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United Natural Foods

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FY2015 Annual Report · United Natural Foods
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UNITED STATES
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

Washington, D.C. 20549

FORM 10-K

(cid:2)

(cid:3)

ANNUAL REPORT PURSUANT TO  SECTION  13 OR 15(d) OF  THE  SECURITIES
EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934

For the fiscal year ended August 1, 2015

or
TRANSITION REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION  13 OR 15(d) OF  THE SECURITIES
EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934

For the transition period from 

 to 

Commission File Number: 0-21531

UNITED NATURAL FOODS, INC.

(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)

Delaware
(State or other jurisdiction of
incorporation or organization)

05-0376157
(I.R.S. Employer
Identification No.)

313 Iron Horse Way, Providence, RI 02908
(Address of principal executive offices)  (Zip Code)

Registrant’s telephone number, including area code:
(401) 528-8634

Securities registered pursuant to Section 12(b) of the Act:

Title of each class

Name of each exchange on which registered

Common Stock, par value $0.01 per share

NASDAQ Global Select Market

Securities registered pursuant to Section 12(g) of the Act:
None

Indicate by check mark if the registrant is a well-known seasoned issuer, as defined in Rule 405 of the Securities

Act. Yes (cid:2) No (cid:3)

Indicate by check mark if the registrant is not required to file reports pursuant to Section 13 or Section 15(d) of the

Act. Yes (cid:3) No (cid:2)

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant (1) has filed all reports required to be filed by Section 13 or 15(d) of the
Securities Exchange Act of 1934 during the preceding 12 months (or for such shorter period that the registrant was required to file
such reports), and (2) has been subject to such filing requirements for the past 90 days. Yes (cid:2) No (cid:3)

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant has submitted electronically and posted on its corporate Web site, if any, every

Interactive Data File required to be submitted and posted pursuant to Rule 405 of Regulation S-T during the preceding 12 months (or
for such shorter period that the registrant was required to submit and post such files). Yes (cid:2) No (cid:3)

Indicate by check mark if disclosure of delinquent filers pursuant to Item 405 of Regulation S-K is not contained herein, and

will not be contained, to the best of registrant’s knowledge, in definitive proxy or information statements incorporated by reference in
Part III of this Form 10-K or any amendment to this Form 10-K (cid:3)

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is a large accelerated filer, an accelerated filer, a non-accelerated filer or a

smaller reporting company. See the definitions of ‘‘large accelerated filer,’’ ‘‘accelerated filer’’ and ‘‘smaller reporting company’’ in
Rule 12b-2 of the Exchange Act.

Large Accelerated Filer (cid:2)
Non-accelerated  Filer (cid:3) (Do not check if a smaller reporting company)

Accelerated Filer (cid:3)
Smaller Reporting Company (cid:3)

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is a shell company (as defined in Rule 12b-2 of the Act). Yes (cid:3) No (cid:2)

The aggregate market value of the common stock held by non-affiliates of the registrant was $3,869,497,158 based upon the

closing price of the registrant’s common stock on the Nasdaq Global Select Market(cid:4) on January 30, 2015. The number of shares of
the registrant’s common stock, par value $0.01 per share, outstanding as of September 11, 2015 was 50,100,946.

DOCUMENTS INCORPORATED BY REFERENCE

Portions of the registrant’s definitive Proxy Statement for the Annual Meeting of Stockholders to be held on December 16, 2015 are
incorporated herein by reference into Part III of this Annual Report on Form 10-K.

UNITED NATURAL FOODS, INC.

FORM 10-K

TABLE OF CONTENTS

Section

Part I

Item 1.

Business . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

Executive Officers of the Registrant . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

Item 1A. Risk Factors . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

Item 1B. Unresolved Staff Comments . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

Item 2.

Properties . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

Item 3.

Legal Proceedings . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

Item 4.

Mine Safety Disclosures . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

Part II

Item 5.

Market for the Registrant’s Common Equity, Related Stockholder Matters and

Issuer Purchases of Equity Securities . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

Item 6.

Selected Financial Data . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

Item 7.

Management’s Discussion  and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of

Operations . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

Item 7A. Quantitative and Qualitative  Disclosures About  Market Risk . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

Item 8.

Financial Statements and Supplementary  Data . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

Item 9.

Changes in and Disagreements With  Accountants on Accounting and Financial

Disclosure . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

Item 9A.

Controls and Procedures . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

Item 9B. Other Information . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

Part III

Item 10.

Directors, Executive Officers and Corporate Governance . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

Item 11.

Executive Compensation . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

Item 12.

Security Ownership of Certain Beneficial Owners and  Management and Related

Stockholder Matters . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

Item 13.

Certain Relationships and Related Transactions, and  Director Independence . . . . . . .

Item 14.

Principal Accountant Fees and Services . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

Part IV

Item 15.

Exhibits and Financial Statement  Schedules . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

Signatures . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

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ITEM 1. BUSINESS

PART I.

Unless otherwise specified, references to ‘‘United  Natural Foods,’’ ‘‘we,’’ ‘‘us,’’ ‘‘our’’ or ‘‘the
Company’’ in this Annual Report on Form  10-K (‘‘Annual Report’’  or ‘‘Report’’) mean United Natural
Foods, Inc. and all entities included in  our consolidated financial statements. See the consolidated
financial statements and notes thereto  included in ‘‘Item  8.  Financial Statements and Supplementary
Data’’ of this Report for information regarding  our  financial performance.

