Goya Foods facts for kids
"If it's Goya, it has to be good"
Si es Goya, tiene que ser bueno |
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Goya Headquarters (Jersey City, 2018)
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| Private | |
| Industry | Food industry |
| Founded | 1936 in New York City, United States |
| Founders | Prudencio Unanue Ortiz |
| Headquarters |
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United States
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Area served
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United States Dominican Republic Spain |
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Key people
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Robert Unanue (CEO) |
| Products | Spanish and Latin American cuisine |
| Revenue | $1.5 billion |
| Owner | Unanue Family |
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Number of employees
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4,000 |
Goya Foods, Inc. is a well-known company that makes and sells food products. You can find Goya foods in the United States and many countries where Spanish is spoken. The company has factories and offices in the United States (including Puerto Rico), the Dominican Republic, and Spain.
Goya Foods is owned by the Unanue family, who are Spanish-American. The company's main office is in Jersey City, New Jersey.
Contents
The Story of Goya Foods
Goya Foods was started by Prudencio Unanue Ortiz in 1936. Prudencio came from Spain and moved to Puerto Rico. There, he met and married Carolina Casal, who was also from Spain. Later, they moved to New York City.
The family first opened a small store in 1922. But in the mid-1930s, they changed it to a wholesale business. Prudencio bought the name "Goya" from a sardine company. He thought his own last name was too hard for American customers to say. He also liked that "Goya" reminded people of the famous Spanish artist Francisco Goya.
Growing the Company
When Prudencio Unanue passed away in 1976, his sons, Joseph, Charles, Francisco, and Anthony, took over Goya. Joseph A. Unanue became the main leader of the company. At that time, Goya was a small company.
Joseph A. Unanue worked with his brother Francisco. Francisco was in charge of Goya's operations in Puerto Rico, where much of the food was made. Under Joseph A. Unanue's leadership, Goya grew a lot.
By 1998, Goya made about 800 different food items. These included rice, beans, sauces, and spices. The company had 2,000 employees and made about $700 million in sales.
New Leadership at Goya
In 2004, Joseph A. Unanue stepped down from his top role. This happened because of disagreements within the Unanue family about the company's future. At this time, Goya was making between $750 million and over $1 billion in sales.
Joseph's son, Andy Unanue, who was a top manager, also left the company. Robert Unanue and his cousin Francisco Unanue then decided to lead the company. Robert Unanue has been the chief executive since 2004.
Sometimes, because many family members own parts of Goya, they have different ideas about how the company should run.
Modern Expansion
In 2012, Goya started building a large distribution center. This new center cost $127 million and is located in Jersey City, New Jersey. The state helped Goya with tax benefits to make this move.
In 2019, Goya talked about possibly selling the company to another group. However, they decided not to sell.
What Goya Foods Makes
Goya makes and sells foods from many different cultures. These include Spanish, Puerto Rican, Caribbean, Mexican, Cuban, and Central and South American foods.
Their products are sold in stores and supermarkets across the United States. They are also sold in other countries around the world. In 2006, Forbes magazine said Goya was one of the largest private companies in the U.S.
Between 2014 and 2016, Goya opened five new facilities. These included places to make and distribute food in New Jersey, Texas, California, and Georgia. This helped them meet the growing demand for their products. Today, Goya Foods' main office is on a 40-acre property in Jersey City, New Jersey. Goya also has a factory in the Dominican Republic and a distribution center in Puerto Rico.
Goya's Community Efforts
Goya Gives Back
"Goya Gives" is a special program where the company helps different charities and events. They also give scholarships to students. During tough times, like after Hurricane Maria in Puerto Rico, Goya donates food to shelters and food banks.
In early 2020, during the COVID-19 pandemic, Goya donated a lot of food. They gave over 300,000 pounds of food, which is like 270,000 meals. They also donated more than 20,000 protective masks.
Healthy Eating Campaign
In 2012, Goya joined a healthy eating program. This program was called "MyPlate" and was led by then-First Lady Michelle Obama.
Public Comments and Reactions
In July 2020, Goya Foods CEO Robert Unanue spoke at a White House event. He praised President Donald Trump, saying the country was "truly blessed" to have him as a leader.
After his comments, some people on social media called for a boycott of Goya products. This means they encouraged others not to buy Goya foods. Some public figures, like Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez and Lin-Manuel Miranda, supported this idea.
Robert Unanue responded by saying it was a "suppression of speech." He did not apologize for what he said. In response, some people started an "anti-boycott" movement. They encouraged others to buy Goya products to support the company. Goya also used its social media to highlight its promise to donate food to those affected by COVID-19.
In December 2020, Unanue joked that Ocasio-Cortez was named "employee of the month." He said her call for a boycott actually made Goya's sales go up a lot. Later, in January 2021, Goya's board of directors told Unanue not to talk to the media. This was after he made comments questioning the results of the 2020 United States presidential election. Some people on the board felt his statements were not good for the company.
An economics professor from Cornell University named Jura Liaukonyte said in April 2023 that the boycott of Goya foods did not work. She said it actually led to an increase in Goya sales. She explained that boycotts are usually short-lived. In Goya's case, sales increased because new customers tried the products.
Goya's Place in Art
The Goya Foods logo and images have been used by many modern artists. They include these images in their paintings, prints, and sculptures. Some of these artists are Cuban-American artist Ric Garcia and sculptor Alexander Mijares.
See also
In Spanish: Goya Foods para niños
- La Costeña (food company)
