Unanue family
A wealthy Spanish-American family best known for founding and controlling Goya Foods.
Last updated October 14, 2026
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Overview
The Unanue family is a prominent Spanish-American family associated primarily with Goya Foods, a large privately held Hispanic-owned food company in the United States. The family’s story begins with Prudencio Unanue Ortiz, who was born in Villasana de Mena in northern Spain in 1886. He migrated to Puerto Rico in 1903 at the age of seventeen, seeking employment and commercial opportunities. After developing experience in food distribution, he moved to New York City in 1918 to study at Albany Business School. He returned to Puerto Rico in 1921 to marry Carolina Casal de Valdés, and the couple subsequently settled in New Jersey, where Prudencio worked as a broker and distributor of Spanish food products. The family business developed from this distribution activity. It was initially known as Unanue & Sons and later became Goya Foods in 1961. Under the leadership of Prudencio and his sons, the business expanded from imported Spanish products into a broad food portfolio serving Hispanic communities in the United States and Puerto Rico. Goya’s growth made the Unanues one of the best-known Hispanic business families in the country and linked the family’s public identity closely to the company’s brands, manufacturing, distribution, and community activities. Prudencio and Carolina had four sons: Joseph A., Charles, Francisco, and Anthony. Charles Unanue served as chief operating officer and chief executive of the family’s companies, including Goya, beginning in 1969, although he was later removed from company leadership. Joseph A. Unanue became the most prominent second-generation corporate executive. He served as Goya Foods’ president and chief executive officer from 1976 until 2004, following military service during the Second World War, during which he received the Bronze Star. Francisco Unanue established and led Goya de Puerto Rico during the 1960s and also helped found the Spanish Chamber of Commerce in New York. Anthony Unanue worked as an engineer and had a career that included federal government service. The third generation continued the family’s involvement in Goya and related businesses. Robert Unanue became Goya Foods’ chief executive officer in 2004 after previously working in Puerto Rico operations and assisting with an olive-oil business in Spain. Andy Unanue served as Goya’s chief operating officer from 1999 and later became managing partner of AUA Private Equity Partners. Other family members held leadership roles in Goya’s Puerto Rico and Florida operations, including Carlos Unanue, Frank Unanue, Tom Unanue, and Peter Unanue. Joseph F. Unanue, a son of Joseph A. Unanue, was a Goya operations executive until his death in 1998. The family has also been involved in civic, cultural, and philanthropic activities. Peter Unanue sponsored a statue of baseball player Roberto Clemente in New York City. The family and Goya have participated in initiatives connected to Hispanic communities, food access, and nutrition. In 2012, the family supported Michelle Obama’s MyPlate initiative, which promoted balanced eating among Hispanic and African American communities. The Unanues became especially visible in American political debate during Robert Unanue’s tenure as Goya’s chief executive. In 2020, after Robert Unanue praised President Donald Trump during a White House event and announced a donation of canned chickpeas to food banks, calls for a boycott of Goya followed. Supporters of the company organized counter-boycotts, turning the episode into a national political controversy. Subsequent public statements by Robert Unanue concerning the 2020 presidential election and conspiracy theories about the coronavirus intensified the dispute. Goya’s board censured him in January 2021 and restricted his ability to speak publicly about company politics without authorization. In February 2025, Robert Unanue announced that the board had terminated his employment. The family nevertheless remains associated with Goya Foods and with the broader history of Hispanic entrepreneurship in the United States.
History
The Unanue family’s commercial history is rooted in the migration of Prudencio Unanue Ortiz from Spain to Puerto Rico in 1903. Born in Villasana de Mena in the province of Burgos in 1886, Prudencio initially sought work and established a small food-distribution activity in San Lorenzo. He later moved to New York City to study at Albany Business School. After returning to Puerto Rico and marrying Carolina Casal de Valdés in 1921, he relocated with her to New Jersey, where he became a broker and distributor of Spanish foods. The family’s business was initially operated under the name Unanue & Sons. In 1936, Prudencio established the enterprise that became associated with Goya Foods, and the Goya name was adopted in 1961. The company grew by importing, distributing, and eventually producing foods for Spanish-speaking and Latin American communities in the United States. Its development placed the Unanues among the most visible Hispanic business families in the country. Prudencio and Carolina had four sons. Charles Unanue became a senior operating executive and served as chief operating officer and chief executive of the family’s companies from 1969, though he was later dismissed. Joseph A. Unanue led Goya as president and chief executive from 1976 through 2004. He had served in the United States Army during the Second World War and received the Bronze Star. Francisco Unanue developed Goya de Puerto Rico in the 1960s and became its president, while also participating in the creation of the Spanish Chamber of Commerce in New York. Anthony Unanue worked as an engineer and briefly served in the federal government. The next generation broadened the family’s operational presence. Robert Unanue worked in Puerto Rico during the 1980s and later became Goya’s chief executive in 2004. Andy Unanue was Goya’s chief operating officer from 1999 and subsequently moved into private equity. Carlos Unanue led Goya de Puerto Rico, Frank Unanue was associated with Florida operations, Tom Unanue also worked in Florida, and Peter Unanue served as an executive vice president. Joseph F. Unanue held Goya operational roles before his death in 1998. Family activities have extended beyond corporate management. The Unanues have supported food, nutrition, Hispanic-community, and cultural initiatives, including participation in the MyPlate nutrition effort in 2012 and sponsorship of a Roberto Clemente statue in New York City. The family’s public profile changed sharply during Robert Unanue’s political interventions. His praise of Donald Trump at a 2020 White House event led to boycott calls against Goya and a counter-campaign from supporters. In 2021, further comments about election fraud and coronavirus-related conspiracy theories resulted in board censure and limits on his public communications. In February 2025, he announced that the board had terminated his employment. These episodes made the family, through its association with Goya, a prominent example of the reputational and governance risks faced by privately held family businesses when executives enter polarized political debates.
