GOYA Foods CEO Ousted By Family Members Over Social Activism

The corporate world has been roiled by news that Robert "Bob" Unanue, with over 20 years as President & CEO of Goya Foods, was told by the board of food industry stable that his employment there had been terminated. According to Unanue's statement, he has not received any reason for his dismissal. The company had not indicated publicly as of February 24 that he was no longer leading Goya Foods.

His statement recounted that he had given the company 48 years of service. His statement said that as CEO he led the New Jersey-based and Hispanic-owned food company to" historic success and growth resulting in a multi-billion-dollar organization." Goya Foods is a privately-held, family controlled corporation that focuses on the Hispanic market in the U.S.

Unanue, a grandson of the company founders, is a philanthropist, with special interest in stemming child-trafficking. For example, was an executive producer of the film, "Sound Of Freedom," and created Goya's social initiative under the name of "Goya Cares." According to the statement, "Unanue is committed to helping eliminate the trafficking of children."

"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. As in the past, I will work with the current administration in putting an end to the extremely lucrative but purely evil industry," Unanuedeclared in the statement: " I will not be silenced. 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."

To learn more about Unanue's ongoing efforts to combat child trafficking visit https://goyacares.com.

Unanue has clashed with the company board in the past. In 2021, the board required that he obtain permission before making comments to the media, according to CNN. The board's vote followed comments he made to Maria Bartiromo on Fox Business in January that year. In the interview with Bartiromo, he said the November 2020 election was “an unverified election,” and contended that there was “a war coming” since Trump was “out of the way.” CNN quoted an anonymous source saying "his statements are insulting and dangerous," and that Unanue family members had received death threats because of his statements. He announced that year his "Hispanic Prosperity Initiative" and praised Donald Trump. This prompted Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez and media personality Ana Navarro-Cardenas to hurl criticisms at him in 2020. 

However, Unanue endorsed Trump during the 2024 election. Unanue said that the backlash he had endured four years before revealed a double standard. “I said good things about President Obama, nothing stuck with that. I say something good about President Trump, all heck breaks loose,” he said.