Weekly Pickups: The fanciest toothbrush, portable tofu, and more
+ an ode to non-alc beer and luxe disinfecting wipes
We’re cutting right to the chase today… because we have a very exciting announcement to share: our wonderful friends at Glimpse are giving out tickets to the WORLD CUP for two (very) lucky brand friends!!!
If you’re one of our lovely readers at a CPG brand, you’ll want to enter to win this all-expenses paid trip to a World Cup match in LA this June (yes, including round-trip airfare and accommodations)! All you have to do is fill out your info at the link below, and you’ll be entered to win.
And with that, let’s get into this week’s pickups →
Nate’s Pickup:
Suri Toothbrush 2.0
This is actually my second Suri toothbrush! I got my first one over 3 years ago at a trade show, directly from the founders themselves at their booth. I immediately loved it, and knew it was the right toothbrush for me.
Ever since Quip came on to the scene, I was on a toothbrush journey. The second one of these brands makes a sexier version of a tired product, you start thinking SO much more about it. Luckily, Suri nailed what I wanted from an electric toothbrush. They’ve made their mark in the US via Erewhon and just recently entered mass-market at Target stores nationwide! We covered this launch and how UK brands are invading US retail in our recent newsletter here.
Quick Facts: SURI (literally short of Sustainable Rituals) is a London-based personal care brand founded by former Procter & Gamble employees known for their sustainable sonic electric toothbrush. The toothbrush swaps petroleum-based plastics for bio-based materials throughout: cornstarch brush heads, castor oil bristles, and a durable aluminum handle. The company also offers a dedicated free closed-loop recycling program for their brush heads.
Reasons to love:
They’re doing sustainability right. It’s nearly impossible to have a brand and product today that is fully sustainable, and no one is expecting that. Which is sad, but true. However, Suri is doing a lot right here, from a multitude of angles. The product itself is incredible. It has an aluminum handle that’s built to last and can be sent back to the company for repairs if needed. The brush heads are returned via a free recycling program—sterilized, ground into pellets, and manufactured into new Suri heads. Even the packaging it comes in is 100% recyclable cardboard with zero plastic inserts. AND they offset 100% of carbon emissions from products and shipping through ClimatePartner. The world is filled with consumer electronics that aren’t built to last, let alone incorporate all these sustainability practices along side them, so it’s great to see a company doing this on a larger scale.
Simple and powerful. I’m an adult. I know how to brush my teeth. I don’t need an app, a screen, or a Bluetooth connection to do it. Suri, thank god, doesn’t have any of that. The smartest feature it has is a pressure Sensor that stops vibrations if you press too hard and has a gentle vibration every 30 secs to let you know you should move onto the next quadrant of your teeth.
Where to buy: Target nationwide or online!
Jenna’s Pickups:
Biom - Disinfecting Wipes and Dispenser
I cannot say I predicted having any strong feelings about a disinfecting wipe anytime soon. I’ve only ever used Lysol (or store-brand Lysol) and never felt the need to seek out anything new in the wipe department. But then biom shared their 100% plant-based, biodegradable, quat-free (we’ll get into that) wipes, and suddenly, I’m weirdly passionate about wipes.
Quick Facts: Actually effective, 100% plant-based disinfecting wipes made without harsh chemicals + a beautiful refillable dispenser.
Reasons to love:
Free of harsh chemicals. If you know me, you know I am not a fan of when people claim they don’t want to eat/drink/use something because it has “chemicals” in it. You’ve likely heard my spiel about how using the word “chemicals” is a wild oversimplification because everything is a chemical (have ya heard of H2O?) and my rants about rampant chemphobia. That being said, there are some instances where calling out “chemicals” is relevant—and disinfecting products is one of them. Typical disinfectant wipes use ingredients like quats, or quaternary ammonium compounds, which leave harsh chemical fumes that linger. Though nothing is drastically worrying (no need to urgently toss your Lysol stash), it may be worth considering an alternative option for frequent use. I recently moved into a new apartment and have become obsessive about wiping my counters down, so I need something safe for everyday use. I love that I can trust these to fully disinfect, but that the primary ingredient is citric acid—not a harsh/potentially irritating chemical.
