Joseph A. Unanue
Encyclopedia
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
.
of northern Spain
. He emigrated to Puerto Rico
, where he met a young Spanish girl by the name of Carolina Casal, whose parents also had immigrated to Puerto Rico. They were married in the island in 1921 and soon after moved to New York
and settled in Brooklyn
. Joseph Unanue was the second of four children born to the Unanues.
Prudencio Unanue worked as a broker for Spanish
companies doing business in the U.S.
He soon realized that there was a need for Hispanic products in New York City, and in 1936 he founded Goya Foods
, a food distributing company, in Manhattan
.
Prudencio Unanue was very serious about his children's education and enrolled them in Catholic
schools. Joseph attended St. Joseph's Grammar School and later St. Cecilia's High School. Since childhood and when not in school, Unanue and his brothers had to work in the family business. His special job was bottling olives. In 1943, he graduated from high school but, since World War II
was in full swing, he was drafted into the United States Army
.
in Tacoma, Washington
. However, due to the intensity of the war, he was soon sent to the battlefield. In 1944, his Army company
landed in France
and soon joined General George S. Patton
's 3rd Army at the Battle of the Bulge
. Unanue was only 19 years old and a Private First Class
when his sergeant died in action. He was then named sergeant in the field and made platoon
leader. Unanue pulled his men to safety and was awarded the Bronze Star
for bravery.
in Washington, D.C.
, where he graduated with a degree in Mechanical Engineering
. He joined the family business, together with his brothers Tony and Frank Unanue. He learned every facet of the food industry. At first, the major supermarkets, such as A&P
and Safeways
weren't interested in selling anything with the Hispanic demography in mind. Eventually, with the wave of Hispanic immigrants landing in the United States, the supermarket industry started to take notice. Goya Foods started to supply Safeway's Supermarket in Harlem
and the rest soon followed.
In 1956, Unanue married Carmen Ana Casal de Unanue, a Puerto Rican art collector and philanthropist with whom he had six children and 16 grandchildren.
In 1976, Unanue was named president of the company, whose principal base of operations was by then in New Jersey
. His brother Frank ran Goya de Puerto Rico, Inc., located in Bayamon, Puerto Rico
. Under Joseph's leadership, the company became the largest Hispanic–owned food distributor in the United States, with sales of over $800 million a year and with over 2,000 employees. It has facilities in Puerto Rico, Spain, Mexico
, the Dominican Republic
, and Italy
. The company also has facilities in the United States in the cities of Chicago
, Miami, Tampa
, and Houston.
Goya Foods supports many organizations, among them the "Puerto Rican Traveling Theater", "Repertorio Español", "Ballet Hispanico", and the "Puerto Rican Day Parade". It also supports "The New Jersey Council for the Arts", "El Museo del Barrio", and the Metropolitan Museum of Art
.
In 1985, Unanue's son Joseph F. Unanue was named Vice President of Operations, a position he held until 1998 when he died of cancer. His younger son, Andy Unanue
, was named to replace Joseph, Jr.
In 2008, his son Andy
was briefly a candidate for the Republican
nomination for a U.S. Senate seat in New Jersey
. He announced his candidacy on March 23, 2008, and filed petitions for the race on April 7, 2008. However, he dropped out of the race four days later, and his committee on vacancies designated former Congressman
Dick Zimmer
to enter the race under the Unanue petitions.
with his wife Carmen Ana and continues to participate in civic and cultural activities.
. The National Suppliers Association presented him with the Leadership Award.
Unanue has received honorary doctorates from Mercy College
and Long Island University
in New York, and from Felician College
in New Jersey. The Catholic University of America has named one of its campus houses "The Joseph Unanue House".
Unanue family
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"....
–owned 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....
, which is the largest Hispanic
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...
–owned food company in the United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
.
Early years
Unanue's father, Don Prudencio Unanue Ortiz, was born in the Basque regionBasque Country (historical territory)
The Basque Country is the name given to the home of the Basque people in the western Pyrenees that spans the border between France and Spain on the Atlantic coast....
of northern 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...
. He emigrated to Puerto Rico
Puerto Rico
Puerto 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...
