Goya Foods CEO Departs Amid Lawsuit and Controversy

New York — Bob Unanue, the former CEO of Goya Foods, announced his unexpected departure from the company this week. After nearly 50 years with the family-owned business, Unanue stated he was abruptly informed that his employment had ended, leaving him with no clear explanation. He expressed his ongoing commitment to fighting child trafficking, linking it to open border policies of the current administration.

“While the board’s decision has left many questions unanswered, one thing is certain — I will not waver in my fight against child trafficking,” Unanue wrote in a post that garnered nearly 70,000 likes on X, drawing support primarily from conservative accounts.

However, a separate lawsuit filed on February 5 in Bergen County, New Jersey, by his cousin Francisco “Frankie” Unanue, who is also a Goya executive and board member, claims that Bob Unanue engaged in misconduct that amounted to a “clandestine agreement” leading to financial losses for the company. The lawsuit alleges that Bob allowed exploitation and corruption within Goya, stating he “colluded” with a friend to cover up damages.

Sources within the company have indicated that Bob was aware of the reasons behind his removal as early as February. These reasons reportedly do not involve his political affiliations or statements about child trafficking. Goya Foods issued a statement affirming that the leadership change was unrelated to politics or media appearances, emphasizing its focus on child protection and addressing food insecurity through its Goya Cares and Goya Gives initiatives.

A spokesperson for Bob Unanue called the lawsuit’s allegations “frivolous, absurd, and without merit,” stating they will be addressed in the appropriate legal channels.

The lawsuit contends that for nearly ten years, Bob unregulated his confidant, Suvajit Basu, who headed the IT department. According to the complaint, Bob allowed Basu to hire without board knowledge, which led to significant financial mismanagement, including three system shutdowns in one year.

In other legal actions, Goya Foods filed a lawsuit against Basu in October, alleging improper conduct regarding company finances. Subsequent to this, Frankie Unanue joined the lawsuit as a plaintiff and included Bob as a defendant.

Frankie’s lawsuit accuses Bob of failing in his fiduciary duties, which led to substantial revenue losses. The case seeks compensatory damages, punitive damages, and legal fees, requesting a jury trial.

Goya Foods, a privately-held company with revenues exceeding $1.5 billion annually, was founded in 1936 by Bob’s grandfather and is still operated by the Unanue family. Tensions within the family business have previously arisen, notably due to Bob’s outspoken political connections. In 2021, he faced backlash for questioning the legitimacy of the 2020 presidential election and was subsequently barred from speaking to the media without board approval.

As the situation unfolds, the implications for Goya Foods and the Unanue family dynasty remain to be seen.