From Gut Issues to Product Innovation: Xeba Zareie’s CPG Journey with Preme Foods

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 stomachsThe difference between prebiotics and probiotics (and why that matters)How Xeba scaled from small-batch to co-manufacturing without compromising qualityWhat most new founders get wrong about packaging, messaging, and retailHer exact process for landing ideal retail partners—including a few bold outreach tacticsWhy 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.comProducts mentioned during the episode:Zero to One by Peter ThielRamping Your Brand by James F. Richardson PhD7 Laws of Spiritual Success by Deepak ChopraOrganify Shilajit GummiesRevolveErewhonPistakioCharmleeNour DressingChapters00:00Introduction to Preme Foods and Xeba Zareie02:11The Science Behind Gut Health and Nutrition06:18Founder's Journey: From Personal Struggles to Business11:09Scaling Production: Challenges and Solutions12:03Transitioning from Puddings to Powders13:39Navigating Retail Partnerships and Consumer Education19:16Marketing Strategies for D2C Success21:19Lessons Learned and Future Directions