Weekly Pickups: Protein jello and really good chocolate
+ the future of CPG infrastructure
Kicking off this week with a HUGE shoutout to our friends at Glimpse!!
Glimpse just announced their $35M Series A led by Andreessen Horowitz, bringing their total funding to $52M (!!!). Though they got their name in retail deductions, they’ve got some big things on the horizon—they’re about to become the AI automation solution for CPG finance teams’ back office workflows.
It’s been so exciting to see Glimpse continue to grow, but what’s especially cool is what this raise says about CPG more broadly: Tech investors are seeing major value in building out CPG infrastructure. We’ve been seeing so much innovation at the product level in CPG, but the backend of so many brand operations remains deeply antiquated. Companies like Glimpse and Jampack (operations automation) are combatting this with truly brilliant solutions, and investors are paying attention.
Excited for the future of CPG infrastructure, and grateful get to celebrate with these awesome teams along the way.
And with that, let’s get into this week’s pickups →
Nate’s Pickup:
Lasso Protein & Fiber Gelatin Cups
Look, I adore Jell-O. I adore it so much that one time in college I may have eaten a tray of Jell-O shots because I wanted the Jell-O more than anything. Was it a bad idea? Sure. Was I happy to have the Jell-O? Very much so. I wouldn’t have changed a thing!
I’m also the guy who is very much NOT done with the protein craze. I love the innovation, the evolution, and the crazy ideas people have. So when I learned that my friend Clarke was launching protein gelatin cups—essentially combining two of my greatest loves—you could say I was more than excited. And they did not disappoint.
Quick Facts: A high-protein, fiber-rich alternative to traditional gelatin snacks. Each cup packs 10g of protein and 5g of prebiotic plant fiber with just 4g of sugar and no added refined sugars. The protein comes from a blend of grass-fed bovine collagen, grass-fed bovine gelatin, and grass-fed whey protein. Currently has three flavors: Orange Cream, Crisp Apple, and Watermelon Lime.
Reasons to love:
Actually tastes like the real thing. The mixture of protein sources lends itself so well to not tasting like a protein product. So many better-for-you and, more specifically, high-protein treats give you something almost in the uncanny valley of food. It’s not off enough from taste parity but not close enough either, and you notice it. But here, each flavor tastes like what it says on the front of pack and feels like a Jell-O pack. If I had to pick one to go with though, the Crisp Apple is just perfectly crisp and perfectly apple-y. When you eat it, you genuinely wouldn’t know this is a high-protein alternative to the traditional stuff. (I would like to request a straight-up lime flavor soon though, please and thank you Clarke.)
Ready when the craving hits. Consumers these days want convenience more than anything, especially when the product is loaded with something like protein. They don’t want to mix a powder, they don’t want to blend a shake, they don’t want to wait for something to set in the fridge—they want that sweet treat ready the second the desire. I know I do. One of the coolest things to me that they did though, was make these shelf-stable. That’s hard to do. So the fact you can simply toss one in your bag, keep a few in your desk drawer, grab one after dinner when the sweet tooth kicks in is amazing.
Filling nutritional gaps. Most gelatin snacks are essentially chemical water, which doesn’t stop me, but doesn’t mean I don’t want something not relying on mystery gums, low-grade gelatin, and packed with sugars and dyes. So instead of a science experiment they’re using grass-fed bovine gelatin, collagen, and whey, giving a complete protein source with all nine essential amino acids your body needs for muscle synthesis and repair. Plus this pack is filled with agave inulin and cassava root fiber to support digestive health. Not too shabby for a wiggly little treat if you ask me!
Where to buy: eatlasso.com
Jenna’s Pickup:
Spring & Mulberry - Sea Salt Date-Sweetened Chocolate
This isn’t anything too novel… and perhaps that’s why it’s been the thing I keep reaching for in my sea of trendy new CPG samples (I say, with deep gratitude). Spring & Mulberry has been a trusted go-to for quality chocolate, and I was so excited to see them come out with their new flavor, sea salt. Again, nothing you haven’t seen before—they just do it right.
Quick Facts: Date-sweetened dark chocolate with a perfect hit of sea salt.
Reasons to love:
Incredible quality. This is the kind of chocolate that puts other chocolate to shame. Made with single-origin West African cacao—from an estate that uses organic and regenerative farming practices—this bar is utterly rich, melty, and luscious. It’s smoother than any other dark chocolate I’ve tried.
Date-sweetened! Dates add this natural sweetness, but also a subtly jammy, caramel flavor to this bar. With zero refined sugar (ingredients are literally just cacao beans, dates, cacao butter, and sea salt), this bar is a true, decadent treat. If standard dark chocolate is too bitter for you, but you appreciate the richness, this is a perfect in-between—just enough to balance the bitterness of rich cocoa without being overpoweringly sweet. While I love the brand’s other flavors as well, the additional dusting of sea salt only emphasizes the bright, creamy base and brings out the sweetness more.
Where to buy: The Spring & Mulberry site! It’s 20% off right now for orders over $100 for the brand’s birthday. 🎉
This week on The Curious Consumer, we sat down with Chimene Ross, CEO of Killer Brownie, for a discussion on the power of branding in bakery, running a family business, and moving from private-label to a branded product.
We also dive into the convergence of beauty + wellness (ft. hydration powder with UV protection…), why owning manufacturing is the new CPG moat, and Little Spoon’s entrance into infant formula →
We recently got some great data from our friends at Faire highlighting the dichotomy of “clean” vs. science-forward positioning for beauty and wellness brands. Check it out here →
Thanks for reading! Anything you think we should try for an upcoming edition of Express Checkout? Email us at hello@expresscheckout.co