In this episode of Shopify Happy Hour , we sit down with Xeba Zareie —founder of Preme Foods , a wellness-driven CPG brand helping people with chronic illness and sensitive stomachs enjoy indulgent nutrition again. What started as a personal battle with gut health turned into a mission: create functional, prebiotic-powered products that don’t compromise on taste or ingredients. From handmaking puddings to launching a shelf-stable, collagen-rich cocoa mix, Xeba’s story is equal parts resilience, research, and real innovation. We talk about: Why most gut health products on shelves are not made for sensitive stomachs The difference between prebiotics and probiotics (and why that matters) How Xeba scaled from small-batch to co-manufacturing without compromising quality What most new founders get wrong about packaging, messaging, and retail Her exact process for landing ideal retail partners—including a few bold outreach tactics Why powders > puddings (at least to start) If you’re building a wellness brand, formulating a CPG product, or launching on Shopify, this episode is packed with firsthand lessons from the trenches. Also: it’s our Aries birthday episode —cheers to that! Connect with Xeba Zareie Instagram: @x_eba Brand: @drinkpreme More info: drinkpreme.com Products mentioned during the episode: Zero to One by Peter Thiel Ramping Your Brand by James F. Richardson PhD 7 Laws of Spiritual Success by Deepak Chopra Organify Shilajit Gummies Revolve Erewhon Pistakio Charmlee Nour Dressing Chapters 00:00 Introduction to Preme Foods and Xeba Zareie 02:11 The Science Behind Gut Health and Nutrition 06:18 Founder's Journey: From Personal Struggles to Business 11:09 Scaling Production: Challenges and Solutions 12:03 Transitioning from Puddings to Powders 13:39 Navigating Retail Partnerships and Consumer Education 19:16 Marketing Strategies for D2C Success 21:19 Lessons Learned and Future Directions
