| Type | Public |
|---|---|
| Traded as | NASDAQ: UNFI |
| Industry | NAIC 42211: wholesale grocery |
| Founder(s) | Michael Funk and Norman A. Cloutier |
| Headquarters | Providence, Rhode Island, United States |
| Area served | United States, Canada |
| Key people | Michael S. Funk, Chair of the Board; Steven L. Spinner, CEO |
| Products | wholesale natural, organic and special products; grocery, produce and perishables, personal care, supplements and non-foods |
| Employees | Over 6,000 |
| Divisions | UNFI Natural and Specialty Distribution, Albert's Organics, Blue Marble Brands, Woodstock Farms Manufacturing, Natural Retail Group, Select Nutrition Distributors, UNFI Canada |
| Website | www.unfi.com |
United Natural Foods, Incorporated (NASDAQ: UNFI), also known as UNFI, is an independent national distributor of natural, organic and specialty foods and related products in the United States, distributing from 18 centers across the US and Canada. The company provides services for retailers and manufacturers, including marketing and promotions, merchandising, category management and store support services. UNFI's product line includes dry, refrigerated and frozen groceries, personal care, supplements, fresh produce, perishables, general merchandise and non-foods.
UNFI's customers include food cooperatives, supermarkets, natural food stores and niche retailers such as Whole Foods Market in the United States, Canada, and more than forty other countries.
UNFI has a focus on corporate social responsibility. Examples include construction and renovation projects that achieve LEED certification, use of alternative fuels, Green Teams[1] and purchase of renewable energy from Eco Electrons.[2]
UNFI was founded in 1996 by the merger of two regional distributors, Mountain People's Warehouse (founded in 1976, serving the Western US) and Cornucopia Natural Foods (founded in 1977, serving the Eastern US), forming the first natural products distributor with national scope. Since 1996, other regional distributors have merged with UNFI, filling in the distribution footprint and making UNFI the largest distributor of natural products. In 2007 UNFI added specialty products distribution through the acquisition of Millbrook Distribution Services.
UNFI's distribution operations are divided into six principal units.
In addition to distribution operations, UNFI's divisions include