Learn about the history of Goya Foods
Goya Foods is the largest Hispanic-owned food company in the United States.
The company was founded in 1936 by Prudencio Unanue and his wife Carolina, both of Spanish origin.
From the very beginning, Goya’s history has been closely linked to the importance of family values and the vision of achieving the “American Dream.”
In its founding year, the company began its commercial activity in the basement of a small establishment in southern Manhattan, New York. Its initial objective was to serve Hispanic families in the area, mainly distributing olives, olive oil and sardines.
Aware of the existence of a growing Latino market demanding a wider variety of authentic, high-quality products, the Unanue family instilled a philosophy of excellence throughout the entire Goya team from the very start. This vision gave rise to the company’s enduring motto: “If it’s Goya, it has to be good.”
Today, Goya Foods is the largest Hispanic-owned food company in the United States and a global reference in Latin cuisine.
The company reports annual revenues of approximately USD 2.35 billion, employs more than 4,000 people, operates 26 warehouses worldwide, and offers a portfolio of around 3,000 product references, manufactured in facilities certified under international IFS and BRC standards.
The company’s continuous growth has enabled Goya products to be distributed globally, reaching consumers across the Americas, Europe, Asia and Africa, while consistently guaranteeing the quality, flavor and authenticity that have defined the brand for nearly 90 years.
Goya Foods Expands into Europe
Goya Europe began its commercial operations in 1999 and is headquartered in Toledo, Spain. Today, we are the largest distributor of Latin American food products in Europe, working with the most relevant national and international retail chains, while also supporting local and regional points of sale.
We represent some of the most important companies in Latin America.
Offering a portfolio that includes well-known brands and high-quality products that are often difficult to find outside their countries of origin. These include coconut water, beans, grains, organic products, and traditional specialties from the Caribbean, Central America and South America..
To ensure accessibility for all consumers, Goya distributes its products across all existing channels: traditional retail, large-scale distribution, digital, HORECA and export markets. We currently serve more than 8,000 direct points of sale in the traditional channel and have a presence in over 3,200 large retail outlets, including supermarkets, hypermarkets and specialized stores. In addition, our Export Department operates in more than 35 international markets, bringing authentic Latin cuisine to consumers around the world.
Our commitment to quality is supported by efficient production processes, cutting-edge technology, high safety standards, carefully sourced ingredients and continuous innovation.
This is complemented by a comprehensive logistics service, including mechanized warehousing, full traceability control, year-round stock availability and dedicated after-sales support, ensuring maximum satisfaction for our customers.
In short, at Goya Europe we work every day to uphold the promise established by the Unanue family when the company was founded: if it’s Goya, it has to be good.