Unanue family
Encyclopedia
The Unanue family of New York
is the second-wealthiest Hispanic or Latino
family in the United States
, having a net worth of US$700 million, the wealthiest being the "Roberto Goizueta
family".
Its founder, Prudencio Unanue Ortiz, migrated from Spain
in the 20th century and established Goya Foods
, the largest Hispanic/Latino-owned food company in the United States. The family's members include Joseph A. Unanue
and Andy Unanue
. Goya Foods is the 377th largest private American company.
,, in the province of Burgos
, in northern Spain. At the age of seventeen, Unanue migrated to San Lorenzo, Puerto Rico
, in search of employment opportunities and established a small food distribution business. In 1918 he moved on to New York City
, to enroll in the Albany Business School, and in 1921 returned to San Lorenzo to marry Carolina Casal de Valdés (1890-1984), whom he had met there and whose parents had also emigrated from Spain. The couple had four children. The year after their marriage, the Unanues moved to New Jersey
, where Don
Prudencio, as he was always known in his firm, became a broker for Spanish foods. He died in 1976.
New York
New York is a state in the Northeastern region of the United States. It is the nation's third most populous state. New York is bordered by New Jersey and Pennsylvania to the south, and by Connecticut, Massachusetts and Vermont to the east...
is the second-wealthiest Hispanic or Latino
Hispanic and Latino Americans
Hispanic or Latino Americans are Americans with origins in the Hispanic countries of Latin America or in Spain, and in general all persons in the United States who self-identify as Hispanic or Latino.1990 Census of Population and Housing: A self-designated classification for people whose origins...
family in the United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
, having a net worth of US$700 million, the wealthiest being the "Roberto Goizueta
Roberto Goizueta
Roberto Críspulo Goizueta was Chairman, Director, and Chief Executive Officer of The Coca-Cola Company from August 1980 until his death in October 1997....
family".
Its founder, Prudencio Unanue Ortiz, migrated from Spain
Spain
Spain , officially the Kingdom of Spain languages]] under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages. In each of these, Spain's official name is as follows:;;;;;;), is a country and member state of the European Union located in southwestern Europe on the Iberian Peninsula...
in the 20th century and established Goya Foods
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/Latino-owned food company in the United States. The family's members include Joseph A. Unanue
Joseph 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:...
and Andy Unanue
Andy Unanue
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...
. Goya Foods is the 377th largest private American company.
First generation
Founder of Goya Foods, Inc., Prudencio Unanue Ortiz was born in Villasana de MenaValle de Mena
The Valley of Mena is a municipality of the province of Burgos, Spain, that borders Biscay.The town has 3,926 inhabitants and the town is under jurisdiction of Villasana de Mena District....
,, in the province of Burgos
Burgos
Burgos is a city of northern Spain, historic capital of Castile. It is situated at the edge of the central plateau, with about 178,966 inhabitants in the city proper and another 20,000 in its suburbs. It is the capital of the province of Burgos, in the autonomous community of Castile and León...
, in northern Spain. At the age of seventeen, Unanue migrated to San Lorenzo, Puerto Rico
San Lorenzo, Puerto Rico
San Lorenzo is a municipality of Puerto Rico located in the eastern central region, north of Patillas and Yabucoa; south of Gurabo; east of Caguas and Cayey; and west of Juncos and Las Piedras. San Lorenzo is spread over ten wards and San Lorenzo Pueblo...
, in search of employment opportunities and established a small food distribution business. In 1918 he moved on to New York City
New York City
New York is the most populous city in the United States and the center of the New York Metropolitan Area, one of the most populous metropolitan areas in the world. New York exerts a significant impact upon global commerce, finance, media, art, fashion, research, technology, education, and...
, to enroll in the Albany Business School, and in 1921 returned to San Lorenzo to marry Carolina Casal de Valdés (1890-1984), whom he had met there and whose parents had also emigrated from Spain. The couple had four children. The year after their marriage, the Unanues moved to New Jersey
New Jersey
New Jersey is a state in the Northeastern and Middle Atlantic regions of the United States. , its population was 8,791,894. It is bordered on the north and east by the state of New York, on the southeast and south by the Atlantic Ocean, on the west by Pennsylvania and on the southwest by Delaware...
, where Don
Don
- People :* Don , a short form of the masculine given name Donald in English, also a masculine given name in Irish* Don , a Spanish, Portuguese and Italian title, given as a mark of respect* Don, a crime boss...
Prudencio, as he was always known in his firm, became a broker for Spanish foods. He died in 1976.
Second generation
- Joseph A. UnanueJoseph A. UnanueJoseph 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:...
(1925-) was born in New YorkNew YorkNew York is a state in the Northeastern region of the United States. It is the nation's third most populous state. New York is bordered by New Jersey and Pennsylvania to the south, and by Connecticut, Massachusetts and Vermont to the east...
and married Carmen Ana de Casal from Puerto RicoPuerto RicoPuerto Rico , officially the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico , is an unincorporated territory of the United States, located in the northeastern Caribbean, east of the Dominican Republic and west of both the United States Virgin Islands and the British Virgin Islands.Puerto Rico comprises an...
. They are the parents of six children and sixteen grandchildren.
Third generation
- Andy UnanueAndy UnanueAndy 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...
, current Chief operating officerChief operating officerA Chief Operating Officer or Director of Operations can be one of the highest-ranking executives in an organization and comprises part of the "C-Suite"...
of Goya Foods since 2000 when his brother Joseph died. He married Marie O'Mara in October 2010 in Mayakoba, Mexico - Robert Unanue, current CEO of Goya Foods since 2004. He married Muriel Fitzpatrick in 1978 and they have six children together. Muriel, Billy, Bobby, Tony, Beth, and James.