Joseph
Unanue
Businessman and philanthropist
Born: Brooklyn, New York
Joseph
Unanue, with the help of his brothers Frank and Tony, built
Goya Foods into the largest Hispanic-owned food company in
the United States. Founded by their parents in 1936, the company
continues the family's philanthropic focus on self-help.
“I'm
glad I learned English, and I'm glad I spoke Spanish at home
because that's what kept me speaking Spanish.”
The
second of four sons of Spanish immigrants, Unanue spent summers
packing olives for the family business. While he enjoyed the
work, he had other career ambitions. After earning a Bronze
Star in World War II, he attended college. He turned down his
first job offer because it did not pay what he thought he was
worth.
“Instead,
I went to work typing invoices for my father at half the salary!”
Over
the next 25 years, Unanue learned every facet of the food industry
and in 1976 became the company's president. Goya Foods now
stretches
from New Jersey to California, and from Mexico,
Central America, and South America to Spain. Despite his
position, Unanue's employees always called him “Joe.” Under
his leadership, Goya Foods contributed to dozens of social,
religious, athletic, and educational causes that advance cultural
understanding.
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