- 2025
Robert Unanue’s employment is terminated
[1]Robert Unanue announced that Goya’s board had voted to terminate his employment.
- 2021
Board censure of Robert Unanue
[1]Goya’s board censured Robert Unanue and restricted his political communications on behalf of the company.
- 2020
Goya political controversy
[1]Robert Unanue’s White House appearance and praise of Donald Trump triggered boycott and counter-boycott activity involving Goya.
- 2012
Support for MyPlate
[1]The family supported Michelle Obama’s MyPlate nutrition initiative aimed in part at Hispanic and African American communities.
- 2004
Robert Unanue becomes chief executive
[1]Robert Unanue succeeded Joseph A. Unanue as chief executive of Goya Foods.
- 1999
Andy Unanue becomes chief operating officer
[1]Andy Unanue began serving as Goya Foods’ chief operating officer.
- 1976
Joseph A. Unanue becomes Goya chief executive
[1]Joseph A. Unanue began a long tenure as Goya Foods’ president and chief executive.
- 1969
Charles Unanue takes senior leadership
[1]Charles Unanue became chief operating officer and chief executive of the family’s companies, including Goya.
- 1961
The Goya name is adopted
[1]The family enterprise, previously known as Unanue & Sons, adopted the Goya Foods name.
- 1936
Founding of the family food enterprise
[1]Prudencio Unanue established the business that later became associated with Goya Foods.
Products and positioning
A multigenerational Spanish-American business family associated with Hispanic food distribution, private ownership, and community-oriented brand building through Goya Foods.
Food manufacturing and distribution · 1936
Goya Foods
Goya Foods is the central business associated with the Unanue family. It began as a Spanish-food distribution enterprise and developed into a broad Hispanic-oriented food company serving the United States and Puerto Rico. Its portfolio includes packaged pantry staples and other Spanish and Latin American foods, while its distribution network has made the Goya name especially familiar in Hispanic communities.
Regional food operations
Goya de Puerto Rico
Goya de Puerto Rico is the family’s Puerto Rican division, established and led by Francisco Unanue during the 1960s. The operation connected the wider Goya business with Puerto Rican consumers and became an important base for subsequent Unanue family management.
Controversies
2021
Election and coronavirus claims by Robert Unanue
Robert Unanue made unsupported claims about election fraud, political control of the coronavirus response, and a purported new world order. The comments intensified scrutiny of his role at Goya.
2020
Goya boycott controversy
Robert Unanue’s praise of Donald Trump at a White House event led to calls for consumers to boycott Goya, followed by a counter-boycott organized by supporters.
Marketing campaigns
- 2020Goya food-bank donation and political response
United States
At a White House event, Robert Unanue pledged one million cans of Goya chickpeas to food banks and praised Donald Trump. The statement prompted a boycott campaign and a competing effort by supporters to purchase Goya products.
Outcome. The episode generated substantial political attention and made Goya’s corporate and family identity part of a national partisan debate.
- 2012MyPlate nutrition initiative
United States
The Unanue family and Goya supported Michelle Obama’s MyPlate initiative, which promoted balanced eating and addressed Hispanic and African American communities among its target audiences.
Outcome. The initiative is documented as a family-supported nutrition and community engagement effort.
Brand decisions
2025
Termination of Robert Unanue’s employmentOtherBackground
Robert Unanue had led Goya Foods since 2004 and had faced board restrictions after controversial political statements.
Action taken
He announced that Goya’s board had voted to terminate his employment.
Aftermath
The announcement ended Robert Unanue’s documented tenure as Goya’s chief executive; a successor is not identified in the supplied material.
2021
Restrictions on Robert Unanue’s public political communicationsStrategyBackground
Robert Unanue’s election-related statements followed the 2020 controversy surrounding his praise of Donald Trump.
Action taken
Goya’s board censured him and required authorization for press comments concerning company politics.
Aftermath
Robert Unanue continued to make political appearances, including a CPAC speech, before announcing his departure from Goya in 2025.
1961
Adoption of the Goya nameStrategyBackground
The family’s food enterprise had operated under the Unanue & Sons name while building a distribution business focused on Spanish foods.
Action taken
The business changed its name to Goya Foods.
Aftermath
The Goya name became the principal commercial identity associated with the family’s food operations.
Sources1 sources
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