Andy Unanue
Encyclopedia
Andy Unanue is a former Vice President, General Manager, and COO of the family-owned Goya Foods
, the largest Hispanic-owned food company in the United States.
In 2008, he flirted with candidacy for the Republican
nomination for the U.S. Senate seat in New Jersey
but after further deliberation and realizing he did not have the time needed to dedicate to such a campaign he quickly ended his candidacy.
. He attended St. Joseph School in Bogota, New Jersey
, Alpine Public School
and Bergen Catholic High School
.
Unanue received a bachelors degree from the University of Miami
and an MBA from Thunderbird
, the American Graduate School of International Management. He began working in his father's company in their Miami office, working his way up to President of Goya de Santo Domingo. After his brother Joseph F. Unanue died of cancer in 1998, he became Executive Vice President. Unanue became Goya's COO in 2000, at the age of 33.
In February 2004, Unanue left the family business to pursue other interests. Unanue now owns his own business AU & Associates, LLC (http://www.auallc.com) which has advised or made made investments in companies such as Opt-Intelligence, Inc., BigFish Games, Inc., IPG Photonics and holds majority interest in the restaurant Bagatelle and the clubs RdV. and "Kiss & Fly", both located in New York City. He also is an Operating Executive of Palladium Equity Partners (http://www.palladiumequity.com/) a firm that has seen much success in reaching out to investments in the Hispanic Market.
In August 2007, Unanue formed Trufoods LLC, which owns the franchises Wall Street Deli, Arthur Treacher's
Fish & Chips, Ritter's Frozen Custard, and Pudgie's Famous Chicken.
In October 2010, he married Marie O'Mara in Mayakoba, Mexico.
, who was initially the New Jersey GOP establishment's choice, due to a mini-stroke, Unanue announced his candidacy in a letter to the party chairman on Easter Sunday, March 23, 2008, while on holiday in Vail, Colorado
. He was reportedly considering dropping out of the Senate race to make way for Princeton
biotechnology executive John Crowley
, but after Crowley signaled that he would not run, Unanue announced that he had filed petitions for the race on April 7, 2008. However, on April 11, Unanue dropped out of the race, and his committee on vacancies designated former Congressman
Dick Zimmer
to enter the race under the Unanue petitions.
Goya Foods
Goya Foods, Inc. is the manufacturer or distributor of a brand of foods sold in the United States and many Latin American countries, with company headquarters in Secaucus, New Jersey....
, the largest Hispanic-owned food company in the United States.
In 2008, he flirted with candidacy for the Republican
Republican Party (United States)
The Republican Party is one of the two major contemporary political parties in the United States, along with the Democratic Party. Founded by anti-slavery expansion activists in 1854, it is often called the GOP . The party's platform generally reflects American conservatism in the U.S...
nomination for the U.S. Senate seat in New Jersey
United States Senate election in New Jersey, 2008
The 2008 United States Senate election in NJ was held on November 4, 2008. Incumbent Democratic U.S. Senator Frank Lautenberg won re-election to a fourth, non-consecutive term.-Background:...
but after further deliberation and realizing he did not have the time needed to dedicate to such a campaign he quickly ended his candidacy.
Biography
Andy was born and raised in New Jersey, the grandson of Goya Foods founders Prudencio and Carolina and son of Joseph A. UnanueJoseph A. Unanue
Joseph A. Unanue was the president of the Unanue family–owned Goya Foods, which is the largest Hispanic–owned food company in the United States.-Early years:...
. He attended St. Joseph School in Bogota, New Jersey
Bogota, New Jersey
As of the 2010 Census, Bogota had a population of 8,187. The median age was 38.6. The racial and ethnic composition of the population was 61.0% White, 9.4% Black or African American, 0.8% Native American, 9.8% Asian, 0.1% Native Hawaiian / Pacific Islander, 14.8% some other race and 4.1% reporting...