The best part of no harsh chemicals? These smell fantastic. There’s no bleachy, chloriney scent that I usually associate with a disinfecting wipe. Instead, they come in bright, thoughtfully-crafted scents like Fresh Citrus, which smells like literal grapefruit (not some weird chemicaly version of orange).
A dispenser I want to leave out on my counter. Never did I think that I would consider my wipe container decor… but here we are. Biom’s refillable dispenser is so sleek looking and incredibly functional, with a magnetic closure and refillable design so you can restock without having to purchase a brand-new container. It makes me want to clean more frequently, because it’s always on the counter as a reminder. It may seem unnecessary to elevate simple everyday items (like your counter wipes), but I’d argue that it’s these little upgrades that make you feel so much more put-together than a luxury item every could.
Plastic-free!!! Turns out, most mass-market disinfecting wipes are made with plastic substates—which means that they likely stick around in landfills for a long time. These are made from plant-based fibers and absolutely zero plastic, which helps reduce the environmental impact of a notoriously wasteful category.
Where to buy: Online
TofuGo - Spicy Chili Tofu Protein Snack
I met TofuGo’s wonderful founder, Caroline Dai, at our Expo West party, and unabashedly freaked out about how excited I was about her product. I’m a tofu fiend, so I couldn’t wait to try the very first tofu specifically made to take on-the-go!
Quick Facts: Packs of three, ready-to-eat, portable tofu squares flavored with simple ingredients.
Reasons to love:
Portable! Tofu! I just love this concept. We’ve seen our fair share of meat sticks (especially at Expo West), but plant-based proteins haven’t quite made their way into a portable format. I’m thrilled to see some innovation in the relatively stale tofu space, especially as consumers grow tired of the same sweet-flavored protein bars. At 12g protein, 0g sugar, and 120 calories per three squares, these likely aren’t hitting the gym bags of body builders, but they’re a savory, whole-food snack that actually satisfies.
This flavor. I’m a massive fan of Sichuan food, and rarely see it represented in packaged goods. These little tofu squares are flavored with soy sauce and a hit of Sichuan peppercorn for a bright, bold flavor with a smidge of that satisfying numbing Sichuan spice I love.
Where to buy: Online
✨ Special Guest ✨ Anuj Mehta, Co-Founder and COO of Glimpse
What is it? The brand is Bero, a non-alcoholic beer company that’s been gaining a lot of traction lately (also a Glimpse customer!) The flavor I tried is the Kingston Pilsner IPA. It’s a newer brand that’s really standing out in the non-alcoholic space, especially for how closely it mirrors traditional beer in both taste and presentation.
Where’d you purchase it, and why that channel? I purchased it at the Target in Midtown. It’s a store I frequent pretty often since it’s conveniently located on my way home from work, so I usually stop in for snacks or anything I need to pick up.
What about this product intrigued you? I first heard about Bero because they became a customer of Glimpse, but I didn’t actually try it until a networking event. It was during the week, and I wasn’t in the mood to drink alcohol, so I opted for the non-alcoholic option. The packaging immediately caught my eye — it didn’t look like a typical non-alcoholic beer and instead resembled a standard beer, which made it feel more seamless to carry around without drawing attention.
Later, when I saw it at Target, it was an easy decision to purchase, especially as a Dry Jan option, since I had already tried and liked it. So overall, the consideration period was pretty short once I had that initial experience.
Why do you love it? I love that it genuinely tastes better than a lot of alcoholic beers. It delivers the same enjoyment and sense of relaxation you’d get from a regular beer, but without any of the downsides (no hangover or aftereffects). It’s become a great way to unwind at home with a cold drink, minus the trade-offs.
Anything else you’d like to share? The packaging really stands out. It’s clean, elevated, and doesn’t scream non-alc, which makes it feel more like a premium, everyday option. Overall, it’s a product I’ve gone back to multiple times and now keep stocked at home.
This week on The Curious Consumer, we sat down with Jen Burke, Faire’s Chief Revenue Officer, to dig into some fascinating data on beauty & wellness and learn about the future of retail. This episode is chock full of fascinating insights for brands and definitely worth a listen →
We also shared our findings from the Faire data in a report, 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
Bero is genuinely good - wouldn’t know it’s NA!
“Portable tofu” 😂 good read today!