Goya Foods is the largest Hispanic and family-owned business in the United States. It was founded in 1936 by Don Prudencio Unanue. Prudencio was born in the Basque region of northern Spain on April 6, 1886. He immigrated to Puerto Rico when he was seventeen. At that early age, his goal was to establish a food distribution business. In pursuit of that goal he moved to New York City in 1918 and attended the Albany Business School. Prudencio returned to Puerto Rico in 1921 and married the daughter of Spanish immigrants. Prudencio, his wife and four children moved to Brooklyn in 1928 where he opened an office in lower Manhattan as an importer of, and agent for, foods from Spain.

       Perceiving the need for Hispanic foods in New York, he opened Unanue, Inc. in 1935 in lower Manhattan. His business initially catered to the desires of local Hispanic families for olives, olive oil and sardines. He also sold products to the small general stores, bodegas, which served as gathering places for the Hispanic community. Prudencio’s responsiveness to the culinary desires of the different Hispanic cultures immigrating to the United States was the key to his success.

       When the Spanish Civil War erupted in 1936, his supplies were cut off. As an alternative source, he ordered Moroccan sardines from a Spanish company named Goya. He bought the Goya brand for $1 and attached it to all of his products because Goya was easier to pronounce than Unanue.

       Prudencio believed strongly in education and saw to it hat his sons attended college. After completing their education, they joined him in the company and became partners. In 1946 he renamed the company Unanue and Sons, Inc. The name was officially changed to Goya Foods, Inc. in 1961. Goya Foods now has approximately 3,000 employees and 1,600 Hispanic and Caribbean grocery items. Sales for 2008 were estimated at $1.3 million.

       Prudencio died on March 17, 1976.  n