Overview

We  believe we are a leading distributor based on sales  of natural, organic and specialty  foods  and

non-food products in the United States and Canada,  and that  our thirty-one distribution centers,
representing approximately 7.7 million square feet of warehouse space, provide us with the largest
capacity  of any North American-based distributor in the natural, organic and  specialty products
industry. We offer more than 85,000  high-quality natural,  organic and specialty foods and non-food
products, consisting of national, regional and private label brands  grouped into six  product categories:
grocery and general merchandise, produce,  perishables and frozen foods, nutritional supplements and
sports nutrition, bulk and foodservice  products and personal care items.  We serve more than  40,000
customer locations primarily located across  the United States and Canada which can be classified  as
follows:

(cid:129) independently owned natural products retailers, which include buying  clubs;

(cid:129) supernatural chains, which consist  solely of Whole  Foods Market, Inc.  (‘‘Whole Foods  Market’’);

(cid:129) conventional supermarkets, which include mass market chains;  and

(cid:129) other, which includes foodservice and international customers  outside of Canada.

We  were the first organic food distribution network in the  United States designated as a  ‘‘Certified

Organic Distributor’’ by Quality Assurance International, Inc. (‘‘QAI’’),  an organic  certifying agency
accredited by the United States Department of Agriculture  (‘‘USDA’’). This  process involved a
comprehensive review by QAI of our operating  and purchasing systems and procedures. This
certification covers all of our broadline  distribution centers in the  United States, except our primarily
specialty products  distribution center in Leicester, Massachusetts and facilities acquired in the
acquisition of Tony’s Fine Foods (‘‘Tony’s’’). Although not designated as a ‘‘Certified Organic
Distributor’’ by QAI, the four Tony’s California locations  are certified as Organic  by  the State of
California Departments of Public Health Food and Drug Branch. In addition, three  of  our  Canadian
distribution centers are certified organic by  either QAI, EcoCert Canada  or ProCert Canada, while  the
remaining Canadian distribution center sells only Kosher  foods  and is therefore not certified organic.

Since the formation of our predecessor in 1976, we have  grown  our business  both  organically and

through acquisitions which have expanded our  distribution network, product selection  and customer
base. Since fiscal 2005, our net sales have increased at a compounded annual growth rate of 14.8%.  In
recent years, our sales to existing and  new customers have increased through  the continued growth of
the natural and organic products industry in general;  our efforts to increase the  number of conventional
supermarket customers to whom we distribute products; increased market share through  our
high-quality service and broader product selection,  including specialty products,  the acquisition of, or
merger with, natural, organic, and specialty product  distributors; the expansion of our existing
distribution centers; the construction  of  new distribution  centers; the introduction of new products  and
the development of our own line of natural  and  organic branded  products. Through  these efforts,  we
believe that we have broadened our  geographic penetration, expanded our customer  base,  enhanced
and diversified our product selection and increased our market share.

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We  have been the primary distributor to Whole Foods  Market for more than seventeen years.

Under the terms of our agreement with Whole  Foods  Market,  we serve as the primary distributor to
Whole Foods Market in all of its regions  in the  United States. Our agreement with Whole Foods
Market expires on September 25, 2020.

In July 2014, we completed the acquisition of all of  the outstanding capital  stock  of Tony’s,  through

our  wholly-owned subsidiary UNFI West, Inc.  (‘‘UNFI West’’), for  consideration of approximately
$202.7 million. With the completion  of the transaction,  Tony’s is now a  wholly-owned subsidiary and
continues to operate as Tony’s Fine Foods. Founded in  1934 by  the Ingoglia family,  Tony’s  is
headquartered in West Sacramento, California and is a  leading distributor of perishable  food products,
including a wide array of specialty protein, cheese, deli,  food service and bakery goods to retail and
specialty grocers, food service customers and other distribution companies  principally located
throughout the Western United States,  as well as Alaska and Hawaii. We believe that the  acquisition of
Tony’s accomplished certain of our strategic objectives as Tony’s has provided us with a platform for
expanding both our high-growth perishable product offerings and our  distribution footprint in  the
Western Region of the United States.

During  fiscal 2015, we began shipping customers both center of the store products and fresh,
perishable products. Our customers utilized both UNFI’s broadline  and  Tony’s offerings, including
grocery, refrigerated, protein, specialty cheese  and prepared foods. Our customers’ broad  utilization
supports our belief that there is significant  value  in UNFI’s position  as a  leading provider of logistics,
distribution and category management  for both center store  and perimeter  products. Additionally, we
believe that gourmet and ethnic products and fresh foods represent  significant incremental growth
opportunities for UNFI.

Our ability to distribute specialty food items (including  ethnic, kosher  and  gourmet products) has
accelerated our expansion into a number of  high-growth business  markets and  allowed  us  to  establish
immediate market share in the fast-growing specialty foods market. We have now integrated specialty
food products and natural and organic  specialty non-food items into all of our broadline distribution
centers across the United States and  Canada. Due to our expansion  into  specialty foods, over the  past
several fiscal years we have been awarded new  business with a number of conventional  supermarkets
that previously had not done business with us  because we  did not distribute specialty products.  We
believe that the distribution of these  products enhances our conventional supermarket business channel
and that our complementary product  lines  continue to present opportunities  for cross-selling.

In June 2011, we entered into an asset  purchase  agreement with  L&R  Distributors, Inc. (‘‘L&R
Distributors’’) pursuant to which we agreed to sell our  conventional  non-foods and general merchandise
lines of business, including certain inventory related to these product lines. This  divestiture was
completed in the first quarter of fiscal  2012, and  has allowed us to concentrate on  our core  business  of
the distribution of natural, organic, and specialty foods and non-food  products.

