Behind the scenes

The wooden alternative to cigarettes and chewing gum

17.10.2024

Translation: Katherine Martin

Online retailer Galaxus sold 162 per cent more flavoured toothpicks in the three months between July and September 2024 than in the first three months of the year. Touted as sustainable lifestyle products that’ll help you quit smoking or biting your fingernails, these little wooden sticks supposedly taste just as good as chewing gum.

«Fancy a toothpick?» Are you one of those people who’s always meaning to quit smoking? Instead of going down the nicotine patch or hypnosis route, you might have an easier time switching to toothpicks. At least, that’s what Swiss toothpick manufacturer Zunder and its German counterpart Wunder have claimed. Available in flavours such as berry, mint, cinnamon and apple, their products are becoming increasingly popular with Galaxus customers.

Toothpicks all round?

Ever since these toothpicks became available on Galaxus, sales have been steadily rising – even if it’s still a niche trend. The online retailer now dispatches several hundred boxes a month to its customers, and the numbers are increasing rapidly. Target customers are particularly fond of two flavours: Berry (Zunder) and Icebonbon (Wunder). Since August 2023, sales of all flavours have increased by over 600 per cent.

Page views (the number of times a Galaxus product page has been viewed) aren’t increasing as much as actual sales. This means the probability of a page view leading to a purchase is going up. Product Manager Mirko Calivers, who’s responsible for the non-food supermarket range on Galaxus, says, «On average, customers buy two boxes of different flavours per order.»

A sustainable alternative to chewing gum and cigarettes

If the manufacturers are to be believed, toothpicks also have a greater benefit. They’re supposed to keep interdental spaces clean, improve oral hygiene, provide an outlet for stress and contribute to the environment. The FSC-certified wood they’re made from is better than the synthetic rubber used to make chewing gum. Zunder also promises to protect one square metre of rainforest from deforestation with every pack it sells. On its website, it also says: «Many of our customers have had success in replacing their nail biting habit with chewing toothpicks.»

If these two brands’ sales continue to soar, we soon might be seeing more people on the streets with toothpicks in their mouths.

Wunder Zahnstocher Toothpicks with flavour (1 x)

Disposable tableware

CHF11.90

Wunder Zahnstocher Toothpicks with flavour

1 x

Disposable tableware

CHF10.–

Zunder Mint

80 x

Disposable tableware

Zunder Box Berry

80 x

Disposable tableware

CHF11.90

Wunder Zahnstocher Toothpicks with flavour

1 x

Disposable tableware

CHF10.–

Zunder Mint

80 x

Disposable tableware

Zunder Box Berry

80 x

Feel free to share your experiences with flavoured toothpicks in the comments. Would you ever try toothpicks like these? If not, why not?

Toothpick

Have you ever tried a flavoured toothpick?

Yes
30%
No
25%
No, but I would like to
36%
Here for the answer
10%

The competition has ended.

12 people like this article

Manuel Wenk

Communications Manager

Manuel.Wenk@digitecgalaxus.ch

As a Multimedia Producer, preparing multimedia content and knowing about cutting-edge technology is my business. My main focus at digitec is producing videos. I can’t wait to try out new products such as cameras, drones or smartphones as soon as they’re launched. This is where being at the source comes in rather handy. When I’m not working, I’m probably skiing, biking or hiking – the mountains are my place to be.

DIY

Follow topics and stay updated on your areas of interest

Health

Follow topics and stay updated on your areas of interest

Sustainability

Follow topics and stay updated on your areas of interest

Behind the scenes

News about features in our shop, information from marketing and logistics, and much more.

Show all

These articles might also interest you

Behind the scenes
Teflon pans are on their way out
by Tobias Billeter
Behind the scenes
Juicers, fryers, capsule machines – Switzerland’s favourite kitchen gadgets in 2023
by Tobias Heller
video
Product test
Cinnamon and Zunder – a neat yet wildly overpriced gimmick
by Patrick Vogt