, Alpine Public School
Alpine Public School
The Alpine Public School is a community public school district serving students in kindergarten through eighth grade in the Borough of Alpine in Bergen County, New Jersey, United States....
and Bergen Catholic High School
Bergen Catholic High School
Bergen Catholic High School is an all-male Roman Catholic high school in Oradell, Bergen County, New Jersey, United States, serving students in ninth through twelfth grade...
.
Unanue received a bachelors degree from the University of Miami
University of Miami
The University of Miami is a private, non-sectarian university founded in 1925 with its main campus in Coral Gables, Florida, a medical campus in Miami city proper at Civic Center, and an oceanographic research facility on Virginia Key., the university currently enrolls 15,629 students in 12...
and an MBA from Thunderbird
Thunderbird School of Global Management
Thunderbird School of Global Management is a private business school whose main campus is located in Glendale, Arizona. Founded in 1946 by retired U.S...
, the American Graduate School of International Management. He began working in his father's company in their Miami office, working his way up to President of Goya de Santo Domingo. After his brother Joseph F. Unanue died of cancer in 1998, he became Executive Vice President. Unanue became Goya's COO in 2000, at the age of 33.
In February 2004, Unanue left the family business to pursue other interests. Unanue now owns his own business AU & Associates, LLC (http://www.auallc.com) which has advised or made made investments in companies such as Opt-Intelligence, Inc., BigFish Games, Inc., IPG Photonics and holds majority interest in the restaurant Bagatelle and the clubs RdV. and "Kiss & Fly", both located in New York City. He also is an Operating Executive of Palladium Equity Partners (http://www.palladiumequity.com/) a firm that has seen much success in reaching out to investments in the Hispanic Market.
In August 2007, Unanue formed Trufoods LLC, which owns the franchises Wall Street Deli, Arthur Treacher's
Fish & Chips, Ritter's Frozen Custard, and Pudgie's Famous Chicken.
In October 2010, he married Marie O'Mara in Mayakoba, Mexico.
Candidacy for United States Senate
After the withdrawal of moderate Republican Anne Evans EstabrookAnne Evans Estabrook
Anne Evans Estabrook is an American real estate developer who was the frontrunner in the Republican primary for the 2008 United States Senate race in New Jersey before suffering a mini-stroke and withdrawing from the race....
, who was initially the New Jersey GOP establishment's choice, due to a mini-stroke, Unanue announced his candidacy in a letter to the party chairman on Easter Sunday, March 23, 2008, while on holiday in Vail, Colorado
Vail, Colorado
The Town of Vail is a Home Rule Municipality in Eagle County, Colorado, United States. The population of the town was 4,589 in 2005. The town was established and built as the base village to Vail Ski Resort, with which it was originally conceived...
. He was reportedly considering dropping out of the Senate race to make way for Princeton
Princeton, New Jersey
Princeton is a community located in Mercer County, New Jersey, United States. It is best known as the location of Princeton University, which has been sited in the community since 1756...
biotechnology executive John Crowley
John Crowley (biotech executive)
John Francis Crowley is an American biotechnology executive and entrepreneur. He is best known as the founder of several biotech companies devoted to curing genetic diseases.-Life and career:...
, but after Crowley signaled that he would not run, Unanue announced that he had filed petitions for the race on April 7, 2008. However, on April 11, Unanue dropped out of the race, and his committee on vacancies designated former Congressman
United States House of Representatives
The United States House of Representatives is one of the two Houses of the United States Congress, the bicameral legislature which also includes the Senate.The composition and powers of the House are established in Article One of the Constitution...
Dick Zimmer
Dick Zimmer (New Jersey politician)
Richard Alan "Dick" Zimmer is an American Republican Party politician from New Jersey, who served in both houses of the New Jersey Legislature and in the United States House of Representatives. He was the Republican nominee for the U.S. Senate from New Jersey in 1996 and 2008...
to enter the race under the Unanue petitions.