Goya Foods
Encyclopedia
Goya Foods, Inc. is the manufacturer or distributor of a brand
of foods sold in the United States
and many Latin America
n countries, with company headquarters in Secaucus, New Jersey
.
While the product line remains heavily influenced by its origins in traditional "authentic Latin American cuisine
", Goya first branched out into Puerto Rican cuisine and South America
n and Central America
n foods. It has become the largest Hispanic-owned food company in the United States. In many grocery stores, Goya products either constitute a major part of the Hispanic section of an "ethnic aisle", or they are featured in some other form of monolithic display.
, Spain
who emigrated to Puerto Rico, and met and married Carolina Casal (1890-1984) also a Spanish immigrant, emigrated to New York City
, USA. Prudencio believed that his name was too difficult to pronounce for American customers, so he purchased the name of a Moroccan
sardine
company named "Goya". The company was initially set up in the Financial District of Manhattan
, importing Spanish
foods like olives and olive oil
.
, Puerto Rican, Caribbean
, Mexican
, Cuban
and Central & South American cuisine.
Goya operates a 220000 square feet (20,438.7 m²) manufacturing facility in San Cristóbal, Dominican Republic
, and a 100000 square feet (9,290.3 m²) distribution center in Bayamón, Puerto Rico
.
Goya's 3,500 employees worldwide produce over 1,600 products that are available in local grocery stores and supermarket
chains throughout the United States, Puerto Rico, and international markets. Goya Foods is headquartered in Secaucus, New Jersey
. Its manufacturing and distribution centers are located in: Secaucus, West Deptford, New Jersey; Bayamón, Puerto Rico
; Seville, Spain; Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic; Angola, New York
; Webster, Massachusetts
; Bensenville, Illinois
; Miami
and Orlando, Florida
; Houston, Texas
; City of Industry, California; and Prince George County, Virginia
.
Goya's national sponsorships include the National Council of La Raza
, the National Puerto Rican Day Parade
, the United States Hispanic Chamber of Commerce, and the National Hispanic Leadership Institute. Goya is also the first Hispanic company to be exhibited at the Smithsonian National Museum of American History
.
In 1992, Goya began to focus promotion efforts towards a mainstream and culinary market.
In 2006 Forbes, ranked Goya 355th on its list of the largest private companies in the United States,
Goya Aisles
Brand
The American Marketing Association defines a brand as a "Name, term, design, symbol, or any other feature that identifies one seller's good or service as distinct from those of other sellers."...
of foods sold in the United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
and many Latin America
Latin America
Latin America is a region of the Americas where Romance languages – particularly Spanish and Portuguese, and variably French – are primarily spoken. Latin America has an area of approximately 21,069,500 km² , almost 3.9% of the Earth's surface or 14.1% of its land surface area...
n countries, with company headquarters in Secaucus, New Jersey
Secaucus, New Jersey
Secaucus is a town in Hudson County, New Jersey. As of the 2010 United States Census, the town population was 16,264. Located within the New Jersey Meadowlands, it is the most suburban of the county's municipalities, though large parts of the town are dedicated to light manufacturing, retail, and...
.
While the product line remains heavily influenced by its origins in traditional "authentic Latin American cuisine
Latin American cuisine
Latin American Cuisine refers to typical foods, beverages, and cooking styles common to many of the countries and cultures in Latin America...
", Goya first branched out into Puerto Rican cuisine and South America
South America
South America is a continent situated in the Western Hemisphere, mostly in the Southern Hemisphere, with a relatively small portion in the Northern Hemisphere. The continent is also considered a subcontinent of the Americas. It is bordered on the west by the Pacific Ocean and on the north and east...
n and Central America
Central America
Central America is the central geographic region of the Americas. It is the southernmost, isthmian portion of the North American continent, which connects with South America on the southeast. When considered part of the unified continental model, it is considered a subcontinent...
n foods. It has become the largest Hispanic-owned food company in the United States. In many grocery stores, Goya products either constitute a major part of the Hispanic section of an "ethnic aisle", or they are featured in some other form of monolithic display.
History
Goya was founded in 1936 by Prudencio Unanue Ortiz (1886-1976) from Valle 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....
, 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...
who emigrated to Puerto Rico, and met and married Carolina Casal (1890-1984) also a Spanish immigrant, emigrated 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...
, USA. Prudencio believed that his name was too difficult to pronounce for American customers, so he purchased the name of a Moroccan
Morocco
Morocco , officially the Kingdom of Morocco , is a country located in North Africa. It has a population of more than 32 million and an area of 710,850 km², and also primarily administers the disputed region of the Western Sahara...
sardine
Sardine
Sardines, or pilchards, are several types of small, oily fish related to herrings, family Clupeidae. Sardines are named after the Mediterranean island of Sardinia, around which they were once abundant....
company named "Goya". The company was initially set up in the Financial District of Manhattan
Financial District, Manhattan
The Financial District of New York City is a neighborhood on the southernmost section of the borough of Manhattan which comprises the offices and headquarters of many of the city's major financial institutions, including the New York Stock Exchange and the Federal Reserve Bank of New York...
, importing Spanish
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...
foods like olives and olive oil
Olive oil
Olive oil is an oil obtained from the olive , a traditional tree crop of the Mediterranean Basin. It is commonly used in cooking, cosmetics, pharmaceuticals, and soaps and as a fuel for traditional oil lamps...
.
Company information
Goya provides SpanishSpanish cuisine
Spanish cuisine consists of a variety of dishes, which stem from differences in geography, culture and climate. It is heavily influenced by seafood available from the waters that surround the country, and reflects the country's deep maritime roots...