, where he met a young Spanish girl by the name of Carolina Casal, whose parents also had immigrated to Puerto Rico. They were married in the island in 1921 and soon after moved to New York
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...
and settled in Brooklyn
Brooklyn
Brooklyn is the most populous of New York City's five boroughs, with nearly 2.6 million residents, and the second-largest in area. Since 1896, Brooklyn has had the same boundaries as Kings County, which is now the most populous county in New York State and the second-most densely populated...
. Joseph Unanue was the second of four children born to the Unanues.
Prudencio Unanue worked as a broker for 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...
companies doing business in the U.S.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
He soon realized that there was a need for Hispanic products in New York City, and in 1936 he founded 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....
, a food distributing company, in Manhattan
Manhattan
Manhattan is the oldest and the most densely populated of the five boroughs of New York City. Located primarily on the island of Manhattan at the mouth of the Hudson River, the boundaries of the borough are identical to those of New York County, an original county of the state of New York...
.
Prudencio Unanue was very serious about his children's education and enrolled them in Catholic
Roman Catholic Church
The Catholic Church, also known as the Roman Catholic Church, is the world's largest Christian church, with over a billion members. Led by the Pope, it defines its mission as spreading the gospel of Jesus Christ, administering the sacraments and exercising charity...
schools. Joseph attended St. Joseph's Grammar School and later St. Cecilia's High School. Since childhood and when not in school, Unanue and his brothers had to work in the family business. His special job was bottling olives. In 1943, he graduated from high school but, since World War II
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
was in full swing, he was drafted into the United States Army
United States Army
The United States Army is the main branch of the United States Armed Forces responsible for land-based military operations. It is the largest and oldest established branch of the U.S. military, and is one of seven U.S. uniformed services...
.
World War II
After basic training, Unanue attended the University of Puget SoundUniversity of Puget Sound
The University of Puget Sound is a private liberal arts college located in the North End of Tacoma, Washington, in the United States...
in Tacoma, Washington
Tacoma, Washington
Tacoma is a mid-sized urban port city and the county seat of Pierce County, Washington, United States. The city is on Washington's Puget Sound, southwest of Seattle, northeast of the state capital, Olympia, and northwest of Mount Rainier National Park. The population was 198,397, according to...
. However, due to the intensity of the war, he was soon sent to the battlefield. In 1944, his Army company
Company (military unit)
A company is a military unit, typically consisting of 80–225 soldiers and usually commanded by a Captain, Major or Commandant. Most companies are formed of three to five platoons although the exact number may vary by country, unit type, and structure...
landed in France
France
The French Republic , The French Republic , The French Republic , (commonly known as France , is a unitary semi-presidential republic in Western Europe with several overseas territories and islands located on other continents and in the Indian, Pacific, and Atlantic oceans. Metropolitan France...
and soon joined General George S. Patton
George S. Patton
George Smith Patton, Jr. was a United States Army officer best known for his leadership while commanding corps and armies as a general during World War II. He was also well known for his eccentricity and controversial outspokenness.Patton was commissioned in the U.S. Army after his graduation from...
's 3rd Army at the Battle of the Bulge
Battle of the Bulge
The Battle of the Bulge was a major German offensive , launched toward the end of World War II through the densely forested Ardennes mountain region of Wallonia in Belgium, hence its French name , and France and...
. Unanue was only 19 years old and a Private First Class
Private First Class
Private First Class is a military rank held by junior enlisted persons.- Singapore :The rank of Private First Class in the Singapore Armed Forces lies between the ranks of Private and Lance-Corporal . It is usually held by conscript soldiers midway through their national service term...
when his sergeant died in action. He was then named sergeant in the field and made platoon
Platoon
A platoon is a military unit typically composed of two to four sections or squads and containing 16 to 50 soldiers. Platoons are organized into a company, which typically consists of three, four or five platoons. A platoon is typically the smallest military unit led by a commissioned officer—the...
leader. Unanue pulled his men to safety and was awarded the Bronze Star
Bronze Star Medal
The Bronze Star Medal is a United States Armed Forces individual military decoration that may be awarded for bravery, acts of merit, or meritorious service. As a medal it is awarded for merit, and with the "V" for valor device it is awarded for heroism. It is the fourth-highest combat award of the...
for bravery.