We  are a Delaware corporation based  in Providence,  Rhode  Island, and  we conduct business
through our various wholly owned subsidiaries. We  operated thirty-one distribution centers at our  2015
fiscal year end, and we believe that our approximately  7.7 million square feet of distribution space
provide us with the largest capacity of  any distributor that solely  distributes natural,  organic and
specialty products  in the United States  or Canada.

We  operate thirteen natural products retail stores within the United States, located primarily in

Florida (with two locations in Maryland  and  one in Massachusetts),  through our subsidiary doing
business as Earth Origins Market (‘‘Earth  Origins’’). We believe  that our retail  business  serves as  a
natural complement to our distribution business because  it enables us  to develop new  marketing
programs and improve customer service. In addition, our subsidiary  doing business as Woodstock Farms
Manufacturing specializes in the international importation, roasting, packaging  and distribution  of nuts,

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dried fruit, seeds, trail mixes, granola,  natural and organic snack items and confections for our
customers and in branded products of our  own.

Our Industry

The natural products industry encompasses a wide  range of products including organic and
non-organic foods, nutritional, herbal  and  sports supplements, toiletries and personal care  items,
naturally-based cosmetics, natural/homeopathic  medicines, pet products  and cleaning agents.  According
to The Natural Foods Merchandiser, a leading natural products industry trade  publication, sales for  all
types of natural products were $120.4  billion in  calendar  2014, a growth of $11.6 billion or
approximately 10.7% from calendar 2013.  According  to  the National Association  for the  Specialty  Food
Trade, a leading specialty food industry trade  publication, sales in calendar  2014 were  $109.0 billion,
representing growth of 19% from calendar 2012.  We believe  the growth of the  natural products
industry is a result of the increasing demand by  consumers for a healthy lifestyle, food safety and
environmental sustainability.

Our Operating Structure

Our operations are comprised of three principal operating divisions. These operating divisions are:

(cid:129) our wholesale division, which includes our broadline  natural,  organic and specialty distribution

business in the United States, our wholly-owned subsidiary, UNFI Canada, Inc. (‘‘UNFI
Canada’’), which is our natural, organic and specialty distribution business in  Canada,  Tony’s,
which  is a leading distributor of a wide  array of specialty protein, cheese, deli,  food service and
bakery goods, principally throughout the Western United States,  Albert’s Organics, Inc.
(‘‘Albert’s’’), which is a leading distributor within the United States  of  organically  grown  produce
and non-produce perishable items, and Select  Nutrition, which distributes  vitamins, minerals and
supplements;

(cid:129) our retail division, consisting of Earth Origins, which operates our thirteen natural products

retail stores within the United States;  and

(cid:129) our manufacturing and branded products divisions, consisting  of Woodstock Farms

Manufacturing, which specializes in the international importation, roasting,  packaging and
distribution of nuts, dried fruit, seeds,  trail mixes, granola, natural  and organic  snack items and
confections, and our Blue Marble Brands  product lines.

Wholesale Division

Our broadline distribution business is  organized into three regions—our Eastern Region, Western

Region and our Canadian Region. We  distribute natural, organic  and specialty products  in all of our
product  categories to customers in the Eastern and Midwestern portions of the United States through
our  Eastern Region and to customers  in the  Western  and  Central portions of the  United States through
our  Western Region. Our Canadian Region distributes natural, organic and specialty  products in all of
our  product categories to all of our customers in  Canada.  As of our 2015 fiscal year end, our Eastern
Region operated eleven distribution  centers,  which provided  approximately  3.9 million square feet of
warehouse space, our Western Region operated six distribution centers, which  provided approximately
2.6 million square feet of warehouse  space and our  Canadian Region  operated four distribution centers,
which  provided approximately 0.3 million  square feet  of  warehouse space.

Through Tony’s, we distribute perishable  food products, including a wide array of specialty protein,
cheese, deli, food service and bakery  goods. Tony’s  operates out of four distribution centers strategically
located on the West coast in California  and Washington, providing approximately 0.5 million square

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feet of warehouse space. The four California locations are  certified as  Organic by the State of
California Departments of Public Health Food and Drug Branch.

Through Albert’s, we 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 four distribution centers strategically located throughout the United States, providing
approximately 0.3 million square feet  of  warehouse space,  and is designated  as a ‘‘Certified Organic
Distributor’’ by QAI.

Through Select Nutrition, we distribute more  than 15,000  health and beauty aids, vitamins,

minerals and supplements from distribution centers  in Pennsylvania and  California.

Certain of our distribution centers are shared by multiple operations within our  wholesale division.

Retail Division

We  operate thirteen natural products retail stores as  Earth Origins  within the United States, ten of

which  are located in Florida, two in Maryland and one in Massachusetts. We believe that our  retail
business serves as a natural complement to our distribution  business because it  enables us to see
market trends, develop new marketing  programs  and receive  direct customer feedback.

We  believe our natural products retail stores  have a  number of advantages  over their competitors,

including our financial strength and marketing  expertise, the purchasing power resulting from  group
purchasing by stores within Earth Origins  and  the breadth of our product selection.

