The Curious Consumer

We just got back from the “Super Bowl of CPG”, AKA Expo West, and we have thoughts. In this episode, we’re digging into the overall vibe of the show, the trends we saw, the brands that left an impression, and what Expo even is. If you’re looking for a deeper dive into these trends, check out our newsletter from this week, linked below!The Breakdown00:00 Intro01:15 What Expo West is and who attends08:38 Vibes of the show13:56 The seed oils of it all...16:07 Beef tallow + avo oil18:39 The obsession with “real” ingredients20:27 Eggs are everywhere27:29 How protein + fiber actually showed up (and David’s special appearance...)35:55 The candy dates takeover39:54 Flavor trends: sour, the new “global” flavors, pistachio, and more50:57 Rapid fire trends: baking mixes, hydration, dairy, tortilla chips55:26 Wrap up🎧 Love the show? Subscribe to The Curious Consumer wherever you get your podcasts! New episodes drop weekly. 📧 Get the inside scoop Subscribe to Express Checkout, our newsletter packed with consumer insights, trends, and exclusive content straight to your inbox at expresscheckout.co.🗣️ Let’s connect! Follow us for behind-the-scenes content, quick tips, and more: @expresscheckout💬 Join the conversation Have a product you’re curious about? DM us your questions or drop them in the comments—your topic could be featured in our next episode! If you have any thoughts/questions/suggestions, feel free to email us at hello@expresscheckout.co :)⭐ Help us grow If you enjoyed this episode, please rate and review us on Apple Podcasts or Spotify. It helps other curious consumers find us! Get full access to Express Checkout at www.expresscheckout.co/subscribe

Welcome back to another episode of The Curious Consumer! Today we’re joined by the incredible Jenna Goldring, co-founder of The High Confectionary, to talk about navigating the complex world of hemp-derived THC, building low-dose edibles for a new generation of consumers, and breaking cannabis stigmas through creator collaborations.We also dive into PepsiCo’s big bet on fiber and protein, the rise of squeeze bottle innovation, and why 72% of American households are now buying groceries at Walmart. Let’s get into it!This episode is brought to you by our friends at Tapcart (www.tapcart.com), the ultimate mobile app builder for Shopify brands!Get the 2026 Mobile Trends Report HERE → https://www.tapcart.com/report/2026-trends-reportThey interviewed 1,200+ shoppers and the findings are wild — 71% of impulse purchases now happen on mobile, and brands are massively over-discounting (50% of shoppers only need 25% off to convert, yet brands are bleeding margin at 40-50%). The report breaks down how top brands like Reformation, Gymshark, and Cymbiotika are using AI to get ahead — plus plug-and-play workflows you can steal. Worth a read if you’re in eComm.The Breakdown00:00 Interview with co-founder of The High Confectionary02:33 Hemp vs Cannabis 10105:06 The legal challenges of THC09:16 Building an edibles brand during a THC beverage frenzy15:40 The High Confectionary x Broma Bakery product launch18:56 News of the week kickoff22:19 Pepsi's bet on Fiber AND Protein31:03 Tahini in a squeeze bottle 33:17 Food tech that's changing the snack game36:58 Babybel Pro38:59 The iced tea comeback story42:27 Walmart’s grocery dominance46:51 Expo West update47:36 Conclusion🎧 Love the show? Subscribe to The Curious Consumer wherever you get your podcasts! New episodes drop weekly. 📧 Get the inside scoop Subscribe to Express Checkout, our newsletter packed with consumer insights, trends, and exclusive content straight to your inbox at expresscheckout.co.🗣️ Let’s connect! Follow us for behind-the-scenes content, quick tips, and more: @expresscheckout💬 Join the conversation Have a product you’re curious about? DM us your questions or drop them in the comments—your topic could be featured in our next episode! If you have any thoughts/questions/suggestions, feel free to email us at hello@expresscheckout.co :)⭐ Help us grow If you enjoyed this episode, please rate and review us on Apple Podcasts or Spotify. It helps other curious consumers find us! Get full access to Express Checkout at www.expresscheckout.co/subscribe

