NJ Resident and Goya CEO Tells His American Dream Story to President: “I’m Blessed to be in the Most Prosperous Country in the World”

Photo: Goya CEO Robert Unanue, of Wyckoff, NJ, (adjacent to President Trump) at the recent roundtable event.

Editor’s note: In light of the threatened boycott of Goya Foods in response to one remark at the White House by its CEO Robert Unanue, TriStateVoice.com is printing the full transcript of his comments. Unanue, a resident of Wyckoff, New Jersey, has said he would not apologize, according to media reports. On July 9, Mr. Unanue was one of several Hispanic leaders at a roundtable meeting in the Cabinet Room.

MR. UNANUE: Mr. President, what can I tell you? I’m so blessed to be here in the most prosperous country in the world, the greatest country in the world. And we’re so blessed to have you as our leader, as we continue to build this country and make it — continue to make it the most prosperous nation in the world.

I’m Bob Unanue, third generation. I’m CEO and president of Goya Food, Inc., a multibillion dollar company with facilities all over the United States and the Caribbean and Spain. We have about 4,500 employees we call “la gran familia Goya” — the great Goya family. And these people, we didn’t — we haven’t been back to work because we never stopped. We never stopped working. We doubled our efforts. And I asked the guys and gals, and I said, “Hey, this is tough.” And they said, “Look, if we don’t do it, nobody will.” And they said, “Presente.” The said, “Count on us.”

My grandfather left Spain at 18 years old from — on a steamship in 1904 with a lot of other European people who — the economy over there was not the most prosperous in — in the world. So they came to the United States — he came to the United States through Puerto Rico.

In 1936, he established — he was importing products in Spain. That was the Spanish Civil War. That dried up. He established Goya foods on Duane Street in Manhattan.

THE PRESIDENT: Okay.

MR. UNANUE: At that time, it was a butter and egg market. And now you have Bouley and all these great restaurants and all the — the marvelous things of New York.

But anyway, we’re all over the United States. And the United States, after Mexico, is the largest Hispanic country in the world. By 2050, we will be one third of the population. Prosperity is what we need to — faith in God, prosperity — to work hard and to build.

You are an incredible builder. And that, I tell our — our people, our family, “Look, we’re just beginning.” Because as the country grows, as the Hispanic community grows, we continue to grow. And that is the American Dream. That’s our (inaudible). Thank you.”

THE PRESIDENT: Great job. Really great job.