, Puerto Rican, Caribbean
Caribbean cuisine
Caribbean cuisine is a fusion of African, Amerindian, British, Spanish, French, Dutch, Indian, and Chinese cuisine. These traditions were brought from the many homelands of this region's population...
, Mexican
Mexican cuisine
Mexican cuisine, a style of food that originates in Mexico, is known for its varied flavors, colourful decoration and variety of spices and ingredients, most of which are native to the country. The cuisine of Mexico has evolved through thousands of years of blending indigenous cultures, with later...
, Cuban
Cuban Cuisine
Cuban cuisine is a fusion of Spanish, African and Caribbean cuisines. Cuban recipes share spices and techniques with Spanish and African cooking, with some Caribbean influence in spice and flavor. This results in a unique, interesting and flavorful blend of the several different cultural influences...
and Central & South American cuisine.
Goya operates a 220000 square feet (20,438.7 m²) manufacturing facility in San Cristóbal, Dominican Republic
San Cristóbal, Dominican Republic
San Cristóbal is a municipality and the capital of the San Cristóbal province in the Dominican Republic. Within the municipality there is one municipal district : Hato Damas.-Sectors:*5 de abril*Canastica*El Pomier...
, and a 100000 square feet (9,290.3 m²) distribution center in Bayamón, Puerto Rico
Bayamón, Puerto Rico
Bayamón is a municipality of Puerto Rico located on the northern coastal valley, north of Aguas Buenas and Comerío; south of Toa Baja and Cataño; west of Guaynabo; and east of Toa Alta and Naranjito. Bayamón is spread over 11 wards and Bayamón Pueblo...
.
Goya's 3,500 employees worldwide produce over 1,600 products that are available in local grocery stores and supermarket
Supermarket
A supermarket, a form of grocery store, is a self-service store offering a wide variety of food and household merchandise, organized into departments...
chains throughout the United States, Puerto Rico, and international markets. Goya Foods is headquartered in Secaucus, New Jersey
Secaucus, New Jersey
Secaucus is a town in Hudson County, New Jersey. As of the 2010 United States Census, the town population was 16,264. Located within the New Jersey Meadowlands, it is the most suburban of the county's municipalities, though large parts of the town are dedicated to light manufacturing, retail, and...
. Its manufacturing and distribution centers are located in: Secaucus, West Deptford, New Jersey; Bayamón, Puerto Rico
Bayamón, Puerto Rico
Bayamón is a municipality of Puerto Rico located on the northern coastal valley, north of Aguas Buenas and Comerío; south of Toa Baja and Cataño; west of Guaynabo; and east of Toa Alta and Naranjito. Bayamón is spread over 11 wards and Bayamón Pueblo...
; Seville, Spain; Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic; Angola, New York
Angola, New York
Angola is a village in Erie County, New York, United States. The population was 2,266 at the 2000 census. The name is reportedly derived from the South-central African country of Angola...
; Webster, Massachusetts
Webster, Massachusetts
-Media:* Worcester Telegram & Gazette * Webster Times, published every Friday* The Patriot, published every Wednesday* WGFP-AM 940, a country music station* Boston Globe* Boston Herald-Library:...
; Bensenville, Illinois
Bensenville, Illinois
Bensenville is a village located primarily in DuPage County, Illinois, with a small section near O'Hare International Airport in Cook County, Illinois, overlapping into the city of Chicago. As of the 2000 census, the village population was 20,703. Bensenville is home to the Edge Ice Arena, home of...
; Miami
Miami, Florida
Miami is a city located on the Atlantic coast in southeastern Florida and the county seat of Miami-Dade County, the most populous county in Florida and the eighth-most populous county in the United States with a population of 2,500,625...
and Orlando, Florida
Orlando, Florida
Orlando is a city in the central region of the U.S. state of Florida. It is the county seat of Orange County, and the center of the Greater Orlando metropolitan area. According to the 2010 US Census, the city had a population of 238,300, making Orlando the 79th largest city in the United States...
; Houston, Texas
Houston, Texas
Houston is the fourth-largest city in the United States, and the largest city in the state of Texas. According to the 2010 U.S. Census, the city had a population of 2.1 million people within an area of . Houston is the seat of Harris County and the economic center of , which is the ...
; City of Industry, California; and Prince George County, Virginia
Prince George County, Virginia
As of the census of 2000, there were 33,047 people, 10,159 households, and 8,096 families residing in the county. The population density was 124 people per square mile . There were 10,726 housing units at an average density of 40 per square mile...
.
Goya's national sponsorships include the National Council of La Raza
National Council of La Raza
The National Council of La Raza is a non-profit and non-partisan advocacy group in the United States, focused on improving opportunities for Hispanics. It is sometimes confused with La Raza Unida...
, the National Puerto Rican Day Parade
Puerto Rican Day Parade
The Puerto Rican Day Parade takes place annually along Fifth Avenue in New York City, on the second Sunday in June, in honor of the nearly 4 million inhabitants of Puerto Rico and all people of Puerto Rican birth or heritage residing in the mainland U.S...
, the United States Hispanic Chamber of Commerce, and the National Hispanic Leadership Institute. Goya is also the first Hispanic company to be exhibited at the Smithsonian National Museum of American History
National Museum of American History
The National Museum of American History: Kenneth E. Behring Center collects, preserves and displays the heritage of the United States in the areas of social, political, cultural, scientific and military history. Among the items on display are the original Star-Spangled Banner and Archie Bunker's...
.
In 1992, Goya began to focus promotion efforts towards a mainstream and culinary market.
In 2006 Forbes, ranked Goya 355th on its list of the largest private companies in the United States,
Goya Aisles