We recently connected with Xeba Zareie and have shared our conversation below.

Xeba, appreciate you joining us today. So let’s jump to your mission – what’s the backstory behind how you developed the mission that drives your brand?

In 2020, I was suffering from debilitating and persistent gut-health issues. Western medicine had failed me. The specialists mentioned zero about diet and all I was offered were prescriptions for an antibiotic and an antidepressant. I was fortunate though, because I found and was able to afford to work with Dr. Juliana King, a functional medicine practitioner. For those who don’t know, functional medicine doctors can order and read medical labs (they often order them with more markers than what is traditionally covered under insurance), yet they use chinese medicine and holistic practices like herbalism, acupuncture, nervous system therapy, and lifestyle changes. etc. for a personalized healing protocol. And at the same time, a lot of my friends were getting diagnosed with similar gut illness. So I started researching more and discovered that we are truly in the midst of what is being called a gut health epidemic and most people cannot afford access to effective medical support.

Part of my protocol while I was sick was a Low Fodmap diet, something most gut health patients are probably already familiar with; but if you’re one of the fortunate ones, with a stomach of steel, it is a wildly limiting and boring diet: *think* no garlic, honey, or onion *to name a few.* All I could really digest and found myself eating in the mornings was good ole fashioned, homemade oatmeal (glyphosate free of course!) And every morning, feeling so sick and tired, I would dream of a greek yogurt-like alternative, that I could simply reach for out of the fridge, that tasted indulgent, luxurious, but also functional and supportive. An easy snack that would make me, and people like me, feel more included and supported while shopping in our grocery aisles. I was really sick of seeing gut disrupting ingredients and greenwashed labels in all of our snacks. I wanted to create an alternative that people could just trust.

Not only is providing more premium snack options in our aisles very important to our mission; but we are ultimately aiming to democratize accessibility to holistic healthcare. Our healthcare system is broken, doctors are only trained to match a diagnosis with a pill, most people can only afford help if it’s covered by their insurance and this is not the way we will solve the complexities of our gut health epidemic. And unfortunately, being able to afford holistic healthcare out of pocket, is a luxury. This is why Preme is on a mission to bring luxury medicine to our snack aisles.

Awesome – so before we get into the rest of our questions, can you briefly introduce yourself to our readers.

Hi! I’m Xeba //Ziba// and I have a gut-health brand called Preme. We create breakfast puddings with 10g of protein from collagen and gentle prebiotics. These are sweet-tooth, sensitive stomach, and functional medicine doctor approved. Our customers rave that they feel less bloated and notice better digestion after just one jar.

Did you know that consuming too much of the same or wrong probiotic strains can be harmful to your gut microbiome? Or that most yogurts do not actually have gut healing functionality? Aka their probiotics don’t ever make it to your microbiome garden. Daily prebiotics (not probiotics) are recommended now over probiotic supplements. But most prebiotics, like Metamucil can be heavy on today’s digestive tract and packed with gut disrupting ingredients. There was a statistic that states most Americans are fiber deprived. Not to mention, I was noticing there’s a growing number of people experiencing persistent inflammation and/or Irritable Bowel Syndrome (IBS). All of these issues make digesting fiber feel very uncomfortable, nearly impossible. So we chose prebiotics that are clinically proven to be gentle enough for the growing number of people with digestive disorders like SIBO (small intestinal bacterial overgrowth).

One customer story that brings me right back to my ‘why’ is about an elderly woman, bedridden from persistent GERD (acid reflux) and only felt worse overtime from the antibiotics her doctor prescribed. She started eating Preme and instantly felt an improvement. After a few weeks, she was up and walking around again, feeling back to her healthy self.

I am not a doctor, but our proprietary prebiotics are clinically proven to improve the landscape of the gut microbiome overtime. And why not support your gut health while eating a delicious chocolate mousse, which customers call “unbelievably healthy?’

You can find us on our website and on shelves at Honey Hi in Echo Park, Los Angeles, CA.

Any advice for growing your clientele? What’s been most effective for you?

I wish I could say that buying enough ads on social media or getting your product in front of the biggest influencers would equate to more sales, but it’s not that simple. People are inundated with information on the daily, so much so that getting someone’s attention and holding it long enough to gain their trust and dollar spend, is the hardest part.

Growing a customer base as a food company is three pronged: taste testing at events and retailers, building partnerships with trusted retailers, and word of mouth.

Once we have a customer who witnesses and experiences the delights and health benefits of Preme, they not only become repeat customers, they spread the word to their communities. This creates slower growth but it’s ultimately more sustainable.

Are there any books, videos, essays or other resources that have significantly impacted your management and entrepreneurial thinking and philosophy?

Contact Info:

• Website: https://www.premefoods.com
• Instagram: @eatpreme @x_eba
• Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/xeba-zareie-0931b0b0/
• Twitter: @XebaZareie @premefoods

Image Credits
Product Photographer: Joe Duarte Headshot Photographer: Mack Breeden