Weekly Pickups: Sparkling protein, za'atar chips, and cinnamon creamer
Plus: The protein bar of the season
Welcome back to Weekly Pickups!
This week, we released two gift guides with five more to go—ranging from the man(child) in your life to the aunt who “doesn’t want anything but your presence.” We’re having way too much fun with these, and hope it inspires you to tap into your inner gift-giver this year!
And this week, we have a gift for YOU, too! We’re excited to team up with Spring Cash for our favorite gift to give: cold hard cash (not really but also… really).
Following its $336 million raise from GB Bank and others, Spring Cash is giving CPG brands a 0% APR (up to $50K) advance on any of your unpaid retailer or distributor invoices.
It’s insanely easy to use: Just submit an invoice to their site, and Spring Cash’s AI approves invoices within six (6!!!) minutes and sends you money immediately.
Brands like Laurel’s Coffee, Supermush, Flock Foods, and Cloud 23 are using Spring Cash to get paid immediately for invoices from Costco, Target, Whole Foods, and more.
No more waiting on a retailer—your sale turns into instant cash in the bank that you can put back into your brand and keep growing.
Now, let’s get into what we’ve been loving this week →
Nate’s Pickup:
Waay - Sparkling Protein Drink
Yes I know, another protein product. But this one is really really good and made by an incredible former founder of another incredible CPG brand, Primal Kitchen! I’ve tried a lot of clear protein drinks and this is up there among a very small list of favorites.
Quick Facts: Sparkling protein soda with 10g of protein (whey + collagen), 0g sugar, and 45 calories. Available in Lemon Raspberry, Orange, and Grapefruit.
Reasons to love:
Taste and texture perfection. A lot of clear protein drinks either miss one of these. They’re chalky or simply off, or the taste is terrible. This nails both in my opinion. My favorite flavor is a tie between Lemon Raspberry or Grapefruit (hello Fresca). Plus it’s got great carbonation that works with everything else in the can.
The founder. Morgan Buehler Zanotti is incredible. She’s the co-founder and former President of Primal Kitchen, which was sold to Kraft Heinz. She knows how to build a brand that works and resonates with customers in a way that’s sustainable and strategic. When someone with that kind of track record launches something new, you pay attention.
It’s fun. I love that the branding is incredibly approachable and fun for anyone who might come across it. This brand would speak to you even if you weren’t some hardcore fitness guru going to the gym 5 times a day. Approachability is something that is desperately needed in the functional beverage space writ large - too many brands take themselves way too seriously and speak to too small of a customer base.
Where to buy: Online at drinkwaay.com and at Whole Foods
Jenna’s Pickup:
Aloha - Peppermint White Chocolate Protein Bar (Limited Edition)
This is another protein product. I’m sorry. But because I recently tried eight different plant-based protein bars for an article (coming soon to another publication near you…), this bar was top-of-mind. And who doesn’t love a seasonal flavor?
Quick Facts: Plant-based protein bar in the ultimate seasonal flavor (peppermint chocolate)
Reasons to love:
Taste + texture. If you’re a protein bar texture hater, this one may change your mind. It’s soft and chewy on the inside, speckled with crunchy peppermint pieces, and dipped in silky white chocolate (not dumped in a heavy chocolate coating, just a nice thin dip!). I love so many of their flavors (especially Peanut Butter Chocolate Chip and Oatmeal Chocolate Chip), but this one is definitely a new fave. It’s not too sweet, perfectly pepperminty, and has just a hint of cocoa—nothing overpowering.
Great macros for plant-based! A lot of plant-based bars skimp out on protein or fiber—but these hit 14g and 10g, respectively. At just 4g of sugar, it’s also not a sugar bomb, which I’ve definitely found in some other plant-based bars.
Sweetener haters, this one’s for you. I personally don’t mind a stevia or monk fruit sweetener, but I know that’s not everyone’s cup of tea. If you have a sweetener aversion (I know many do), you will still love this bar, which is sweetened with tapioca syrup and cane sugar—but still only 4g of sugar!
Where to buy: Major grocers like Kroger, Whole Foods, Shoprite, or Wegmans, or online on Amazon or Thrive Market!
