Goya Foods CEO Robert Unanue Announces Departure After Board Vote

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Goya Foods, a well-known Hispanic food brand, has been at the center of controversy in recent years due to the actions of its CEO, Robert Unanue. The company, which was founded in 1936 by Unanue's grandfather, Prudencio Unanue Ortiz, has been a staple in many Hispanic households for generations. However, Unanue's vocal support of former President Donald Trump and his refusal to apologize for comments that were seen as divisive and hurtful to many in the Hispanic community, led to a backlash against the company. Despite the controversy, Unanue remained at the helm of the company until recently, when he announced his departure in a press release, stating that he had been informed of a vote by the board regarding his employment and that he currently has no real answers as to the nature of the decision.

The news of Unanue's departure comes as a surprise to many, given his long tenure as CEO and his family's history with the company. Unanue had been with Goya Foods for over 48 years and had served as CEO for over 20 years. During his time as CEO, the company experienced significant growth and became one of the largest Hispanic food companies in the United States. However, Unanue's actions and comments in recent years had led to a decline in the company's reputation and a loss of trust among many of its customers. The board of directors had previously censured Unanue for his comments, stating that he could no longer speak to the media without prior board approval. Despite this, Unanue continued to make public statements that were seen as divisive and hurtful, including his appearance at the 2024 Republican National Convention, where he spoke in support of Trump and likened Vice President Kamala Harris's name to "que mala", which means "so bad" in Spanish.

Unanue's departure from Goya Foods marks a significant change in the company's leadership and may signal a shift in the company's direction. The company has yet to make a public statement regarding Unanue's departure or the future of the company. However, it is likely that the company will seek to distance itself from the controversy surrounding Unanue and work to rebuild its reputation and trust with its customers. Unanue, on the other hand, has stated that he intends to focus on his philanthropic efforts, including his work to combat child trafficking. He has also stated that he will not be silenced and will continue to speak out on issues that are important to him, including the fight against human trafficking.

The timeline of events leading up to Unanue's departure is as follows: * June 2020: Unanue praises President Trump at the White House, leading to a backlash against the company * January 2021: The board of directors censures Unanue for his comments, stating that he can no longer speak to the media without prior board approval * 2021: Unanue continues to make public statements that are seen as divisive and hurtful, including his appearance at CPAC 2021 * 2023: Unanue serves as executive producer on the film "Sound of Freedom", which further entrenches him with far-right supporters * 2024: Unanue speaks at the Republican National Convention, likening Vice President Kamala Harris's name to "que mala" * February 2025: Unanue announces his departure from Goya Foods in a press release, stating that he has been informed of a vote by the board regarding his employment and that he currently has no real answers as to the nature of the decision.

Multiple stakeholders have weighed in on Unanue's departure, including: * Congresswoman Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, who had previously called for a boycott of Goya Foods due to Unanue's comments * Former Housing and Urban Development Secretary Julián Castro, who had also called for a boycott of the company * The board of directors of Goya Foods, who had censured Unanue for his comments and ultimately voted to remove him as CEO. The company's revenue had reached a peak of $1.5 billion in 2023, despite the controversy surrounding Unanue. However, it is likely that the company will face continued scrutiny and backlash in the coming months as it works to rebuild its reputation and trust with its customers.