We  believe that we benefit from certain advantages in  acting as a distributor to our natural

products retail stores, including our ability to:

(cid:129) control the purchases made by these  stores;

(cid:129) expand the number of high-growth, high-margin product categories, such as  produce and

prepared foods, within these stores; and

(cid:129) stay abreast of the trends in the retail marketplace, which enables us  to better anticipate  and

serve the needs of our wholesale customers.

Additionally, as the primary natural products distributor to our retail  locations, we realize

significant economies of scale and operating and  buying efficiencies. As  an operator of natural products
retail stores, we also have the ability to  test market select products prior to  offering them nationally.
We  can then evaluate consumer reaction to the  product without incurring significant inventory  risk. We
also are able to test new marketing and promotional  programs  within our stores prior  to  offering them
to our wholesale customer base.

Manufacturing & Branded Products Divisions

Our subsidiary, Woodstock Farms Manufacturing, specializes  in the international  importation,
roasting, packaging and distribution of nuts, dried fruit, seeds,  trail mixes,  granola,  natural and organic
snack items and confections. We sell  these  items  in bulk and  through private  label packaging
arrangements with large health food,  supermarket and convenience  store chains  and independent
owners. We operate an organic (USDA and QAI) and kosher (Circle K) certified packaging,  roasting,
and processing facility in New Jersey that is SQF  (Safety Quality Food) level 2 certified.

Our Blue Marble Brands portfolio is a collection of 15 organic,  natural and specialty food  brands

representing more  than 650 unique products. We have  a dedicated  team of marketing, supply  chain and
sales professionals  that have a passion to energize our  retail partners and provide  consumers with
affordable Non-GMO foods. Our unique Blue Marble Brands products are sold  through our  wholesale
division, third-party distributors and  directly to retailers. Our  Field Day(cid:4) brand is primarily sold to

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customers in our independent natural  products retailer channel (‘‘independent retailers’’), and  is meant
to serve as a private label brand for independent  retailers  to  allow  them  to compete with conventional
supermarkets and supernatural chains which often have  their own private label  store brands.

Our Competitive Strengths

We  believe we distinguish ourselves from our competitors through  the following  strengths:

We are a market leader with a nationwide presence in the United States and Canada.

We  believe that we are the largest distributor of natural, organic and specialty  foods  and non-food
products by sales in the United States and Canada, and one of the few distributors capable  of meeting
the natural, organic and specialty product  needs of regional and local independent retailer  customers,
conventional supermarket chains, and  the supernatural  chain. The opening of a new larger Albert’s
facility in New Jersey in May 2013 and  a new facility in Hudson  Valley, New  York in September 2014
has provided additional space to serve the  growing New York  City metropolitan  market. We believe the
consolidation into a new, larger, facility in Aurora, Colorado in  May  2013 and  the opening of  our
Racine and Prescott, Wisconsin facilities  in  June  2014 and  April 2015, respectively, will allow us to
serve these growing markets with greater  operational efficiencies. We  believe that our network  of
thirty-one distribution centers (including  four  in Canada) creates significant advantages over  smaller
national and regional distributors. Our  nationwide presence across  the United States  and Canada
allows us to in many instances have locations closer to our customers than  our  competitors, offer
marketing and customer service programs  across  regions, offer  a  broader  product selection and  provide
operational excellence with high service  levels and  same day or  next day on-time deliveries.

We are an efficient distributor.

We  believe that our scale affords us significant benefits  within a highly  fragmented industry
including volume purchasing opportunities and  warehouse and distribution  efficiencies. Our continued
growth has allowed us to expand our existing facilities and  open new facilities as we seek to achieve
maximum operating efficiencies, including  reduced fuel and  other transportation costs, and has  created
sufficient capacity for future growth. Some of the efficiency improvements we have instituted include
the centralization of general and administrative  functions, the  consolidation of systems  applications
among physical locations and regions and  the  optimization  of  customer  distribution routes, all of which
reduced expenses. We have made significant investments  in our people, facilities,  equipment and
technology to broaden our footprint  and enhance the  efficiency  of  our operations. Key examples in  the
last several years include the following:

(cid:129) In  connection with the acquisition  of certain  Canadian food  distribution assets  of  the SunOpta

Distribution Group business of SunOpta, Inc. in June 2010,  we acquired five distribution centers
which  provided a nationwide presence in Canada with  approximately  286,000 square feet of
distribution space and the ability to serve all  major markets  in Canada.

(cid:129) In  September 2010 we commenced  operations at a new  facility in  Lancaster,  Texas serving

customers throughout the Southwestern United States, including Texas, Oklahoma, New  Mexico,
Arkansas and Louisiana.

(cid:129) During July 2011 we completed the integration  of specialty food products into our  nationwide

platform.

(cid:129) In  May 2013 our Albert’s division  commenced operations at a new  facility in Logan Township,
New Jersey with 55,000 square feet  of distribution space to  more efficiently serve our growing
customer base on the East Coast, including the  New  York City  metropolitan market.

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(cid:129) In  June 2013 we commenced operations at a new 540,000 square  foot distribution  center in

Aurora, Colorado and consolidated all existing  Aurora operations including  an Albert’s location
and off-site storage into one building.

(cid:129) In  June 2014 we commenced operations at a new 450,000 square  foot distribution  center in

Racine, Wisconsin.

(cid:129) In  connection with the acquisition  of Tony’s in July 2014, we acquired four distribution centers  in

California and Washington with approximately 500,000 square  feet  of  distribution space.

(cid:129) In  September 2014 we commenced  operations at a new  510,000 square foot  distribution center

in Hudson Valley, New York which allows  us to service  the growing New  York City metropolitan
market and to transfer certain routes  from our York, Pennsylvania, Chesterfield, New  Hampshire
and Dayville, Connecticut distribution centers.

