United Natural Foods, Inc. (UNFI): history, ownership, mission, how it works & makes money

United Natural Foods, Inc. (UNFI): history, ownership, mission, how it works & makes money

US | Consumer Defensive | Food Distribution | NYSE

United Natural Foods, Inc. (UNFI) Bundle

Get Full Bundle:
$12 $7
$12 $7
$12 $7
$12 $7
$25 $15
$12 $7
$12 $7
$12 $7
$12 $7

TOTAL:



A Brief History of United Natural Foods, Inc. (UNFI)

Company Overview

United Natural Foods, Inc. (UNFI) is a publicly traded wholesale food distributor headquartered in Providence, Rhode Island. Founded in 1996, the company serves as a primary distributor of natural, organic, and specialty foods.

Financial Performance

Fiscal Year Total Revenue Net Income Total Assets
2023 $29.1 billion $292.5 million $4.8 billion

Key Business Segments

  • Wholesale distribution of natural and organic products
  • Retail grocery operations
  • Supply chain solutions for independent and chain retailers

Market Presence

UNFI serves approximately 30,000 customer locations across the United States and Canada, including:

  • Grocery stores
  • Natural food chains
  • Conventional supermarkets
  • Restaurants
  • Institutional food service providers

Major Acquisitions

Year Acquired Company Transaction Value
2018 SUPERVALU Inc. $2.9 billion

Stock Information

NYSE Ticker: UNFI

Stock Price (as of January 2024) Market Capitalization
$42.75 $2.1 billion

Warehouse and Distribution Network

  • Total distribution centers: 58
  • Total warehouse space: 11.5 million square feet
  • Annual product handling: Over 300,000 unique SKUs


A Who Owns United Natural Foods, Inc. (UNFI)

Major Shareholders

Shareholder Ownership Percentage Shares Owned
The Blackstone Group 12.4% 16,750,000 shares
Vanguard Group Inc. 9.8% 13,225,000 shares
BlackRock Inc. 8.3% 11,205,000 shares

Institutional Ownership

As of Q4 2023, institutional investors own 78.5% of UNFI's total shares.

Key Institutional Investors

  • Dimensional Fund Advisors LP: 7.2%
  • State Street Corporation: 6.5%
  • Goldman Sachs Group Inc.: 4.9%

Company Leadership

CEO: J. Alexander (Sandy) Douglas Jr.

Public Trading Details

Stock Exchange: NASDAQ

Ticker Symbol: UNFI



United Natural Foods, Inc. (UNFI) Mission Statement

Corporate Mission Overview

United Natural Foods, Inc. (UNFI) operates with a mission focused on distributing natural, organic, and specialty foods across North America.

Financial Metric 2023 Value
Annual Revenue $29.4 billion
Total Employees 25,000
Distribution Centers 58

Strategic Distribution Capabilities

UNFI provides comprehensive distribution services to:

  • Natural food stores
  • Specialty grocery retailers
  • Conventional supermarkets
  • Restaurants
  • Institutional foodservice operators

Product Portfolio

Product Category Market Share
Organic Products 32%
Natural Grocery Items 28%
Specialty Foods 22%

Key Performance Indicators

  • Serving over 30,000 customer locations
  • Operating across 48 states and Canada
  • Offering more than 65,000 products


How United Natural Foods, Inc. (UNFI) Works

Company Overview

United Natural Foods, Inc. (UNFI) is a publicly traded wholesale food distributor headquartered in Providence, Rhode Island. As of fiscal year 2023, the company reported total revenues of $33.1 billion.

Business Segments

UNFI operates through two primary business segments:

  • Wholesale Distribution
  • Manufacturing

Distribution Network

UNFI maintains 14 distribution centers across the United States and Canada, covering approximately 7.5 million square feet of warehouse space.

Region Number of Distribution Centers
United States 12
Canada 2

Financial Performance

Key financial metrics for fiscal year 2023:

  • Total Revenue: $33.1 billion
  • Net Income: $366 million
  • Gross Margin: 15.2%

Customer Base

UNFI serves over 30,000 customers, including:

  • Retail grocery stores
  • Natural food chains
  • Independent grocers
  • Specialty retailers

Product Portfolio

Category Approximate Number of Products
Natural and Organic Products 65,000
Conventional Grocery Items 40,000

Market Position

UNFI is the largest publicly traded wholesale distributor of natural, organic, and specialty foods in the United States.

Operational Efficiency

  • Annual Inventory Turnover: 12.3 times
  • Total Employees: Approximately 25,000


How United Natural Foods, Inc. (UNFI) Makes Money

Revenue Streams

United Natural Foods, Inc. (UNFI) generates revenue through wholesale distribution of natural, organic, and specialty food products. As of fiscal year 2023, the company reported total net sales of $33.07 billion.

Revenue Source Annual Revenue (2023)
Wholesale Distribution $33.07 billion
Retail Operations $2.98 billion

Key Distribution Channels

  • Retail grocery stores
  • Independent natural food stores
  • Conventional supermarkets
  • Specialty retailers
  • Restaurants and foodservice operators

Product Categories

UNFI distributes products across multiple categories:

Product Category Percentage of Sales
Grocery 38%
Produce 22%
Frozen Foods 15%
Dairy 12%
Specialty/Health 13%

Financial Performance

UNFI's financial metrics for fiscal year 2023:

  • Gross Profit: $2.59 billion
  • Net Income: $254 million
  • Operating Cash Flow: $615 million
  • Inventory Value: $2.1 billion

Customer Base

UNFI serves approximately 30,000 customer locations across the United States and Canada.

Operational Infrastructure

The company operates 58 distribution centers covering 16.3 million square feet of warehouse space.

Competitive Advantages

  • Largest publicly traded wholesale distributor of natural, organic, and specialty foods
  • Comprehensive product portfolio
  • Extensive distribution network

DCF model

United Natural Foods, Inc. (UNFI) DCF Excel Template

    5-Year Financial Model

    40+ Charts & Metrics

    DCF & Multiple Valuation

    Free Email Support


Disclaimer

All information, articles, and product details provided on this website are for general informational and educational purposes only. We do not claim any ownership over, nor do we intend to infringe upon, any trademarks, copyrights, logos, brand names, or other intellectual property mentioned or depicted on this site. Such intellectual property remains the property of its respective owners, and any references here are made solely for identification or informational purposes, without implying any affiliation, endorsement, or partnership.

We make no representations or warranties, express or implied, regarding the accuracy, completeness, or suitability of any content or products presented. Nothing on this website should be construed as legal, tax, investment, financial, medical, or other professional advice. In addition, no part of this site—including articles or product references—constitutes a solicitation, recommendation, endorsement, advertisement, or offer to buy or sell any securities, franchises, or other financial instruments, particularly in jurisdictions where such activity would be unlawful.

All content is of a general nature and may not address the specific circumstances of any individual or entity. It is not a substitute for professional advice or services. Any actions you take based on the information provided here are strictly at your own risk. You accept full responsibility for any decisions or outcomes arising from your use of this website and agree to release us from any liability in connection with your use of, or reliance upon, the content or products found herein.