Welcome to the first episode of our interview series, Brand’s Biggest Fan—featuring Ben Goodwin, CEO, Co-founder, and formulator of one of our favorite brands of all time: OLIPOP!The premise: We sit down with a self-proclaimed “biggest fan” of some of our favorite buzzy CPG brands—not influencers or famous ambassadors, just regular people who happen to be a little obsessed with a brand.Then, we go back to the founders of these brands to learn how this fandom aligns with—or departs from—the story they’ve told themselves about their own brand's success.There are countless fantastic learnings and insights in this episode—from how Ben thinks about nostalgia when formulating OLIPOP, to soda’s wild history, to how OLIPOP reaches a mass audience of soda lovers + health freaks alike, and so much more.If you give it a listen, be sure to let us know what you think in the comments! And if you just so happen to know (or be) a buzzy brand’s biggest fan, let us know—maybe we’ll feature you in our next episode.The Breakdown00:00 Welcome00:49 Meet Ben Goodwin, CEO of OLIPOP02:25 OLIPOP's "biggest fan" story09:12 What Ben thinks about Amy's story14:00 The art and science of product formulation25:10 How OLIPOP appeals to a mass market28:34 The history of soda (and why that matters to OLIPOP)31:32 Competing with Big Soda40:56 How OLIPOP stays consumer-focused44:45 Closing thoughts🎧 Love the show? Subscribe to The Curious Consumer wherever you get your podcasts! New episodes drop weekly. 📧 Get the inside scoop Subscribe to Express Checkout, our newsletter packed with consumer insights, trends, and exclusive content straight to your inbox at expresscheckout.co.🗣️ Let’s connect! Follow us for behind-the-scenes content, quick tips, and more: @expresscheckout💬 Join the conversation Have a product you’re curious about? DM us your questions or drop them in the comments—your topic could be featured in our next episode! If you have any thoughts/questions/suggestions, feel free to email us at hello@expresscheckout.co :)⭐ Help us grow If you enjoyed this episode, please rate and review us on Apple Podcasts or Spotify. It helps other curious consumers find us! Get full access to Express Checkout at www.expresscheckout.co/subscribe

Welcome back to another episode of The Curious Consumer! Today we are joined by the wonderful Sarela Herrada, co-founder of SIMPLi foods, to talk about regenerative organic agriculture and building authentic supply chains. We also dive into function-washing, the creator-led candy revolution, and why Kraft Heinz just hit pause on their big split. Let's get into it!The Breakdown:00:00 Interview with Sarela, Co-Founder of SIMPLi20:29 News of the week kickoff20:52 “Functionwashing” explained28:27 Nurri's new protein creamers31:19 Candy’s new era: creator-led brands & European gummies38:13 The future of oat milk is... a sheet?!42:06 Kraft Heinz pauses the split46:59 Conclusion🎧 Love the show? Subscribe to The Curious Consumer wherever you get your podcasts! New episodes drop weekly. 📧 Get the inside scoop Subscribe to Express Checkout, our newsletter packed with consumer insights, trends, and exclusive content straight to your inbox at expresscheckout.co.🗣️ Let’s connect! Follow us for behind-the-scenes content, quick tips, and more: @expresscheckout💬 Join the conversation Have a product you’re curious about? DM us your questions or drop them in the comments—your topic could be featured in our next episode! If you have any thoughts/questions/suggestions, feel free to email us at hello@expresscheckout.co :)⭐ Help us grow If you enjoyed this episode, please rate and review us on Apple Podcasts or Spotify. It helps other curious consumers find us! Get full access to Express Checkout at www.expresscheckout.co/subscribe

