In the spirit of Hispanic Heritage Month, News 12 New Jersey visited the largest Hispanic-owned food company in the United States.

More than 2,500 products are manufactured right out of the Goya Foods, Inc. facility in Secaucus. It all started back in 1936.

“Our company really followed the immigration in this country of the Latinos,” says company president and CEO Robert Uanaue. “It’s a melting pot.”

Goya Foods employs 5,000 people. As Latino migration grows, so has the company’s product portfolio and footprint. It has 26 facilities worldwide.

“They say we will be the biggest group by 2050, if not maybe next week,” says Unanue. “Seventy million Latinos in this country and we're the second biggest Latino country in the world.”

Unanue says that despite the recent Inflation that the U.S. has seen, Goya Foods continues to maintain their affordable price point.

“What Goya sells is good, delicious and nutritious food. Rice and beans, it's a big part of our business,” he says. “We also produce our own cans and bottles. We’re vertically integrated, so the fact that we control the quality of the canning, of the packaging, we can also reduce our cost.”

Goya Gives, the philanthropic arm of the organization, continues to provide relief and supports nearly 300 organizations each year.

“We like to consider ourselves first responders,” Unanue says. “Puerto Rico has been devastated by [Hurricane] Fiona and we’re there.”

Unanue says that the company also never stopped working in house during the COVID-19 pandemic, which also allowed them help give back to the community in need.

“We didn't stop for a moment…we were first responders, we had food. We were the only few companies open, and we were lucky to have people to supply packaging and materials,” he says.

Goya Foods was founded by Unanue’s grandparents. He says this proves that the mission is as much about the importance of family, as it is about achieving the American dream.