofie Pavitt Face Mandelic Clearing Serum
What about this product intrigued you?
I’m pregnant, so I’ve been looking for pregnancy-safe alternatives to my Biologique Recherche p50, which unfortunately isn’t safe to use. I’d heard great things about this serum from friends with acne-prone skin, and the cheerful yellow packaging drew me in, because why not?
Where did you purchase it, and why that channel?
I most recently picked it up at their spa on the Lower East Side! I’ve also gotten it at Sephora online. Both were for convenience — I was in the neighborhood of the spa and running low, and Sephora is obviously easy to order online with free shipping.
Why do you love it?
I’m obsessed with it! I would say the only thing I’m not thrilled about is how quickly I burn through a bottle, but I also use two pumps every morning so that’s to be expected. All in all, I love that it makes my skin feel soft and smooth, and seems to be keeping my hormonal breakouts fully at bay during a time when so much about my skin is unpredictable. I also love that Sofie has built her business from the ground up as an independent female aesthetician, so I’m happy to support (as opposed to shelling out for a large LVMH owned skincare brand etc).
If you want to share a brand you’re loving for us to review, or if you have the perfect special guest in mind, email us: nate@expresscheckout.co and jenna@expresscheckout.co :)