This week, we're diving into the Super Bowl ads (CPG trend version), what Once Upon a Farm’s IPO tells us, how BigCo brands are getting squeezed by private label, and more. Check out our most recent newsletter: The Breakdown:00:00 What Super Bowl ads tell us about CPG trends 12:45 Once Upon a Farm’s IPO and the better-for-you kids space23:19 PepsiCo's price cuts and squeezing the middle26:45 Discontinuing Minute Maid’s frozen juice29:58 Creatine controversy32:18 Lactaid enters the creamer market36:34 Bachan's acquisition🎧 Love the show? Subscribe to The Curious Consumer wherever you get your podcasts! New episodes drop weekly. 📧 Get the inside scoop Subscribe to Express Checkout, our newsletter packed with consumer insights, trends, and exclusive content straight to your inbox at expresscheckout.co.🗣️ Let’s connect! Follow us for behind-the-scenes content, quick tips, and more: @expresscheckout💬 Join the conversation Have a product you’re curious about? DM us your questions or drop them in the comments—your topic could be featured in our next episode! If you have any thoughts/questions/suggestions, feel free to email us at hello@expresscheckout.co :)⭐ Help us grow If you enjoyed this episode, please rate and review us on Apple Podcasts or Spotify. It helps other curious consumers find us! Get full access to Express Checkout at www.expresscheckout.co/subscribe

Welcome back! Today we have our very first guest, the one and only rachel mansfield. Rachel is a recipe creator, and influencer with over 1M followers on Instagram, she pens a Substack called more, please by rachel mansfield, and most recently co-founded Cadootz Snacks, a new organic kids' protein snack brand.In this episode we also go into the wonderful world of gummy supplements, discuss how stadiums are the next launching platform for THC beverages, the rise of Sprouts market, and so much more! The breakdown:00:00 Intro00:28 Interview: Rachel Mansfield of Cadootz Snacks11:36 The rise of gummy supplements24:27 THC beverages hit the arena30:00 Allergy care, but make it "clean"34:32 Sprouts expansion37:00 Oats Overnight's success story🎧 Love the show? Subscribe to The Curious Consumer wherever you get your podcasts! New episodes drop weekly. 📧 Get the inside scoop Subscribe to Express Checkout, our newsletter packed with consumer insights, trends, and exclusive content straight to your inbox at expresscheckout.co.Let’s connect! Follow us for behind-the-scenes content, quick tips, and more: @expresscheckout💬 Join the conversation Have a product you’re curious about? DM us your questions or drop them in the comments—your topic could be featured in our next episode! If you have any thoughts/questions/suggestions, feel free to email us at hello@expresscheckout.co :)⭐ Help us grow If you enjoyed this episode, please rate and review us on Apple Podcasts or Spotify. It helps other curious consumers find us! Get full access to Express Checkout at www.expresscheckout.co/subscribe

Welcome back! This week, we're sharing our favorite products of the week (and yes, Nate's is packed with protein...), some of the unique challenges of building a celebrity brand, the inside scoop on the new Non-Ultraprocessed Food Verification, the weirdly big business of hand sanitizer, and more!The breakdown:00:00 Favorite bites of the week04:56 Building the "perfect" celeb CPG brand12:32 The new Non-Ultra Processed Food Certification18:56 Elf's first-ever fragrance23:23 Ulta's new wellness "shop-in-shops"27:18 The big biz of hand sanitizer34:54 P&G acquires the new-age Tums (Wonderbelly)39:44 Outro🎧 Love the show? Subscribe to The Curious Consumer wherever you get your podcasts! New episodes drop weekly. 📧 Get the inside scoop Subscribe to Express Checkout, our newsletter packed with consumer insights, trends, and exclusive content straight to your inbox at expresscheckout.co.Let’s connect! Follow us for behind-the-scenes content, quick tips, and more: @expresscheckout💬 Join the conversation Have a product you’re curious about? DM us your questions or drop them in the comments—your topic could be featured in our next episode! If you have any thoughts/questions/suggestions, feel free to email us at hello@expresscheckout.co :)⭐ Help us grow If you enjoyed this episode, please rate and review us on Apple Podcasts or Spotify. It helps other curious consumers find us! Get full access to Express Checkout at www.expresscheckout.co/subscribe

