MIRA LOMA, Calif. – Michael Axelrod has been named CEO at Hispanic refrigerated food company Del Real Foods.

Axelrod previously was CEO of Passport Global Foods and Fine Choice Foods. Before that, he was chief operating officer at Bay Valley Foods, a subsidiary of TreeHouse Foods. He also was president of TreeHouse’s $1.5 billion condiments division and vice president of global innovation at McCain Foods.

Del Real makes heat-and-serve Mexican cuisine products, prepared specialty items, fresh salsas and side dishes. The company opened a new plant in Oklahoma earlier this year, doubling its manufacturing capacity.

“Michael is a highly experienced and well-regarded business leader who brings almost three decades of experience leading and building food companies,” said Ed Lambert, executive chairman at Del Real Foods. “He is a people- and customer-centered individual who is ideally suited to help us as Del Real Foods moves to its next level of development.”