When Meme Elabd first arrived in Hatfield, Penn., from her hometown of Nag Hammadi, Egypt, in 2006, she brought with her then two small children, and a dream shaped by both courage and chance. Winning Egypt’s highly competitive immigration visa lottery opened the door. Choosing Clemens Food Group gave her the home.
The reason Meme left her homeland was simple: “I wanted a better life for my kids—a better education.” She saw that dream for her growing family here, in Pennsylvania.
Her journey at CFG began on the second shift in the ham-boning area. For four years, she worked late nights, until she realized her children needed more of her time. “I wanted to see my kids,” she recalls. That longing led her to investigate other opportunities at CFG where she found an opening in the kitchen of the Hatfield plant’s busy culinary operations. It’s here where Meme’s story at CFG truly came to life.
Cooking has always been her passion. As a child in Egypt, she stood beside her grandmother at the stove, learning how to fold care into every dish. The flavors she grew up with are unmistakable: fragrant cumin, the bite of black pepper, garlic and onions simmering into warmth. Egyptian cuisine often draws on a blend known as “seven spices,” a rich mix of cardamom, cinnamon, cloves, turmeric, paprika and thyme. Together, these layers of seasoning bring depth to everything from soups and meats to rice and salads. Today, they infuse Meme’s dishes at CFG with both tradition and comfort.
Her food tells stories: beef béchamel, falafel, Egyptian chicken and potato. Even banana bread, which has become a beloved staple in the cafeteria, requested again and again by coworkers. “What’s important to me is when people taste what we make and it makes them happy,” she says with a smile.
Meme’s love of sharing food is an expression of her strong faith, according to Gabriel Nesmith, CFG’s Superintendent of Culinary Operations. “Meme is a servant leader. She gives care to everyone with her love of providing food and serving others,” he says.
Meme’s story is also one of resilience and community. When her son faced a serious health challenge, she worried she would have to step away from her work. Instead, CFG leaders encouraged her to stay. They rearranged schedules, making space for her to work part-time until her family was steady again. “They told me, ‘Don’t quit. We’ll work with you,’” she says. “And they did.”
For Nesmith, this commitment to people is just part of the CFG culture. “When our Team Members thrive, our company thrives and I am on a mission to ‘Do the Right Thing Always’—not just as a Clemens Way fundamental, but as a servant leader in faith,” he shares.
Eighteen years on, Meme has found more than just a career. She has found a kinship. “The team is like family here, and if anything is happening, we come together,” she reflects.
Food, after all, is about more than recipes. It’s about connection. And every dish she creates at CFG carries the spirit of both Egypt and her life here in Pennsylvania: a blend of traditions, a thread of care, and a joy meant to be shared.
Meme, we thank you for your service, expertise and unique talents that you bring here to Clemens Food Group!