Welcome back to The Curious Consumer! This week, we've got another roundup of protein launches (shocking!)—but this time from some unlikely sources. Plus, we're exploring how Target became the new go-to retailer for emerging brands, actually exciting innovation from a food tech company, and the future of THC bevs.The breakdown:00:00 Intro02:07 Starbucks and Dunkin take protein04:15 Beyond Meat's new protein beverage?09:45 Prebiotic. protein. soda.12:50 PRIME enters protein15:12 Why Target is the new hub for emerging brands27:40 Innovation that EXCITES.31:05 Spiked Gatorade??34:54 THC/hemp ban legislation update38:32 Consolidating brands🎧 Love the show? Subscribe to The Curious Consumer wherever you get your podcasts! New episodes drop weekly. 📧 Get the inside scoop Subscribe to Express Checkout, our newsletter packed with consumer insights, trends, and exclusive content straight to your inbox at expresscheckout.co.Let’s connect! Follow us for behind-the-scenes content, quick tips, and more: @expresscheckout💬 Join the conversation Have a product you’re curious about? DM us your questions or drop them in the comments—your topic could be featured in our next episode! If you have any thoughts/questions/suggestions, feel free to email us at hello@expresscheckout.co :)⭐ Help us grow If you enjoyed this episode, please rate and review us on Apple Podcasts or Spotify. It helps other curious consumers find us! Get full access to Express Checkout at www.expresscheckout.co/subscribe

Another week of countless protein launches—this time, positioned for women—plus Target’s wellness expansion, the latest THC retailer launch, how Good Culture won the unsexiest category, and more.The breakdown:00:00 Intro00:20 Food + bev trade show highlights01:45 The next big flavor of 2026: PB&J07:24 David protein sent what to who?13:02 GORGIE launched protein + energy14:14 The clear protein boom19:26 Lemme launches creatine gummies24:03 Target’s wellness expansion 28:17 THC beverages launching in Sprouts 34:34 Good Culture’s cottage cheese revolution 39:17 Some quick thoughts on the new dietary guidelines41:14 ConclusionIf you’re interested in learning more about the “Flipped Pyramid”, check out Jessica Knurick, PhD, RDN’s Substack here: 🎧 Love the show? Subscribe to The Curious Consumer wherever you get your podcasts! New episodes drop weekly. 📧 Get the inside scoop Subscribe to Express Checkout, our newsletter packed with consumer insights, trends, and exclusive content straight to your inbox at expresscheckout.co.Let’s connect! Follow us for behind-the-scenes content, quick tips, and more: @expresscheckout💬 Join the conversation Have a product you’re curious about? DM us your questions or drop them in the comments—your topic could be featured in our next episode! If you have any thoughts/questions/suggestions, feel free to email us at hello@expresscheckout.co :)⭐ Help us grow If you enjoyed this episode, please rate and review us on Apple Podcasts or Spotify. It helps other curious consumers find us! Get full access to Express Checkout at www.expresscheckout.co/subscribe

Welcome to our first episode of The Curious Consumer in 2026!! We're excited to be back and sharing some of the latest stories in consumer brands, from how the frozen aisle is changing to the next big format in protein (hint: it's weirdly.... juvenile). The breakdown:00:00 Intro + snacking resolutions03:25 The future of the frozen aisle13:37 Trader Joe's challenges Olipop and Poppi17:38 Canned protein milk's moment22:42 The nuanced story of plant-based brand shutdowns28:38 Beauty brands enter body care33:10 Domestic olive oil for the win?38:04 Conclusion🎧 Love the show? Subscribe to The Curious Consumer wherever you get your podcasts! New episodes drop weekly. 📧 Get the inside scoop Subscribe to Express Checkout, our newsletter packed with consumer insights, trends, and exclusive content straight to your inbox at expresscheckout.co.Let’s connect! Follow us for behind-the-scenes content, quick tips, and more: @expresscheckout💬 Join the conversation Have a product you’re curious about? DM us your questions or drop them in the comments—your topic could be featured in our next episode! If you have any thoughts/questions/suggestions, feel free to email us at hello@expresscheckout.co :)⭐ Help us grow If you enjoyed this episode, please rate and review us on Apple Podcasts or Spotify. It helps other curious consumers find us! Get full access to Express Checkout at www.expresscheckout.co/subscribe

