# Ayeshah Abuelhiga

> Ayeshah Abuelhiga is the Baltimore-raised founder and CEO of Mason Dixie Foods. After a corporate career in technology and automotive businesses, she opened a biscuit-centered restaurant, discovered retail demand by freezing dough and selling it from an ice chest, and developed Mason Dixie into a nationally distributed frozen comfort-food company. She also co-founded Project Potluck to support people of color working in consumer packaged goods.

- **Role:** Founder and CEO at Mason Dixie Foods
- **Organizations:** Mason Dixie Foods, Project Potluck
- **Nationality:** American
- **Education:** Bachelor's degree in international affairs and geography, The George Washington University, Business and entrepreneurship studies, Babson College
- **Known for:** Built Mason Dixie Foods from a restaurant and market-stall concept into a brand sold in 6,000 U.S. stores and 3,000 Marriott Select Brand hotels by 2025., Led a $6.3 million Series A financing round announced in 2021., Named NOSH Person of the Year in 2022.

## Career timeline

- **Before 2014** — Worked in technology, consulting and automotive roles, including positions connected with ATCS, Leidos, Toshiba, Microsoft and Audi.
- **2014** — Founded Mason Dixie Foods and launched the biscuit-centered concept through pop-ups in Washington, D.C.
- **2015** — Expanded into retail after a Whole Foods regional representative discovered the product; the ready-to-bake frozen biscuit line entered stores.
- **2019** — Participated in the Chobani Incubator program.
- **2020** — Closed the restaurant during the pandemic, moved the company back to Baltimore and concentrated on consumer packaged goods.
- **2020** — Co-founded Project Potluck, a nonprofit community supporting people of color in the consumer packaged goods industry.
- **2021** — Raised a $6.3 million Series A round and expanded the brand's frozen breakfast strategy.
- **2025** — Expanded Mason Dixie into breakfast burritos and chicken sandwiches while reporting 6,000 U.S. stores and 3,000 Marriott Select Brand hotel locations.

## Achievements

- Built Mason Dixie Foods from a restaurant and market-stall concept into a brand sold in 6,000 U.S. stores and 3,000 Marriott Select Brand hotels by 2025.
- Led a $6.3 million Series A financing round announced in 2021.
- Named NOSH Person of the Year in 2022.
- Selected for the EY Entrepreneurial Winning Women North America Class of 2022.
- Mason Dixie ranked No. 638 on the 2023 Inc. 5000 after reporting 916% three-year growth.
- Recognized among the 2024 100 Women to KNOW in America.
- Mason Dixie's Bagel Sandwich was named Breakfast Product of the Year in the 2026 Mindful Awards.
- Co-founded Project Potluck to help people of color build careers and companies in consumer packaged goods.

## Latest updates

- **2026-06** — Mason Dixie's whole-grain Bagel Sandwich with chicken sausage, egg and cheese was named Breakfast Product of the Year in the eighth annual Mindful Awards.
- **2025-09** — Mason Dixie said it was operating on its own cash after launching breakfast burritos and chicken sandwiches, while Abuelhiga emphasized staying focused on breakfast rather than pursuing unrelated categories.
- **2025-08** — The company rolled breakfast burritos into Giant, Wegmans and Whole Foods and said more products were planned for late 2025 and 2026.
- **2025-06** — Retail Brew reported Mason Dixie products in 6,000 U.S. stores and 3,000 Marriott Select Brand hotels, with 87% dollar growth since 2021.
- **2025-02** — Mason Dixie announced breakfast burritos and two chicken sandwiches; NielsenIQ figures cited by FoodNavigator showed 43.2% dollar growth and 19.3% unit growth for the 26 weeks ending December 26.
- **2024-05** — Abuelhiga was named one of the 2024 100 Women to KNOW in America.

## Links

- Website: https://masondixiefoods.com
- LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/ajabuelhiga
- Twitter/X: https://twitter.com/MasonDixieFoods
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/masondixiefoods/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/MasonDixieFoods
- TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@masondixiefoods

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Profile page: https://yespress.io/ayeshah-abuelhiga
Published by YesPress — https://yespress.io
Last updated: 2026-09-27