[3] Unanue received a bachelor's degree from the University of Miami and an MBA from Thunderbird, the American Graduate School of International Management.
After his brother Joseph F. Unanue died of myelodysplastic syndrome in 1998,[5] he became Executive Vice President.
In August 2007, Unanue formed Trufoods LLC, which now owns the franchises Wall Street Deli, Arthur Treacher's Fish & Chips, Ritter's Frozen Custard, and Pudgie's Famous Chicken.
[citation needed] In 2008, Unanue was briefly a Republican primary candidate to face incumbent Frank Lautenberg in that year's U.S. Senate election.
Unanue announced his candidacy after the withdrawal of moderate Republican Anne Evans Estabrook, who was initially the New Jersey GOP establishment's choice but quit the race due to a mini-stroke.