Weekly Pickups: Top-tier sunscreen, healthy Chick-fil-A sauce, and more...
Ft. Trace Alexander
Welcome back to Weekly Pickups!
We are so excited to attend the Summer Fancy Food Show in T-2 days!! This is one of our favorite trade shows of the year—partly because it’s on home turf, partly because it’s small enough to walk the whole show floor, and mostly because there is so. much. cheese. 🧀 (IYKYK)
We’ll be sharing our best bites and sips on IG, so make sure you follow us there. And stay on the lookout for next week’s editions for our takeaways from the show!
If you see either of us on the show floor, please say hi (we do bite, but only snacks ◡̈). - J
And now, onto our weekly pickups… →
Nate’s Pickups
Forchewn Citrus Rica Instant Coffee
I stumbled into the Peak Design (I love their backpacks) store here in NYC the other and found these founders sampling instant coffee. Random? Yes. Worth it? Absolutely.
I tried all their flavors, but Citrus Rica stole the show for me. It was citrusy and had so much depth to it. Actually, all the flavors did.
Quick Facts: Specialty instant coffee using cutting-edge tech to freeze flavor at its peak. Each box comes with a daily tarot card (because why not start your morning with coffee AND fortune?). No preservatives, additives, or sugar.
Reasons to love:
Actually tastes like the description. This is the one time the tasting notes don't lie. Citrus Rica claims 65% dark chocolate, lemon, mandarin, and cocoa nibs—and it delivers. Usually when someone asks if I can taste the "notes of whatever," I just nod and lie. Not here.
Care put into every single cup. These beans go through an insane nitro-washed process: coffee cherries are cooled to 12°C, fermented with special yeast and bacteria while nitrogen gets injected, then solar-dried and mechanically finished before resting for 45 days. You can taste the obsession.
Where to buy: Online
Dune Suncare Slip Stick
Full confession: I'm already a Dune devotee. Their Mug Guard and spray are daily essentials for me. But the other day, I was wandering around the city, realized I forgot sunscreen (rookie move), and ducked into Blue Mercury for a save. Spotted this Slip Stick and thought, "why not complete the collection?"
Quick Facts: A cooling, on-the-go sunscreen stick that goes on clear (no white cast!) and actually feels good on your skin.
Reasons to love:
It's like AC for your face. On a sweltering NYC day, this doesn't just protect, it literally cools you down. The glycerin and aloe barbadensis leaf juice make it super hydrating, while Mediterranean rockrose and moringa oleifera seed oil protect against environmental damage. Plus vitamin E for that antioxidant boost 💪
No oil slick, no ghost face. Goes on smooth, doesn't leave you looking like you dunked your head in a fryer, and zero white cast. My pores remain unclogged and happy. The texture is *chef's kiss* like a really nice face serum that happens to have SPF.
Female-founded with seriously cool factor. Started by Mei (an avid surfer who's also a DJ—how cool is that?!) and Emily (a skincare obsessive). They spent 2.5 years perfecting this because they were sick of $40 "specialty" sunscreens that still sucked.
Where to buy: website and select retailers
Jenna’s Pickups
GoodSAM Foods - Chocolate Dipped Mango
Quick facts: Dried mango slices dipped in regeneratively farmed, organic, vegan chocolate sourced directly from smallholder farmers and packaged in 100% compostable materials.
Reasons to love:
A surprising flavor combo that works. I can’t say I would’ve thought to pair chocolate and mango, but GoodSAM did it for me—and consider me a convert. The natural sweetness of the mango pairs beautifully with the rich, earthy chocolate in a combo that feels decadent yet light. It’s the perfect elevated treat: snackable enough to eat on-the-go, but luxe enough to plate and bring to a dinner party as a unique dessert option.
GoodSAM walks the walk. GoodSAM is one of few brands that exists on a foundation of doing good for people + the planet, with food as the vehicle. GoodSAM works directly with smallholder farmers through a Direct Trade model (i.e. no middlemen), ensuring fair compensation while using regenerative farming practices. In today’s world, it can feel so daunting to know the “right” way to give back. But brands like GoodSAM give consumers the option to do so effortlessly, through the mere purchase of a delicious treat.
Where to buy: In stores nationwide or online!
BelliWelli - Cucumber Lime Cooler
Quick facts: A 4-in-1 daily fiber powder that combines 3.5g fiber, 2g collagen, probiotics, and electrolytes in a refreshing cucumber-lime flavor.
Reasons to love:
Uniquely delicious flavor. I very rarely drink, but if I see a cucumber cocktail on a menu in the peak of summer? I’m ordering it. So needless to say, I love the idea of a Cucumber Lime Cooler flavored supplement—and this one actually hits every note. It’s so refreshing. I've been loving stirring this up on a sunny morning and taking it on my morning walk (walk + fiber supplement = peak wellness, IMO).
A (modestly) multitasking supplement. There are a lot of supplements out there that claim to do “everything” these days (hello, AG1), but I really like this unique combo of ingredients. Instead of claiming “everything,” BelliWelli hits on a few dietary needs and does so well. Most notably, I rarely see electrolytes in beauty-oriented supplements, and love that addition—especially in hotter months.
The packaging is counter-worthy. Unlike other fiber supplements which essentially scream “THIS HELPS YOU POOP” and belong stashed away in a medicine cabinet (unless you are braver than I…), BelliWelli's fun, bright-pink design looks great sitting on your kitchen counter.
Where to buy: Target and Walmart nationwide (when it’s not sold out from going TikTok viral!!) or online.
✨ Special Guest ✨ Trace Alexander!
Today, we’re excited to welcome Trace Alexander, an oats-obsessed influencer who recently launched our favorite new overnight oats brand, Trace’s Oats. Trace is a true gem of a human, and his passion for health is baked into everything he does. We feel so lucky to welcome him to the CPG world with the launch of Trace’s Oats, and can’t wait for more folks to discover the brand and the incredible founder behind it.
Let’s dive into his weekly pickup! →
What was your favorite pickup this week? Drizzi Sauce, “Gold” flavor, created by content creator Calvin Kang (@cooklikeimbook). Drizzi is his healthier take on the beloved Chick-fil-A style sauce. This time with half the calories, only 1g of added sugar, and the same great flavor.
What about this product intrigued you? Influencer launches can be hit or miss. Sometimes it’s just a name slapped on a bottle, but I was curious. What really pulled me in was how Calvin shared the R&D process, calorie goals, and real taste tests before launch. It felt legit, so I had to try it!
Where did you purchase it, and why that channel? I ordered it straight from the Drizzi website on launch day. With how much food content I see online, I love supporting launches firsthand to see if they live up to the hype!
Why do you love it? What I love most is the flavor - it tastes just like the original, but with better macros: low sugar, lighter calories, and still really satisfying. It’s super versatile too. I’ve used it on breakfast wraps, air-fried chicken, even roasted veggies, and it just works.
Anything else you’d like to share? Expect to see more product launches from creators. Calvin and plenty of others (myself included lol) are shifting away from one-off brand deals and leaning into building products we actually use and believe in. It's an exciting shift, but also a necessary one, because people are paying more attention than ever. They can tell whether it's just a cash grab or built to last. The focus now is on trust, quality, and creating for the long run. When you’ve built a real community, that trust becomes the foundation, and it only grows when the product lives up to the relationship behind it.
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 :)
Ughhh Nate why are you doing this. I’m going to buy everything.
See you there!!