(cid:129) In  April 2015 we commenced operations  at a  new  300,000  square foot distribution center in

Prescott, Wisconsin which services the Twin Cities market.

We have extensive and long-standing customer  relationships and provide  superior  service.

Throughout the 39 years of our, and our  predecessors’  operations, we have  developed

long-standing customer relationships,  which  we believe are among the  strongest in  our  industry.  In
particular, we have been the primary  supplier  of  natural and  organic products to the largest
supernatural chain in the United States,  Whole Foods Market, for more  than  17 years. We believe  a
key driver of  our strong customer loyalty  is our  superior service levels, which  include accurate
fulfillment of orders, timely product delivery, competitive prices and a  high level  of  product marketing
support. Our average broadline distribution in-stock service  level for fiscal 2015, measured as the
percentage of items ordered by customers that are  delivered  by the  requested  delivery date  (excluding
manufacturer out-of-stocks and discontinued  items), was approximately 97%.  We believe that our high
distribution service levels are attributable  to  our experienced  inventory planning  and replenishment
department and sophisticated warehousing, inventory control and distribution  systems. Furthermore, we
offer next-day delivery service to a majority  of our active customers and offer multiple deliveries each
week to our largest customers, which  we  believe  differentiates  us from many of our competitors.

We have an experienced, motivated management  team.

Our management team has extensive experience in the  retail and distribution business, including
the natural, organic and specialty product  industries. On  average, each of  our ten  executive  officers has
over twenty-four years of experience  in the  retail, natural products or food distribution industry.
Furthermore, a significant portion of  our management-level employees’ compensation is equity based or
performance based, and, therefore management  is incentivized to seek to, generate  strong operating
results in  the future.

Our Growth Strategy

We  seek to maintain and enhance our  position  within the natural and organic  industry  in the
United States and Canada and to increase our market share in the  specialty products  industry. Since
our  formation, we have grown our business organically and through the  acquisition  of a number of
distributors and suppliers, which has  expanded our distribution  network, product selection and
customer base. For example, we acquired  our Albert’s, UNFI Canada, Earth Origins,  Woodstock Farms
Manufacturing, Tony’s and specialty businesses.

Beginning in fiscal 2009, our strategic  plan  has focused on increasing market share, particularly in

our  conventional supermarket channel.  This channel typically  generates lower gross margins than  our
independent retailer channel, but also  typically has  lower operating expenses.  With our acquisition of

6

Tony’s we have moved more heavily into  the growing  market  of perishable food products. Our strategic
plan  also includes the roll-out of new  technology including a national warehouse management and
procurement system and transportation management system  upgrade.  These steps and others are
intended to promote operational efficiencies and further reduce  our operating expenses  to  offset the
lower gross margins we expect with increased sales  to  the conventional supermarket and  supernatural
channels and from sales of our fresh perishable products, which can  sell for a lower  gross margin  than
our  other natural, organic and specialty products.

To implement our growth strategy, we intend  to  continue increasing our market share of the
growing natural and organic products  industry  by  expanding our  customer base, increasing our share of
existing customers’ business and continuing  to  expand  and further penetrate new distribution territories.
We  plan to expand our presence within the  specialty industry by offering new  and existing customers  a
single wholesale distributor capable of  meeting their specialty and natural and organic  product needs
on a national or regional basis. Key elements of our strategy  include:

Expanding Our Customer Base

As of August 1, 2015, we served more than 40,000 customer  locations  primarily in  the United
States and Canada. We plan to expand our coverage  of  the natural and organic and specialty products
industry by cultivating new customer  relationships within the industry and by further  developing  our
existing channels of distribution, such as  independent natural products retailers,  conventional
supermarkets, mass market outlets, institutional  foodservice providers, buying clubs, restaurants and
gourmet stores. With the coordinated distribution of our specialty  products with our natural and
organic products, including our increased  array  of  specialty protein, cheese, deli, food service and
bakery offerings as a result of our acquisition  of Tony’s,  we  believe that  we  have the opportunity to
continue gaining market share in the conventional supermarket  channel as the result of our ability to
offer an integrated and efficient distribution solution for our customers.  We have gained  new business
from a number of conventional supermarket customers, including  Giant-Landover, Giant  Eagle,
Shop-Rite, and Kings, partially as a result of  our complementary product  selection.

Increasing Our Market Share of Existing  Customers’ Business

We  believe that we are the primary distributor of natural and organic products to the majority  of

our  natural products customer base,  including to Whole  Foods Market,  our largest customer. We intend
to maintain our position as the primary supplier for a  majority of our customers, and  to  add to the
number of customers for which we serve  as primary supplier by  offering  the broadest  product selection
in our industry at competitive prices. With the expansion of fresh, perishable and  specialty product
offerings, including proteins, cheeses  and deli  items as  a result of  the Tony’s acquisition, we believe that
we have the ability to further meet our  existing  customers’ needs for specialty foods and non-food
products, representing an opportunity  to  continue  to  grow  within the  conventional supermarket,
supernatural and independent channels.

