Bob Unanue, the CEO of family-owned Goya Foods for nearly two decades, appears to be out as the head of the company.
Unanue, in a press release about his status with the organization as well as his plans for the future, said he was informed there had been a vote by the Board about his “employment” as head of the company.
As to the nature of the decision and the rationale behind it, Unanue said he currently has no real answers, noting the company also has not publicly indicated that Unanue is no longer a leader of Goya Foods.
Unanue has worked for the company, based in Secaucus, for nearly 50 years. As CEO, he has led the largest Hispanic-owned food company in the country to historic success and growth, creating a multi-billion-dollar organization.
But his time in charge has come with controversy.
A strong supporter of President Donald Trump, the board voted to muzzle Unanue in January of 2021, when made public comments in support of Trump’s unfounded claims of voter fraud in 2020 election.
Recently, Unanue has joined with the Trump administration in support of helping to eliminate the trafficking of children. It is unclear if that played any role in the board’s action – whatever that action may be – but Unanue hinted at it during his release.
“The uncertainty at Goya Foods will not deter me from making the world aware of the evils of child trafficking, and I will not rest until the over 325,000 children lost over the last 2 years are recovered,” he said. “As in the past, I will work with the current administration in putting an end to the extremely lucrative but purely evil industry.”
Unanue, who now lives in Houston, said he will continue to voice his support.
” I will not be silenced,” he said. “I will not give in to those who want me to give up the fight. We cannot remain passive spectators while soulless, despicable animals treat children with callous indifference.”
