Governor Warner Announces Goya Foods to Bring 60 New Jobs to Prince George County

RICHMOND - Governor Mark R. Warner today announced that Goya Foods, Inc. will invest $5.1 million to open a new distribution facility in Southpoint Business Park in Prince George County. The company will distribute its canned and frozen specialty foods from the facility, creating 60 new jobs that range from warehouse- to management-level positions. Virginia successfully competed against North Carolina for the project.

“Goya Foods is the largest processor and distributor of Hispanic foods in the United States, and we welcome the company to Virginia,” said Governor Warner. “I met with company officials at this year’s Hispanic Chamber of Commerce annual dinner to further reinforce that Prince George County is the right match for Goya’s first Virginia facility. This marks the third announcement for Southpoint Business Park in 2005, proving that its central location and opportunity for expansion is a huge draw for the region. ”

Headquartered in Secaucus, New Jersey, and founded in 1936, Goya Foods, Inc. is America’s largest Hispanic-owned food company. Goya manufactures, packages and distributes more than 1,200 high-quality food products, including canned and dry-packaged beans, rice and rice mixes, nectars, seasonings, and other Caribbean, Mexican and Central and South American specialties.

“Goya is very excited about our expansion into Virginia,” said Bob Unanue, President of Goya Foods, Inc. “From our facility in Prince George County, Goya will be able to better service our customers and consumers in Virginia and the surrounding states.”

The Virginia Economic Development Partnership worked with Prince George County and Virginia’s Gateway Region to secure the project for Virginia. The Virginia Department of Business Assistance will support the project with training assistance through its Workforce Services Program.

“Prince George County is a pro-business, pro-economic development and progressive community,” said Dr. Joseph A. “Joe” Leming, Chairman of the Prince George County Board of Supervisors. “We are so very fortunate to be able to create the platform for success through the public-private partnership that has been created between The Hollingsworth Companies and Prince George County at the Southpoint Business Park. On behalf of Prince George County I welcome Goya Foods to the Prince George County corporate partner family, helping to fulfill the vision of the County to be the best place to live, learn, work and raise a family.”