Goya Foods
In 1946, after Unanue returned home, he enrolled in The Catholic University of AmericaThe Catholic University of America
The Catholic University of America is a private university located in Washington, D.C. in the United States. It is a pontifical university of the Catholic Church in the United States and the only institution of higher education founded by the U.S. Catholic bishops...
in Washington, D.C.
Washington, D.C.
Washington, D.C., formally the District of Columbia and commonly referred to as Washington, "the District", or simply D.C., is the capital of the United States. On July 16, 1790, the United States Congress approved the creation of a permanent national capital as permitted by the U.S. Constitution....
, where he graduated with a degree in Mechanical Engineering
Mechanical engineering
Mechanical engineering is a discipline of engineering that applies the principles of physics and materials science for analysis, design, manufacturing, and maintenance of mechanical systems. It is the branch of engineering that involves the production and usage of heat and mechanical power for the...
. He joined the family business, together with his brothers Tony and Frank Unanue. He learned every facet of the food industry. At first, the major supermarkets, such as A&P
The Great Atlantic & Pacific Tea Company
The Great Atlantic & Pacific Tea Company, better known as A&P, is a supermarket and liquor store chain in the United States. Its supermarkets, which are under six different banners, are found in Connecticut, Delaware, Maryland, New Jersey, New York, and Pennsylvania. A&P's liquor stores, known as...
and Safeways
Safeway Inc.
Safeway Inc. , a Fortune 500 company, is North America's second largest supermarket chain after The Kroger Co., with, as of December 2010, 1,694 stores located throughout the western and central United States and western Canada. It also operates some stores in the Mid-Atlantic region of the Eastern...
weren't interested in selling anything with the Hispanic demography in mind. Eventually, with the wave of Hispanic immigrants landing in the United States, the supermarket industry started to take notice. Goya Foods started to supply Safeway's Supermarket in Harlem
Harlem
Harlem is a neighborhood in the New York City borough of Manhattan, which since the 1920s has been a major African-American residential, cultural and business center. Originally a Dutch village, formally organized in 1658, it is named after the city of Haarlem in the Netherlands...
and the rest soon followed.
In 1956, Unanue married Carmen Ana Casal de Unanue, a Puerto Rican art collector and philanthropist with whom he had six children and 16 grandchildren.
In 1976, Unanue was named president of the company, whose principal base of operations was by then in 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...
. His brother Frank ran Goya de Puerto Rico, Inc., located in Bayamon, 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...
. Under Joseph's leadership, the company became the largest Hispanic–owned food distributor in the United States, with sales of over $800 million a year and with over 2,000 employees. It has facilities in Puerto Rico, Spain, Mexico
Mexico
The United Mexican States , commonly known as Mexico , is a federal constitutional republic in North America. It is bordered on the north by the United States; on the south and west by the Pacific Ocean; on the southeast by Guatemala, Belize, and the Caribbean Sea; and on the east by the Gulf of...
, the Dominican Republic
Dominican Republic
The Dominican Republic is a nation on the island of La Hispaniola, part of the Greater Antilles archipelago in the Caribbean region. The western third of the island is occupied by the nation of Haiti, making Hispaniola one of two Caribbean islands that are shared by two countries...
, and Italy
Italy
Italy , officially the Italian Republic languages]] under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages. In each of these, Italy's official name is as follows:;;;;;;;;), is a unitary parliamentary republic in South-Central Europe. To the north it borders France, Switzerland, Austria and...
. The company also has facilities in the United States in the cities of Chicago
Chicago
Chicago is the largest city in the US state of Illinois. With nearly 2.7 million residents, it is the most populous city in the Midwestern United States and the third most populous in the US, after New York City and Los Angeles...
, Miami, Tampa
Tâmpa
Tâmpa may refer to several villages in Romania:* Tâmpa, a village in Băcia Commune, Hunedoara County* Tâmpa, a village in Miercurea Nirajului, Mureş County* Tâmpa, a mountain in Braşov city...
, and Houston.