Welcome to our final podcast of 2025! We’re walking through some of the biggest themes and headlines from the year, from redefining “function” (with protein, THC, and caffeine) to the new target demographics for skincare + fragrance and the future of retail. Thank you for being a listener this year—we are so grateful, and can’t wait to continue providing more for you in 2026. If there’s anything else you’d like to see from us next year, feel free to reach out at hello@expresscheckout.co 😊* Want to dig deeper into the protein trend? Check out our two protein podcast episodes: https://expresscheckout.co/p/protein-is-not-a-trend and https://expresscheckout.co/p/proteins-new-era* Looking for more info on energy drinks? We got a pod on that too: https://expresscheckout.co/p/energy-drinks-are-for-the-girls* And if you’re trying to check out all of the major headlines and themes from 202, snoop through our archive of newsletters at https://expresscheckout.co/archiveThe Rundown00:00 Intro01:58 Biggest theme of 2025: Redefining “function”02:52 Proteinification06:21 Energy drinks (are for the girls)08:55 THC category boom10:26 Magnesium/sleep13:04 The next gen of retail20:37 Teens and men: The new targets of beauty/skincare27:00 How the big guys streamlined29:08 The crazy headlines you probably forgot36:37 Winners of 202544:12 2026 predictions49:08 Bye 2025!!!🎧 Love the show? Subscribe to The Curious Consumer wherever you get your podcasts! New episodes drop weekly. 📧 Get the inside scoop Subscribe to Express Checkout, our newsletter packed with consumer insights, trends, and exclusive content straight to your inbox at expresscheckout.co.Let’s connect! Follow us for behind-the-scenes content, quick tips, and more: @expresscheckout💬 Join the conversation Have a product you’re curious about? DM us your questions or drop them in the comments—your topic could be featured in our next episode! If you have any thoughts/questions/suggestions, feel free to email us at hello@expresscheckout.co :)⭐ Help us grow If you enjoyed this episode, please rate and review us on Apple Podcasts or Spotify. It helps other curious consumers find us! Get full access to Express Checkout at www.expresscheckout.co/subscribe

This week, we’re chatting about the sneaky strategy behind lip balms, the future of female-focused energy drinks, Rao’s rise to success, why Oreo and Instacart are getting heat, and so much more. Our latest newsletter gets into more details on all of the above. Read it here:https://expresscheckout.co/p/how-brands-are-winning-with-lip-balmThe Rundown00:00 Intro00:45 The “lipification” of beauty11:07 Unwell’s new energy drink19:08 Oreo Zero Sugar (and its response…)24:21 The two camps of supplement launches30:16 Instacart’s pricing controversy33:32 Going all-in on pasta sauce39:42 Conclusion🎧 Love the show? Subscribe to The Curious Consumer wherever you get your podcasts! New episodes drop weekly. 📧 Get the inside scoop Subscribe to Express Checkout, our newsletter packed with consumer insights, trends, and exclusive content straight to your inbox at expresscheckout.co.Let’s connect! Follow us for behind-the-scenes content, quick tips, and more: @expresscheckout💬 Join the conversation Have a product you’re curious about? DM us your questions or drop them in the comments—your topic could be featured in our next episode! If you have any thoughts/questions/suggestions, feel free to email us at hello@expresscheckout.co :)⭐ Help us grow If you enjoyed this episode, please rate and review us on Apple Podcasts or Spotify. It helps other curious consumers find us! Get full access to Express Checkout at www.expresscheckout.co/subscribe

