Today we’d like to introduce you to Mareya Ibrahim-Jones
Hi Mareya, so excited to have you on the platform. So before we get into questions about your work-life, maybe you can bring our readers up to speed on your story and how you got to where you are today?
I founded EAT CLEANER with my dad, Dr. Shawki Ibrahim, Emeritus Professor and Ph. D., Environmental Health Sciences and an M.A. in Agriculture after he got cancer and was told to avoid all raw food, including fresh produce. As a concerned grandfather and me, a food industry veteran and mother of two, we created a line of products fueled by plant science that help you take food safety into your own hands.
And so that my father could eat a salad safely.
You could call the year 2009 a hallmark one by all definitions. In January, I turned 40, finalized my divorce, moved my parents closer to me and became hell bent to begin the rest of my career doing something I could wake up to and feel proud, perhaps even leave a legacy for my kids.
I was a VP for an event marketing agency and had worked for the same company for 6 years. Stock options, great benefits and a consistent, healthy paycheck… for a single mother of two children under 7 in the worst economy since the Great Depression, one of my good friends tried to be supportive but looked at me with the raised eyebrow, suggesting I had lost my mind. I assure her, it was the only sane thing to do. Timing, indeed, is everything and it was about time I took the wheel.
Here’s how it happened. I was driving to work the Monday after we successfully launched our new brand, Eat Cleaner, at the Natural Products Expo West in Anaheim. I paid for the booth with my tax return and instead of opting for boring, expensive trade show set-ups, I made IKEA my friend and outfitted our 10’x10’ cube with hip white enameled furniture, bright orange polka dot carpets and fresh fruit, adding color and the perfect prop for our demos. Our own products served as the most important accessory, the clean design punctuating the barrage of stimuli to give event goers a little respite at our makeshift bar. I bought 6 t-shirts at Old Navy and had them embroidered with our logo at a local shop along with two tote bags that we raffled off at our booth. All in all, our set up cost under $500.
For 3 long days, we sampled slices of apples sprayed with Eat Cleaner, a show and taste for consumers. A 15-second elevator pitch slide across our tongues with enthusiasm and passion. We answered questions, we shared stories, we ate every neighboring booth’s samples and we made friends, bonding participants and exhibitors, telling our story with vigor. We even got my 7 year old daughter in on the act and had her pass out stickers asking people to ‘Join the Cleaner Plate Club.’
Dad’s brainchild and my love for all things culinary – coupled with our mutual love for my kids – fueled our fire. We patented the process, got trademarks, went on to do many sold out shows on HSN, QVC and sold in retail stores across the US and internationally. And this past year, I sold the company to Joy Mangano, the queen of direct sales and subject of the movie, Joy, starring Jennifer Lawrence – and her partner, Pitbull, Mr. Worldwide.
I’m now building my new business, FitLife, which includes my podcast, consulting, speaking, writing and developing new products to help improve people’s lives. I’m most excited about just launching Superfood Sprinkle, a flavor-packed, health-forward spice blend filled with hundreds of phytonutrients, including antioxidants, electrolytes, adaptogens and immune, digestion and pain relief boosters. Superfood Sprinkle will transform how you season your food with a chef-crafted, balanced blend of the most nutrient-dense ingredients. People can find it at www.mysuperfoodsprinkle.com.
I’m sure it wasn’t obstacle-free, but would you say the journey has been fairly smooth so far?
To say that it’s been a tough road would be a sore understatement.
The responsibility and pressure of getting a business off the ground while juggling the needs of my family was enormous. From trying to figure out how to finance projects to managing unruly business partners and employees to overcoming retailer objections and supply chain issues to overcoming a pandemic, the list goes on and on.
I had to learn and lean on others who had forged the path before me.
Sure there’s tremendous risk but I live every moment to the fullest instead of living for the weekends. Although many nights I was up well past midnight getting work done, I did have the flexibility to attend those school performances and make sure the tooth fairy gets to visit. I have always made exercise a priority as it helps to clear my head and keep my heart beating. I even took my kids to events and have the help pass out stickers and samples at ages 3 and 7. The fuel for my fire is and always will be the positive responses from our customers and connecting with people and it’s so gratifying to hear people thank me for bringing a product like ours to market.
As you know, we’re big fans of you and your work. For our readers who might not be as familiar what can you tell them about what you do?
While I’m a business owner, I identify as more of a creative force – a problem solver that comes up with ideas to help overcome and thrive. What sets me apart is I am a righ/left brain balanced person. I can execute highly detailed plans and stay creative. I credit this to nature, but also, I have an extensive professional career background, working in all aspects of food from grocery to agency and building my own company. I’m also very connected to consumer response through my large social media network, which gives me an opportunity to keep my finger on the pulse of what is needed and I hone in on creative ways to deliver that. Instead of creating a company brochure, I wrote and produced a rap video about eating cleaner. Instead of a boring trade show booth, we set up a modern home setting and sat people down at barstools while we did our demonstrations. When I give presentations, I often cook at the same time, engaging people with all the senses so it becomes the most memorable experience of their lives. I am thankful for the gift of writing which helps me tie it all together in a nice package.
Is there anything else you’d like to share with our readers?
Two years ago, I decided to embark on the ultimate fitness journey after going through perimenopause and feeling not so great about myself. I’ve now competed in two bikini bodybuilding competitions and placed top 3 in my most recent one – at the age of 55! You can do it if you set your heart, mind and soul to it. Now I also help people live their best life in their best SHAPE (soul, heart, appetite, physical, emotional shape)
Pricing:
- Superfood Sprinkle – Hot Stuff $15.99
- Superfood Sprinkle – Chef’s Kiss $15.99
- Superfood Sprinkle – Double the fun $29.99
- Speaking and consulting – ask for info
- Social media support – ask for info
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.chefmareya.com
- Instagram: @chefmareya
- Facebook: @chefmareya
- Youtube: @chefmareya
- Other: https://linktr.ee/chefmareya
Image Credits
Mareya Ibrahim-Jones
