United Natural Foods Establishes Charitable Foundation to Support Healthy, Sustainable and Organic Food Systems

PROVIDENCE, R.I., May 14, 2012 /PRNewswire/ -- United Natural Foods, Inc. (Nasdaq: UNFI) (the "Company" or "UNFI"), the leading national distributor of natural, organic and specialty foods and related products, today announced the establishment of a charitable foundation committed to supporting healthy, sustainable and organic food systems.  UNFI Foundation (the "Foundation") is scheduled to launch on August 1, 2012.

The Foundation will work to fund innovative non-profit programs emphasizing a number of areas including sustainable agriculture and organic farming as well as initiatives designed to increase organic food production and consumption. The Foundation will also seek to fund educational programs to enhance awareness of the benefits of healthy food choices.  

Melody Meyer, Vice-President of Global Initiatives for UNFI's subsidiary Albert's Organics, has been named Executive Director of the Foundation and will serve on its Board of Directors along with Steven Spinner, UNFI's President and Chief Executive Officer, Michael Funk, UNFI's Chairman of the Board, Thomas Dziki, UNFI's Senior Vice President, Chief Human Resource and Sustainability Officer, and Lisa Madsen, UNFI's Director, Sustainability & Philanthropy, Internal Communications.

UNFI has a long history of philanthropic endeavors including supporting the communities it serves and proactive support of sustainable agriculture and organic farming initiatives, labeling campaigns and nutritional education, including the Organic Trade Association, the Non-GMO Project, Organic Farming Research Foundation, Eco-Farm Conference, Mid-West Organic Sustainable Education Services and Vitamin Angels.  "As we launch UNFI Foundation, we look to continue the advancement of socially responsible initiatives that protect the environment and foster stewardship of the land," commented Steven Spinner. 

Beginning August 1, 2012, the Foundation will accept mission-specific grant applications from eligible 501(c)(3) organizations based in the United States.  The Foundation's Board of Directors will consider each qualified application and expects to begin approving grants later this year.  Preliminary information is available at www.unfifoundation.org and application guidelines will be updated later this year.  

"The establishment of the Foundation speaks to UNFI's core values," added Melody Meyer. "This initiative provides another wonderful opportunity for UNFI to make a meaningful difference, right at the beginning, where it counts.  Everything we do starts at the farm."

For additional information on the Foundation please visit www.unfifoundation.org or contact us at [email protected]. 

About United Natural Foods

United Natural Foods, Inc. (http://www.unfi.com) carries and distributes more than 60,000 products to more than 23,000 customer locations throughout the United States and Canada. The Company serves a wide variety of retail formats including conventional supermarket chains, natural product superstores, independent retail operators and the food service channel. United Natural Foods, Inc. was ranked by Fortune in 2006 – 2010 and 2012 as one of its "Most Admired Companies," winner of the Supermarket News 2008 Sustainability Excellence Award, and recognized by the Nutrition Business Journal for its 2009 Environment and Sustainability Award.

For more information on United Natural Foods, Inc., visit the Company's website at www.unfi.com.

SOURCE United Natural Foods, Inc.