Goya Foods Celebrates 75th Anniversary at Their Annual Gala

USA - English

• Latin America - español

SECAUCUS, N.J., Dec. 8, 2011 /PRNewswire/ -- Goya Foods, Inc., the largest Hispanic-owned food company in the United States, celebrated its 75th anniversary with more than 800 guests and employees at their annual Gala at the Teaneck Marriott Hotel at Glenpointe in New Jersey. 

(Photo: http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20111208/CL19736 )

Cuban actor Tony Plana hosted the event, which included special performances by Grammy winner Victor Manuelle and one of the nation's preeminent Latino dance companies, Ballet Hispanico.  Senator Robert "Bob" Menendez, who was amongst the guests, presented Goya with a proclamation recognizing Goya's time-honored commitment, dedication and success. The evening's celebration was dedicated to the hard work and loyalty of all employees that comprise La Gran Familia Goya. 

Goya's milestone celebration ran throughout 2011 and was commemorated through a series of corporate and community initiatives.  On March 16, the 75th day of the year, Goya partnered with United Way to donate one million pounds of food across the country, helping to feed more than three million people. The company also launched GoyaGives.org, an interactive, online campaign to encourage the public to aid in the fight against hunger.  As Goya continues to give to local, national and international organizations, more than two million pounds of food will have been donated by the end of 2011. 

Goya hosted a series of nine concerts in six cities with Marc Anthony, Antonio Solis and Ana Gabriel, while donating 75,000 pounds of food to various charities and food pantries dispersed throughout the six concert cities.  The company also initiated two new scholarship funds for sons and daughters of Goya employees and for culinary and food science students across the nation; created a new collection of recipe books; and commissioned Dr. Guillermo Baralt from Puerto Rico, a renowned scholar and historian, to document the history of Goya in a commemorative book titled "If It's Goya, It Has to be Good: 75 Years of History."  

In September, Goya was invited to The White House to meet President Barack Obama in honor of the company's anniversary and Hispanic Heritage Month.  Goya was the only company to be recognized for its success and great contributions to the nation by the Obama administration.  

In its effort toward continued growth, Goya opened a $44 million, 338,000-square-foot state of the art distribution center in South Florida, where the company will ship its products and those from select foreign brands to the Caribbean, Latin America and as far away as Africa.  It is currently the largest of Goya's 16 facilities and can produce one million cases of dried beans per year.  They've also expanded and improved production facilities in California, Texas, Angola, and Spain. 

"It has been a memorable and successful year for Goya," says Bob Unanue, President of Goya Foods.  "We are so proud and humbled by the overwhelming support and recognition of our 75th anniversary.  It's an incredible feeling and gives us the confidence and ability to further invest in Goya and the community."

Founded by Spanish immigrants in 1936 as a modest storefront in lower Manhattan, Goya has earned the distinction of being the largest Hispanic-owned food company in the U.S. To date, the company has expanded operations throughout the country, the Caribbean and Europe, employs nearly 3,500 people and distributes over 1,600 food products.  Since its inception, Goya Foods has been providing a "taste of home" to consumers, making the brand synonymous with the Hispanic community. Today, Latinos everywhere as well as non-Latinos, who seek to expand their palates, enjoy Goya products.

ABOUT GOYA: Founded in 1936, Goya Foods, Inc. is America's largest Hispanic-owned food company, and has established itself as the leader in Latin American food and condiments. Goya manufactures, packages, and distributes over 1,600 high-quality food products from the Caribbean, Mexico, Central and South America. Goya products have their roots in the culinary traditions of Hispanic communities around the world; their combination of authentic ingredients, robust seasonings and convenient preparation make them ideal for every taste and every table. For more information on Goya Foods, please visit www.goya.com

SOURCE Goya Foods, Inc.