Continuing to Improve the Efficiency of Our Nationwide  Distribution Network

We  have invested more than $415 million  in our distribution network  and  infrastructure over  the

past five fiscal years. In fiscal 2013 we began operations at  our new  Albert’s  distribution facility in
Logan, New Jersey, and we commenced  operations at a new  540,000 square foot  distribution center  in
Aurora, Colorado consolidating all existing Aurora operations, including an Albert’s location  and
off-site storage, into one building. In fiscal 2014  we commenced  operations at our new distribution
center in Racine, Wisconsin. Our multi-year expansion plan  continues to progress as we commenced
operations at our new distribution center in  Hudson  Valley, New York  in the first quarter of fiscal
2015, our new Prescott, Wisconsin facility in the third quarter of fiscal 2015, and we  are currently

7

constructing an additional facility in Gilroy, California, from  which we expect  to  begin  operations  in the
third quarter of fiscal 2016.

Further, we will strive to continue to maintain  our  focus  on realizing efficiencies and economies  of

scale in purchasing, warehousing, transportation  and  general and administrative functions, which,
combined with transportation expense savings and incremental fixed cost leverage, should lead to
continued improvements in our operating margin.

Expanding into Other Distribution Channels and Geographic Markets

We  believe that we will be successful  in continuing to expand into the foodservice  channel  as well

as continuing to develop our presence  outside of the  United States and Canada through our
relationships with brokers primarily in  Asia and the Caribbean. We will continue to seek to develop
regional relationships and alliances with  companies  such as Aramark Corporation, the Compass Group
North America, and Sodexho Inc. in the  foodservice channel and seek other alliances outside  the
United States and Canada.

Continuing to Selectively Pursue Opportunistic Acquisitions

Throughout our history, we have successfully identified, consummated and integrated multiple

acquisitions. Since fiscal 2000, we have  successfully completed fifteen acquisitions of  distributors,
manufacturers and suppliers, the most recent being the  acquisition  of Tony’s  in the fourth quarter of
fiscal 2014. We intend to continue to selectively pursue  opportunistic acquisitions to expand the breadth
of our distribution network, increase our  efficiency, procure beneficial customer relationships  or add
additional products and capabilities.

Continuing to Provide the Leading Distribution Solution

We  believe that we provide a leading distribution solution to the natural,  organic  and specialty

products industry through our national  presence, regional  preferences, focus on customer  service  and
breadth of product offerings. Our service  levels, which we  believe to be the highest in our industry, are
attributable to our experienced inventory planning and replenishment department and  our sophisticated
warehousing, inventory control and distribution systems.  See  ‘‘—Our Focus  on Technology’’ below for
more information regarding our use of technology in our warehousing, inventory control  and
distribution systems.

We  also offer our customers a selection of inventory management, merchandising,  marketing,

promotional and event management services designed to increase sales and enhance customer
satisfaction. These marketing services, which primarily are utilized by  customers in our  independently
owned natural products retailers channel and many  of  which are co-sponsored with suppliers, include
monthly and thematic circular programs, in-store signage and assistance in product display.

Our Customers

We  maintain long-standing customer relationships  with independently-owned natural  products
retailers, supernatural chains and supermarket  chains. In addition, we  emphasize our  relationships with
new customers, such as conventional  supermarkets, mass market outlets and gourmet stores,  which are
continually increasing their natural product offerings. The following were included among our wholesale
customers for fiscal 2015:

(cid:129) Whole Foods Market, the largest supernatural chain  in the United  States and Canada; and

(cid:129) conventional supermarket chains, including Kroger,  Vitamin Cottage, Wegmans, Sprouts Farmers

Market, Giant-Carlisle, Stop & Shop,  Giant-Landover, Giant Eagle, Hannaford, Food Lion,
Bashas’, Shop-Rite, Publix and Fred Meyer.

8

Whole Foods Market is our only customer  that represented more than 10% of  total  net sales in

fiscal 2015, and accounted for approximately 35% of our net  sales.

The following table lists the percentage of sales by  customer type  for the  fiscal  years  ended

August 1, 2015, August 2, 2014 and August 3,  2013:

Customer Type

Percentage of Net
Sales

2015

2014

2013

Independently owned natural products retailers . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Supernatural chains . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Conventional supermarkets and mass market chains . . . . . . . . . . .
Other . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

32% 33% 34%
35% 36% 36%
26% 26% 25%
7% 5% 5%

We  distribute natural, organic and specialty foods and non-food products to customers located in

the United States and Canada, as well  as  to  customers located in other foreign countries.  Our total
international sales, including those by  UNFI Canada, represented approximately four  percent of our
business in fiscal 2015, compared to five percent in  2014 and 2013. We believe that our  sales  outside
the United States, as a percentage of  our total sales, will expand  as we seek to continue to grow our
Canadian operations.

Our Marketing Services

We  offer a variety of marketing services designed  to  increase sales for our customers  and suppliers,

including consumer and trade marketing programs,  as well as  programs to support suppliers in
understanding our markets. Trade and  consumer  marketing  programs are supplier-sponsored  programs
which  cater to a broad range of retail  formats.  These programs are designed to educate consumers,
profile suppliers and increase sales for  retailers, many  of  which do  not have  the resources necessary to
conduct such marketing programs independently.

Our consumer marketing programs include:

(cid:129) multiple monthly, region-specific, consumer circular programs, which  feature the logo and

address of the participating retailer imprinted  on a  circular  that advertises products sold by the
retailer to its customers. The monthly circular programs are  structured  to  pass  through the
benefit of our negotiated discounts and advertising allowances  to  the  retailer,  and also provide
retailers with posters and shelf tags to coincide with each month’s promotions. We also  offer a
web-based tool which retailers can use to produce highly  customized  circulars and other
marketing materials for their stores.

