United Natural Foods

United Natural Foods, Incorporated, also known as UNFI, is the leading national distributor of natural and organic foods, specialty foods, and related products in the United States 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, as well as personal care products, supplements, fresh produce, perishables, general merchandise, and non-food products.

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, and purchase of renewable energy from Eco Electrons. The corporation supports the Just Label It! movement that calls for the labeling of genetically modified and engineered foods. When discussing its philosophy, mission, and priorities UNFI foundation states that it is "committed to promoting healthy, sustainable, and organic food production and consumption" and educating people about healthy food choices.

History
UNFI was founded in 1996 by the merger of two regional distributors, Mountain People's Warehouse (founded in 1976, serving the Western U.S.) and Cornucopia Natural Foods (founded in 1977, serving the Eastern U.S.), forming the first natural products distributorship 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. In 2011, UNFI signed a distribution agreement with Safeway Inc. for the distribution of non-proprietary natural, organic and specialty products, making Safeway their second largest customer after Whole Foods. In 2012 UNFI partnered with Buyer's Best Friend to create a unified reordering system.

Organization
UNFI's distribution operations are divided into five principal units,
 * 1) UNFI Eastern Region
 * 2) UNFI Western Region
 * 3) Albert’s Organics
 * 4) Select Nutrition
 * 5) UNFI Canada (formerly SunOpta Distribution Group, includes Aux mille et une saisons)
 * 6) Honest Green

In addition to distribution operations, UNFI also operates the following divisions,
 * Blue Marble Brands
 * Earth Origins Market
 * Woodstock Farm Manufacturing