This week, we’re ogling over crazy-fast shipping, wondering how “delicious” and "visceral fat reduction” have managed to enter the same product copy (@ Lemme), unpacking Live Nation’s latest bev partnership, and, obviously, learning how Nate dodged laced brownies in high school.Our latest newsletter gets into more details on all of the above. Read it here: https://expresscheckout.co/p/the-drones-are-comingThe Rundown00:00 Intro00:20 Full Black Friday and Cyber Monday recap03:39 Ultra-fast shipping innovations (Walmart, Target, Uber Eats + more)14:10 “Gummifying” every supplement20:14 Legit weed brownies 👀23:58 Hiyo x Live Nation partnership27:45 Anheuser Busch acquires BeatBox33:30 Conclusion and wrap-up🎧 Love the show? Subscribe to The Curious Consumer wherever you get your podcasts! New episodes drop weekly. 📧 Get the inside scoop Subscribe to Express Checkout, our newsletter packed with consumer insights, trends, and exclusive content straight to your inbox at expresscheckout.co.Let’s connect! Follow us for behind-the-scenes content, quick tips, and more: @expresscheckout💬 Join the conversation Have a product you’re curious about? DM us your questions or drop them in the comments—your topic could be featured in our next episode! If you have any thoughts/questions/suggestions, feel free to email us at hello@expresscheckout.co :)⭐ Help us grow If you enjoyed this episode, please rate and review us on Apple Podcasts or Spotify. It helps other curious consumers find us! Get full access to Express Checkout at www.expresscheckout.co/subscribe

We’re coming in hot off of Black Friday/Cyber Monday! In this episode, we’re sharing some results from this sale weekend, thoughts on Quince’s foray into food + wine, Aldi’s massive US expansion (and what that says about consumer behavior), and more.If you’re fascinated by “dupe culture”, check out our recent deep dive on Quince!Gift guides can all be found here!As always, if you have any thoughts/questions/suggestions, feel free to email us at hello@expresscheckout.co :)The rundown:00:00 Intro + chit-chat02:07 Gift guides recap!04:27 Black Friday and Cyber Monday 2025 insights11:54 Quince’s foray into food + wine19:24 Aldi opening 16 stores in one day?!26:36 Monogram Capital’s fund + the future of emerging brands31:11 Wrapping up🎧 Love the show? Subscribe to The Curious Consumer wherever you get your podcasts! New episodes drop weekly. 📧 Get the inside scoop Subscribe to Express Checkout, our newsletter packed with consumer insights, trends, and exclusive content straight to your inbox. Sign up at expresscheckout.co.📱 Let’s connect! Follow us for behind-the-scenes content, quick tips, and more:* Instagram: @expresscheckout💬 Join the conversation Have a product you’re curious about? DM us your questions or drop them in the comments—your topic could be featured in our next episode!⭐ Help us grow If you enjoyed this episode, please rate and review us on Apple Podcasts or Spotify. It helps other curious consumers find us! Get full access to Express Checkout at www.expresscheckout.co/subscribe

Welcome back to another episode of The Curious Consumer! This week, we’ve got a great lineup of consumer goods stories—from the beverage brand that’s secretly winning through foodservice, to the new era of medical-grade skincare platforms. The breakdown:00:00 Intro00:48 Tractor Beverage: From foodservice to retail05:18 The new era of non-alc beverages10:18 Silk’s high-protein soy milk15:45 The new frontier of skincare22:11 How Credo Beauty is setting standards in clean beauty29:47 Bath & Body Works takes Amazon37:59 Target’s integration with ChatGPT43:50 Outro🎧 Love the show? Subscribe to The Curious Consumer wherever you get your podcasts! New episodes drop weekly. 📧 Get the inside scoop Subscribe to Express Checkout, our newsletter packed with consumer insights, trends, and exclusive content straight to your inbox. Sign up at expresscheckout.co.📱 Let’s connect! Follow us for behind-the-scenes content, quick tips, and more:* Instagram: @expresscheckout💬 Join the conversation Have a product you’re curious about? DM us your questions or drop them in the comments—your topic could be featured in our next episode!⭐ Help us grow If you enjoyed this episode, please rate and review us on Apple Podcasts or Spotify. It helps other curious consumers find us! Get full access to Express Checkout at www.expresscheckout.co/subscribe