(cid:129) quarterly coupon programs featuring supplier sponsored coupons, for display and distribution by

participating retailers.

(cid:129) themed ‘‘Celebration’’ sales and educational brochures to drive  sales  and  educate  consumers.

Brochures are imprinted with participating retailers’ store  logo and information.

(cid:129) a truck advertising program that allows our suppliers to purchase advertising space  on the  sides
of our hundreds of trailers traveling throughout  the United  States and Canada, increasing brand
exposure to consumers.

Our trade marketing programs include:

(cid:129) wholesale tri-annual catalogs, which serve as a primary reference guide and  ordering  tool  for

retailers.

(cid:129) a website for retailers with category management  tools,  retail staff  development  resources and

other resources designed to help our  customers succeed.

9

(cid:129) a web advertising program that allows our  suppliers to purchase  advertising  space on the

customer section of our web site, increasing brand exposure to retailers.

(cid:129) a variety of programs with advertising focus  on foodservice  options designed to support accounts

in that category.

(cid:129) a variety of programs designed to feature suppliers and  generate  volume sales.

(cid:129) monthly specials catalogs that highlight promotions and new product introductions.

(cid:129) specialized catalogs for holiday promotions and to serve  other  customer needs.

Our supplier marketing programs include:
(cid:129) ClearVue(cid:4), an information sharing  program designed to  improve the transparency  of information
and drive efficiency within the supply chain.  With the availability  of in-depth data and  tailored
reporting tools, participants are able to reduce inventory balances  with the elimination of
forward buys, while improving service levels.

(cid:129) Supply Chain by ClearVue(cid:4), an information  sharing  program designed  to provide heightened

transparency to suppliers through demand planning, forecasting and procurement insights. This
program offers weekly and monthly reporting  enabling suppliers to identify areas  of  sales  growth
while pinpointing specific focuses in which the supplier can become more  profitable.

(cid:129) SIS, an information-sharing program that helps our suppliers better understand our  customers’
businesses, in order to generate mutually beneficial incremental sales in an  efficient manner.

(cid:129) Growth incentive programs, supplier-focused high-level  sales  and  marketing support  for selected

brands, which foster our partnership by building  incremental, mutually profitable sales for
suppliers and us.

We  keep current with the latest trends in the  industry.  Periodically,  we  conduct focus  group
sessions with certain key retailers and  suppliers to ascertain their needs and  allow  us to better  service
them. We also:

(cid:129) produce a quarterly report of trends in the  natural and organic industry;

(cid:129) provide product data information such as best  seller lists,  store usage reports  and easy-to-use

product catalogs;

(cid:129) provide assistance with store layout designs; new store design  and equipment procurement;

(cid:129) provide planogramming, shelf and category management support;

(cid:129) offer in-store signage and promotional materials, including shopping bags and end-cap displays;

(cid:129) provide assistance with planning and setting up  product displays;

(cid:129) provide shelf tags for products; and

(cid:129) provide a website on which retailers can access  various individual retailer-specific reports  and

product information.

Our Products

Our extensive selection of high-quality natural, organic  and specialty  foods and  non-food  products

enables us to provide a primary source of supply to a diverse base of  customers  whose  product needs
vary significantly. We offer more than  85,000 high-quality  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 and sports nutrition,  bulk and food service products and  personal  care
items. Our branded product lines address  certain needs  of our customers,  including providing a
lower-cost label known as Field Day.

10

We  continuously evaluate potential new products based on  both  existing and anticipated  trends in

consumer preferences and buying patterns. Our Retail Category Management and Supplier
Relationship Management teams regularly  attend regional  and national  natural, organic,  specialty,
ethnic and gourmet product shows to  review the latest products that are likely  to  be  of interest  to
retailers and consumers. We also utilize syndicated data as  a  compass to ensure  that  we are  carrying
the right mix  of products in each of our distribution centers. We  make the majority of our new product
decisions at the regional level and look  to  carry  those items through national distribution  as we  begin
to spot an emerging trend or brand. We  believe that our category review  practices  at the  local
distribution center level allow our supplier  relationship managers to react quickly to changing consumer
preferences and to evaluate new products  and new product  categories regionally.  Additionally, as  many
of the new products that we offer are marketed  on a  regional basis  or in our own  natural products
retail stores prior to being offered nationally, this enables us to evaluate consumer  reaction to the
products without incurring significant  inventory risk.  Furthermore, by  exchanging regional product sales
information between our regions, we  are  able  to  make  more informed and timely new  product
decisions in each region.

We  maintain a comprehensive quality  assurance program. All  of  the products  we sell that are
represented as ‘‘organic’’ are required to be certified  as such  by an independent third-party agency.  We
maintain current certification affidavits on  most organic  commodities and produce in order to verify the
authenticity of the product. Most potential  suppliers  of  organic products are required to provide such
third-party certifications to us before  they are approved as  suppliers.

Our Suppliers

We  purchase our products from more than 9,000 suppliers. The  majority of our suppliers are based
in the United States and Canada, but we  also  source products from suppliers throughout Europe,  Asia,
Central America, South America, Africa  and  Australia. We believe suppliers of natural and  organic
products seek to distribute their products  through us because we provide  access to a  large and  growing
customer base across the United States  and Canada, distribute  the majority of the  suppliers’ products
and offer a wide variety of marketing programs  to  our customers  to  help  sell the  suppliers’ products.
Substantially all product categories that  we distribute are  available from a number of suppliers and,
therefore, we are not dependent on any single source of supply for  any product  category.  In addition,
although we have exclusive distribution arrangements and  vendor  support programs  with several
suppliers, none of our suppliers account  for more  than 10% of our  total purchases in  fiscal  2015. Our
largest supplier, Hain Celestial Group, Inc.  (‘‘Hain’’), accounted  for approximately  5% of our total
purchases in fiscal 2015. However, the product categories  we purchase from  Hain can  be  purchased
from a number of other suppliers.

