JERSEY CITY, N.J. — Goya Foods, the largest Hispanic-owned food company in the United States, has opened a new sustainable corporate headquarters in New Jersey as part of a $500 million global expansion over the past 10 years. The opening of the new facility ensures the retention of more than 500 existing local jobs and offers 100 new positions, Goya said.
According to Goya, the new center features a 600,000-square-foot warehouse for distribution and 42,000-square-foot corporate office space in Jersey City as well as a renovated 240,000-square-foot production facility in Secaucus, N.J., totaling nearly 900,000 square feet on 58 acres of land.
“This marks the largest expansion in Goya’s history,” said Bob Unanue, president of Goya Foods. “It is the culmination of almost 80 years of hard work and part of a 10-year strategic plan, designed to reach new consumers and strengthen the Goya brand worldwide.”
Goya said the facility will be 100% powered by a solar-powered energy system using 12,000 panels on 11 acres of rooftop. The system will fulfill the entire facility’s electrical needs without drawing any energy from the public grid.
“We are very excited to complete this stage of our strategic plan and to reap the overall benefits that it will provide,” said Peter Unanue, executive vice-president of Goya Foods. “We recognize the important role businesses play in leading the way for social and environmental change. Each new facility will enable us to operate more efficiently and environmentally friendly as well as support our growth for many more years to come.”
Goya also continues to renovate its production facility in Secaucus. Once completed, the facility is expected to be equipped with solar panels, rail service and advanced technology, including a continuous motion line for Goya’s rice mixes. This will produce 600 packages per minute, six times faster than the current production capability. The installation of rail service will significantly reduce transportation costs, traffic congestion and fuel consumption, Goya said.
In total, Goya has 26 facilities throughout the United States, Puerto Rico, the Dominican Republic and Spain. In 2014, Goya opened up three new facilities in Texas, California and Georgia.