Mason Dixie Foods expands senior leadership team

The new hires bring 21+ years of CPG experience to their roles.

Mason Dixie Foods, the natural frozen comfort food brand known for its clean-label breakfast sandwiches, breakfast burritos, crispy chicken sandwiches, waffles, and biscuits, has announced two key additions to its leadership.

Rob Leibowitz, a veteran CPG operator who spent nearly 21 years at Mars, Inc. and has led multiple brands from scale-up through successful strategic exits, has joined the company's board of directors, and Brent Chu, formerly CFO at La Colombe Coffee Roasters and Insomnia Cookies, has joined as CFO. The appointments are a deliberate move toward scaling the business, the company notes, as Mason Dixie Foods enters a new phase of accelerated growth following expanded distribution at major national retailers including Wegmans, HEB, Costco and Whole Foods Market.

“Mason Dixie Foods has always believed people deserve better, cleaner food made with real ingredients, just like you would at home, and the market has validated that belief,” says Ayeshah Abuelhiga, founder and CEO of Mason Dixie Foods. “Adding seasoned leaders like Rob and Brent, who bring diverse experience across emerging and large CPG businesses, will help us efficiently accelerate the growth of Mason Dixie Foods."

Scaling the board

Leibowitz is a consumer industry executive with 30+ years of experience building and scaling brands across multinational, private equity-backed, and founder-led businesses. His roles have spanned CEO, board chair, operating partner, and general manager, with a track record of driving growth, strengthening operating and financial models, building brands and accelerating performance in complex, evolving environments.

Leibowitz previously served as CEO of Kite Hill, Raybern Foods, and Dogswell, and as an operating partner at TSG Consumer Partners. He also held general manager roles at Keurig Dr Pepper (Ready-to-Drink Coffee) and Del Monte Foods (Pet Business Unit). Earlier in his career at Mars, he held senior leadership roles across Petcare, Confectionery, Functional Foods, and Ice Cream business units. Leibowitz currently advises the Mason Dixie Foods team and board on growth strategy, operating model effectiveness, and performance acceleration as the company enters its next phase of expansion.

“Mason Dixie Foods is the brand this category has been waiting for: Clean label, genuinely loved by consumers, with a proven portfolio and a clear path to accelerated growth,” says Leibowitz. “What Ayeshah and her team have built—from a restaurant 'side-hustle' into a high-quality, high-growth BFY frozen comfort food brand—is remarkable. The opportunity ahead is significant, and I’m excited to help scale the business to its full potential.”

Leadership for sustained growth

Brent Chu joins Mason Dixie Foods as CFO, with more than 25 years of finance experience, driving profitable growth in multinational and private equity-backed businesses. Chu's career trajectory showcases a wealth of experience in consumer-facing businesses, particularly in high-growth and disruptor brands within the CPG and food and beverage sectors. He most recently served as the CFO at Insomnia Cookies, and La Colombe Coffee Roasters. He also held financial leadership roles at Claire’s and Ferrara Candy Company. Chu began his career in Consumer Goods at PepsiCo and Kraft Foods.

Chu brings comprehensive skills to a strategic CFO role in a high-growth environment. He has a proven track record of delivering profitable growth, transforming organizational capabilities to support scalable growth, and leading major strategic initiatives including successful financing and exit transactions. Chu's experience will be invaluable as Mason Dixie Foods continues to scale, the company says.

“Ayeshah and her team have built an extraordinary better-for-you frozen comfort food brand that is disrupting the category. I’m excited to join the company during this pivotal time and look forward to working alongside Ayeshah, the broader team, and the board to unlock the full potential of the business,” says Chu.