✨ Special Guest ✨ Nikki Gryll
Everyone, meet your new favorite human in CPG: Nikki Gryll!
It is such an honor to get to feature the very person who made me so passionate about CPG in the first place. Nikki is the powerhouse publicist behind Knack PR—and has gotten the most incredible media coverage for brands like Ithaca Hummus, Lil Bucks, Hero Bread, and so many more. I’ve had the insane privilege of working with Nikki for the past ~5 years, and she has taught me everything I know about modern media, CPG storytelling, and simply how to be the human equivalent of sunshine. :)
She is the true queen of snacks, always texting me about her new favorite CPG finds in her local Chicago retailers. She has two fantastic finds that I can’t wait to try myself! - Jenna
Forager Project’s Cinnamon Vanilla Creamer
Where’d you purchase it, and why that channel? I stumbled upon this heavenly creamer on the shelf at Whole Foods! Call me old fashioned, but I still love strolling the grocery store for product discovery. While I love keeping up with all the latest launches in my favorite news outlets (including this one!!), there’s something refreshing about finding a new-to-me product even if it is far from new to the CPG scene.
What about this product intrigued you? I’m a sucker for anything cinnamon! So I was immediately drawn to it for my ideal latte flavor profile. When I took a peek at the nutrition label on the back, I was so relieved to see an actually-clean ingredient list without the usual crapola you find in creamers. The flavor and ingredient list lured me in, and the taste keeps me coming back to stock up and make sure I always have two bottles in my fridge at all times.
Why do you love it? I’m immediately transported to cute coffee shops that make the yummiest fancy lattes! As a girly on a mission to make my sacred morning coffee ritual a delicious and satisfying key moment in my day, a tablespoon or two in my warm mug helps me romanticize the morning — even if I have an inbox to tend to and a toddler to feed!
While the aroma makes me want to curl up on the couch with a Nancy Meyers movie, the first sip of the creamer mixed with my favorite coffee beans always catapults me to have a productive morning. I’ll definitely purchase this product year-round, but the scent immediately screams cozy winter beverage. Highly recommend for your upcoming hibernation season.
Anything else you’d like to share?
While a cup of coffee is of course the ideal destination for a creamer, I love finding unexpected use cases for my favorite products. Catch me also adding a splash of Forager’s Cinnamon Vanilla creamy creation to my pancake recipe, oatmeal, and yogurt bowls!!
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Where’d you purchase it, and why that channel? I spotted Zaza in a sea of crunchy items on the shelf at Foxtrot. Even after all of the chaos of their past closure, I can’t walk into Foxtrot without supporting a few, new-to-me emerging brands that I don’t find at my local major grocery stores.
What about this product intrigued you? Every year, I keep waiting for Za’atar to have its trending flavor moment! (@all the founders reading this newsletter!) Za’atar is such a satisfying seasoning — it gives off such a fresh, vibrant taste no matter which vessel it’s on. Put it on a thin, crispy pita chip that you can tell is made with love + care, and I’m in heaven!
Why do you love it? As Ithaca Hummus’ groupie/publicist, I am always looking for different chips for my favorite dips! These pita chips pair perfectly with their Graza Olive Oil & Sea Salt collab. I feel like I’m eating it somewhere more exotic than my kitchen counter when I pair the two together. Zaza Pita Chips is onto something special. Your fingers may be covered in seasoning after this snack, but it’s oh-so worth it!!
Anything else you’d like to share? I saw they’re coming out with a Smoked Tomato flavor on their website — standing by for this!! Also - I’m making a mental note to try them as a crouton in my next greek salad. Let me know if you test it out first!
We’re back to our regularly scheduled programming for the pod, and having the best time recording :) This week, hear our rants about skincare for three-year-olds, Monster’s new energy drink “for women,” the Amazonification of Whole Foods, and so much more.
Skincare for three-year-olds
Welcome back to The Curious Consumer! In our weekly podcast, we break down the latest news in consumer brands and retail. This week features some of the most controversial news we’ve covered yet (with our unfiltered, hot takes to boot).
Thanks for reading! Anything you think we should try for an upcoming edition of Express Checkout? Email us at hello@expresscheckout.co