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).Our Express Checkout newsletter subscribers know: we had a whole lot more news to share in writing this week, too. To get a full breakdown of all consumer goods + retail news, make sure you’re subscribed to our newsletter, Express Checkout. And as always, thank you for listening!!! Your support means so much to us :)Timeline 00:00 Intro01:54 The controversial new kids’ skincare brand09:48 Monster’s new energy drink “for women”14:29 The rise of new energy drinks23:25 Whole Foods and Amazon get cozier32:11 PepsiCo’s new dye-free products39:40 Outro🎧 Love the show? Subscribe to The Curious Consumer wherever you get your podcasts! New episodes drop weekly. 📧 Get the inside scoop Subscribe to Express Checkout, our newsletter packed with consumer insights, trends, and exclusive content straight to your inbox. Sign up at expresscheckout.co📱 Let’s connect! Follow us for behind-the-scenes content, quick tips, and more:* Instagram: @expresscheckout💬 Join the conversation Have a product you’re curious about? DM us your questions or drop them in the comments—your topic could be featured in our next episode!⭐ Help us grow If you enjoyed this episode, please rate and review us on Apple Podcasts or Spotify. It helps other curious consumers find us!🎯 Got a minute? Share this episode with a friend who’s always reaching for that energy drink. They might learn something that surprises them! Get full access to Express Checkout at www.expresscheckout.co/subscribe

We are SO excited to share that this episode was sponsored by our friends at Glimpse! Glimpse is offering brands 30 days FREE plus a 12-month lookback at their deductions to see where they could’ve saved $. Getting started is super easy—onboarding takes 15 minutes with a specialist. No CC or complicated forms required (love to hear it). On this week’s episode of The Curious Consumer, we’re talking…* Why branded produce is the next big thing (re: Fruitist’s massive raise)* Two secretly sustainable celeb products * Recess’s $30M raise and what it says about functional bev* Bryan Johnson turning us all into suckers* …and more.If you enjoyed this episode, consider tossing us a like, subscribe, or share it with your friends :) It seriously means the world to us!!! And as always, if you have thoughts to share (or want to sponsor an episode or newsletter 👀), shoot us an email at Nate@expresscheckout.co and jenna@expresscheckout.co Get full access to Express Checkout at www.expresscheckout.co/subscribe

Welcome back to The Curious Consumer! In our (now) weekly episode, we break down the latest news in consumer brands and retail. Today, we get into:* Why your dog is probably eating better than you* Culture Pop x Noah Kahan* Why plant-based alternatives aren’t working right now* The new brand in teen personal care* Bon Jovi’s son’s new brand incubator* The brand reinventing car freshener* The food insecurity crisis facing America (and how retailers are responding)Please consider donating to Feeding America to help those impacted by the pause in SNAP and WIC benefits: https://give.feedingamerica.org/kTIc6StdKUebxV-HOloYVQ2And as always, thank you for listening!!! Your support means so much to us as we grow this pod :)🎧 Love the show? Subscribe to The Curious Consumer wherever you get your podcasts! New episodes drop every week📧 Get the inside scoop Subscribe to Express Checkout, our newsletter packed with consumer insights, trends, and exclusive content straight to your inbox. Sign up at expresscheckout.co📱 Let’s connect! Follow us for behind-the-scenes content, quick tips, and more:* Instagram: @expresscheckout💬 Join the conversation Have a product you’re curious about? DM us your questions or drop them in the comments—your topic could be featured in our next episode!⭐ Help us grow If you enjoyed this episode, please rate and review us on Apple Podcasts or Spotify. It helps other curious consumers find us!🎯 Got a minute? Share this episode with a friend who’s always reaching for that energy drink. They might learn something that surprises them! Get full access to Express Checkout at www.expresscheckout.co/subscribe

