Profile: United Natural Foods Inc (UNFI.O)

United Natural Foods, Inc. (United Natural) is a distributor of natural, organic, and specialty foods and non-food products in the United States. It carries more than 60000 natural, organic, and specialty foods and non-food products, consisting of national brand, regional brand, private label and master distribution products, in six product categories: grocery and general merchandise, produce, perishables and frozen foods, nutritional supplements, bulk and food service products, and personal care items. The Company serves more than 17000 customer locations across the United States. The Company operates through three operating divisions: wholesale division, retail division and manufacturing division.

Wholesale Division

The distribution business of the Company is organized into two regions: Eastern region and Western Region. United Natural distribute natural and organic products in all of the product categories to customers in the Eastern and Midwestern portions of the United States through Eastern Region, and to customers in the Western and Central portions of the United States through the Western Region. As of August 1, 2009, the Eastern Region of the Company operated seven distribution centers, which provided approximately 2.6 million square feet of warehouse space. As of August 1, 2009, the Company’s Western Region operated six distribution centers, which provided approximately two million square feet of warehouse space.

The Company’s UNFI Specialty Distribution Services (UNFI Specialty) division operates distribution centers located in Massachusetts and Arkansas, which provide approximately 1.4 million square feet of warehouse space, serving customers throughout the United States. United Natural, through specialty distribution division distributes specialty food items (including ethnic, kosher, gourmet, organic and natural foods), health and beauty care items, and other non-food items.

United Natural, through Albert’s Organics, Inc. (Albert’s) distribute organically grown produce and non-produce perishables, such as organic milk, dressings, eggs, juices, poultry and various other refrigerated specialty items. Albert's operates out of six distribution centers located in all regions of the United States. The Company, through Select Nutrition, distribute more than 14,000 health and beauty aids, vitamins, minerals and supplements from distribution centers in California and Pennsylvania.

Retail Division

The Company own and operate 13 natural products retail stores, located primarily in Florida (with two locations in Maryland and one in Massachusetts), through Natural Retail Group, Inc. (NRG). As an operator of retail stores, the Company also have the ability to test market select products prior to offering them nationally.

Manufacturing Division

The Company’s subsidiary Woodstock Farms specializes in the international importation, roasting and packaging of nuts, seeds, dried fruits and snack items. It sells these items in bulk in its own packaged snack lines, EXPRESSnacks, Woodfield Farms and Woodstock Farms, and through private label packaging arrangements. The Company operate its manufacturing operations out of a packaging, roasting, and processing facility in New Jersey and a warehouse in Los Angeles, California. The Blue Marble Brands product lines address certain needs or preferences of customers of the wholesale division, which are not otherwise being met by other suppliers.

The Company competes with Tree of Life Distribution, Inc.