Hundreds of workers from Goya’s facilities in Secaucus and Jersey City cheered as family members of founder Don Prudencio Unanue unveiled a sculpture of him on Oct. 9 in Jersey City. The sculpture was presented in celebration of Hispanic Heritage Month and of the role the company has played in providing quality foods to the Hispanic community since 1936.
Prudencio and Carolina Unanue, immigrants from the Basque country of Northern Spain, met and married in Puerto Rico and in 1936 they founded Goya Foods, Inc. They found themselves in a Latino neighborhood in New York City where immigrants still craved foods from their homelands – especially olives, olive oil, and sardines.
The couple packed and distributed food that they imported from Spain, and gradually expanded the geographical distribution and product lines, drawing in foods from other Latino cultures.
Peter Unanue, their grandson, said the sculpture – located in front of the Jersey City Facility on County Road – will serve as a reminder of the company’s role in the Latin community as well as an inspiration. He said it’s a reminder that through hard work, the American Dream is attainable.
“Today is a historic day for Goya,” Peter said. “For generations to come, this sculpture will serve not just as a reminder of our grandfather’s extraordinary life and legacy, but as an inspiration to all of us that through hard work and dedication, the American Dream is possible.”
A historic journey to America
His grandfather, he said, left Spain at age 18 in 1904 and moved to Puerto Rico. He met his future wife, Carolina, and came to New York City to find work and study.
In 1936, at age 49, he founded Goya, which remains one of the largest family-owned businesses in the country.
“He opened a small storefront on Duane Street in New York,” Peter said.
The couple packed and distributed food that they imported from Spain and gradually expanded the geographical distribution and product lines, drawing in foods from other Latino cultures.
He was driven by the belief that there was a growing consumer market for high-quality, fresh tasting Latin Foods. He distributed authentic Spanish products including olives, olive oil, and sardines.
“The Spanish Civil War had just stated and this impacted a number of imports,” Peter said.
Prudencio needed to find an alternative source and purchased 500 cases of sardines – which were marked Goya.
“He liked the name, and purchased it for $1,” Peter said.
Preduencios’ entrepreneurial spirit and marketing insight led him to create the most recognizable Latin food brand in the United States and an iconic symbol for the Hispanic community, Peter said.
Son served under Patton
World War II sent many of the family members into combat, but they returned and helped build the business. This included their son, Joseph Unanue, who has been credited with expanding the business to become a global giant.
Joseph had started working summers in his father’s Latino food-packing plant in Manhattan. He lived in Bogota, N.J., took the train to Weehawken, and rode the ferry across to Cortland Street in New York, where he spent the days ladling olives and capers from metal drums into glass jars. Joseph was drafted in 1943 and served in Europe under Gen. George Patton. After the war, he tried other professions before settling back into the family business.
Joseph’s son, Joseph Jr., who died in 1998 at age 41, has been credited with expanding Goya’s commitment to the community through support of charities and cultural events.
Bob Unanue, Prudencio’s grandson, said the company relocated from New York to Secaucus in 1974 at a facility it still operates on Seaview Drive.
Goya broke ground on the Jersey City facility on County Avenue only a few blocks from its Secaucus facility in September, 2012. The operation is designed to serve as the company’s corporate headquarters and northeastern distribution center. The company unveiled the $162 million new facility in April 2015.
Part of this was made possible by $82 million in tax credits over 10 years to keep the company in the state.
Bob recalled that then Lt. Governor Kim Guadagno, who was on hand for the unveiling of the sculpture, had been instrumental in helping the project.
The sculpture was designed and created by Cuban-born Maritza Hernandez, who also created the Roberto Clemente tribute in The Bronx.
“This sculpture took a year to compete,” she said.
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PHOTOS:
Maritza Hernandez talks about the creation of the sculpture
Peter and Bob Unanue unveil the sculpture of their grandfather, founder of Goya
Former Lt. Gov. Kim Guadagno is credited with helping to keep Goya’s operations in New Jersey