Hello hello! We’re excited to test out a new format on the pod :) Every Monday, we share the previous week’s biggest news in consumer + retail in our newsletter, Express Checkout. Now, we’re bringing that newsletter to life—walking through each Monday edition on the pod. This week, we chat about:* Gen Z males’ new fragrance obsession* The latest protein-infused products (protein Pop-Tarts and Barebells’ protein soda)* Supplement brands entering Target * OpenAI’s partnerships with retailers * Chobani’s latest funding round and expansion effortsSee you next week!Chapters:00:00 Intro01:00 Male + Gen Z Fragrance Trends13:04 Protein Pop-Tarts17:13 Barebells’ Protein Soda21:30 Target Supplement Launches24:17 Retailers Partnering with OpenAI26:34 Live Shopping with E.L.F Cosmetics 28:49 Chobani’s Growth 32:26 Mammoth Brands’ Expanding Portfolio34:16 Conclusion Get full access to Express Checkout at www.expresscheckout.co/subscribe

Welcome back to another episode of The Curious Consumer! This is our part 2 episode of our dive into protein. If you haven’t watched our first one, you can check that out here! Protein isn’t just for bodybuilders anymore. It’s everywhere. It’s in your cereal, your ice cream, even your condiments. I know. 🥣🍦🥨This week on The Curious Consumer, we’re diving deep into the “protein-ification” of America. From wild grocery store finds to hot takes from real listeners, we’re breaking down why everyone’s obsessed, what’s actually healthy, and which trends might be here to stay.💬 Is protein a trend, a bubble, or the new normal?👀 Are you team “protein in everything” or “just give me the real thing”?In this episode you’ll learn about:🥣 How protein-packed products are taking over every aisle, from cereal to ice cream🧬 Some science (and myths) behind protein claims and labeling🍦 The rise of high-protein snacks, drinks, and even condiments💪 Why “baddies are eating like rottweilers” and what that says about wellness culture🤔 Hot takes from real listeners on whether protein is a trend, a bubble, or here to stayTIMESTAMPS00:00 Intro and Welcome02:35 Brief Background and History of Protein07:35 Exploring Protein Product Categories08:49 Cereal Category Deep Dive12:37 Pasta and Alternative Grains17:18 Ice Cream and Frozen Products19:06 Beverages and RTD Products33:22 Hot Takes from Listeners33:23 Consumer Hot Takes and Opinions47:33 Future Trends and Market Predictions56:12 Marketing Claims and Consumer Education01:01:20 Product Quality and Taste Considerations01:04:37 Wrap Up and Contact Information🎧 Love the show? Subscribe to The Curious Consumer wherever you get your podcasts! New episodes drop every week📧 Get the inside scoop Subscribe to Express Checkout, our newsletter packed with consumer insights, trends, and exclusive content straight to your inbox. Sign up at expresscheckout.co📱 Let’s connect! Follow us for behind-the-scenes content, quick tips, and more:* Instagram: @expresscheckout💬 Join the conversation Have a product you’re curious about? DM us your questions or drop them in the comments—your topic could be featured in our next episode!⭐ Help us grow If you enjoyed this episode, please rate and review us on Apple Podcasts or Spotify. It helps other curious consumers find us!🎯 Got a minute? Share this episode with a friend who’s always reaching for that energy drink. They might learn something that surprises them!Checkout some of the articles and resources we used!* Drew Gooden’s video* Research paper on social media usage leading to increased protein intake* Vasa’s article on Protein bars:* Fred Hart’s post on Costco being THE protein dealer. Get full access to Express Checkout at www.expresscheckout.co/subscribe