Goya Foods supports many organizations, among them the "Puerto Rican Traveling Theater", "Repertorio Español", "Ballet Hispanico", and the "Puerto Rican Day Parade". It also supports "The New Jersey Council for the Arts", "El Museo del Barrio", and the Metropolitan Museum of Art
Metropolitan Museum of Art
The Metropolitan Museum of Art is a renowned art museum in New York City. Its permanent collection contains more than two million works, divided into nineteen curatorial departments. The main building, located on the eastern edge of Central Park along Manhattan's Museum Mile, is one of the...
.
In 1985, Unanue's son Joseph F. Unanue was named Vice President of Operations, a position he held until 1998 when he died of cancer. His younger son, 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...
, was named to replace Joseph, Jr.
In 2008, his son Andy
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...
was briefly a candidate 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 a 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:...
. He announced his candidacy on March 23, 2008, and filed petitions for the race on April 7, 2008. However, he dropped out of the race four days later, 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.
Later years
In February 2004, after 27 years as president of Goya Foods, 78 year old Joseph and his son Andy were ousted from the company by Joseph's two nephews. Joseph Unanue resides in Alpine, New JerseyAlpine, New Jersey
Alpine is a borough in Bergen County, New Jersey, United States. It is a suburb of New York City, located northwest of Midtown Manhattan. As of the 2010 United States Census, the borough population was 1,849....
with his wife Carmen Ana and continues to participate in civic and cultural activities.
Legacy
Among the many distinctions which Joseph Unanue has received was being knighted by the Order of Malta. He was presented with the key to the city of Boston, Massachusetts. In 1991 he was presented with the National Hispanic Achievement Award, and was twice named the "Man of the Year" by the National Conference of Christians and JewsNational Conference for Community and Justice
The National Conference for Community and Justice is a national, human relations, non-profit organization in the United States. Its mission is to fight bias, bigotry, and racism and promote understanding and respect through advocacy, conflict resolution, and education.The NCCJ was founded in 1927...
. The National Suppliers Association presented him with the Leadership Award.
Unanue has received honorary doctorates from Mercy College
Mercy College (New York)
Mercy College is a private, non-profit liberal arts college with its main campus in Dobbs Ferry, New York, and satellite locations throughout southeastern New York, including the Bronx, Manhattan, White Plains and Yorktown...
and Long Island University
Long Island University
Long Island University is a private, coeducational, nonsectarian institution of higher education in the U.S. state of New York.-History:...
in New York, and from Felician College
Felician College
Felician College is a private Roman Catholic college with two campuses, located in Lodi and Rutherford, New Jersey.It was founded as the Immaculate Conception Normal School by the Felician Sisters in 1923, and became Immaculate Conception Junior College in 1942. With the authorization of its first...
in New Jersey. The Catholic University of America has named one of its campus houses "The Joseph Unanue House".
Military awards and decorations
Among Unanue 's decorations are the following:
Bronze StarBronze Star MedalThe Bronze Star Medal is a United States Armed Forces individual military decoration that may be awarded for bravery, acts of merit, or meritorious service. As a medal it is awarded for merit, and with the "V" for valor device it is awarded for heroism. It is the fourth-highest combat award of the...
American Defense Service MedalAmerican Defense Service MedalThe American Defense Service Medal is a decoration of the United States military, recognizing service before America’s entry into the Second World War but during the initial years of the European conflict.-Criteria:...
American Campaign MedalAmerican Campaign MedalThe American Campaign Medal was a military decoration of the United States armed forces which was first created on November 6, 1942 by issued by President Franklin D. Roosevelt...
World War II Victory MedalWorld War II Victory MedalThe World War II Victory Medal is a decoration of the United States military which was created by an act of Congress in July 1945. The decoration commemorates military service during World War II and is awarded to any member of the United States military, including members of the armed forces of...
See also
- Unanue familyUnanue familyThe 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"....
- List of famous Puerto Ricans
- Spanish AmericanSpanish AmericanA Spanish American is a citizen or resident of the United States whose ancestors originate from the southwestern European nation of Spain. Spanish Americans are the earliest European American group, with a continuous presence since 1565.-Immigration waves:...