We  have positioned ourselves as one of  the largest purchasers of organically grown bulk products
in the natural and organic products industry by centralizing our  purchase of nuts,  seeds,  grains,  flours
and dried foods. As a result, we are able  to negotiate  purchases from suppliers on  the basis  of  volume
and other considerations that may include discounted pricing or  prompt  payment discounts.
Furthermore, some of our purchase arrangements include the  right of return to the  supplier with
respect to products that we do not sell in  a certain period of time.  As described under  ‘‘Our Products’’
above, each region is responsible for  placing  its  own orders and can select  the products  that  it believes
will most appeal to its customers, although  each region is able to participate in our  company-wide
purchasing programs. Our outstanding commitments for the purchase of  inventory  were approximately
$17.5 million as of August 1, 2015.

Our Distribution System

We  have carefully chosen the sites for our  distribution centers to provide direct access  to  our
regional markets. This proximity allows us  to  reduce our transportation  costs relative to those  of  our

11

competitors that seek to service these  customers from locations that are often several  hundred miles
away. We believe that we incur lower inbound freight  expense than our  regional competitors,  because
our  scale allows us to buy full and partial truckloads of products. Products are delivered to our
distribution centers primarily by our fleet of leased  trucks, contract  carriers and  the suppliers
themselves. When  financially advantageous, we backhaul between vendors or satellite, staging facilities
and our distribution centers using our  own trucks. Additionally, we generally  can redistribute overstocks
and inventory imbalances between distribution centers  if needed, which helps to reduce out  of  stocks
and to sell perishable products prior to their expiration date.

We  lease our trucks from national leasing companies  such as  Ryder Truck Leasing and Penske
Truck Leasing, which in some cases maintain facilities  on our premises for the maintenance  and service
of these  vehicles. Other trucks are leased  from  regional firms  that offer competitive  services.

We  ship certain orders for supplements or for items that are  destined for areas outside of regular

delivery routes through United Parcel Service and other independent carriers. Deliveries  to  areas
outside the continental United States and Canada are  typically  shipped by ocean-going containers on a
weekly basis.

Our Focus on Technology

We  have made significant investments in  distribution, financial, information and warehouse

management systems. We continually evaluate and upgrade our  management information systems at our
regional operations in an effort to make the  systems more efficient, cost-effective and responsive  to
customer needs. These systems include  functionality in radio frequency inventory control, pick-to-voice
systems, pick-to-light systems, computer-assisted order processing  and slot locator/retrieval assignment
systems. At our receiving docks, warehouse associates attach computer-generated, preprinted  locator
tags to inbound products. These tags contain the expiration date, locations, quantity, lot number and
other information about the products in bar code format.  Customer returns  are processed by scanning
the UPC bar codes. We also employ a management  information  system that enables us to lower  our
inbound transportation costs by making optimum use of our own fleet of trucks or by consolidating
deliveries into full truckloads. Orders from multiple suppliers  and multiple distribution centers are
consolidated into single truckloads for  efficient use of available vehicle capacity  and return-haul  trips.
In addition, we utilize route efficiency  software  that assists  us in developing the most efficient routes
for our  outbound trucks. We are in the process of rolling out a  national warehouse management and
procurement system to convert our existing facilities into a  single warehouse management  and supply
chain  platform (‘‘WMS’’). We have completed WMS system conversions at our Lancaster, Texas,
Ridgefield, Washington, Auburn, Washington,  Prescott, Wisconsin,  Racine, Wisconsin, Hudson  Valley,
New York and Auburn, California facilities, and we expect to complete the roll-out to all existing
facilities by the end of fiscal 2018.

Intellectual Property

We  do not own or have the right to use  any  patent,  trademark, trade name, license, franchise, or

concession which upon loss would have a material adverse effect  on our results of operations or
financial condition.

Competition

Our largest competition comes from  direct  distribution, whereby  a  customer  reaches a product
volume level that justifies distribution directly from the manufacturer  in order to obtain a lower price.
Our major wholesale distribution competitor  in both the United  States and Canada is KeHE
Distributors, LLC (‘‘Kehe’’). In addition to its natural  and organic products,  Kehe distributes specialty
food products and markets its own private label program.  Kehe’s  subsidiary, Tree of  Life, has also

12

earned QAI certification. We also compete in the  United States and Canada with  numerous smaller
regional and local distributors of natural,  organic, ethnic, kosher, gourmet and  other  specialty foods
that focus on niche or regional markets, and  with national, regional and local distributors of
conventional groceries and companies that distribute to their  own retail  facilities.

We  believe that distributors in the natural and specialty products  industries primarily compete on
distribution service levels, product quality, depth of inventory  selection, price and quality  of customer
service. We believe that we currently  compete effectively with  respect  to  each of these factors.

Our natural products retail stores compete against  other natural  products  outlets, conventional
supermarkets and specialty stores. We believe that retailers  of  natural  products compete  principally on
product  quality and selection, price, customer service, knowledge of personnel and convenience of
location. We believe that we currently  compete  effectively  with respect to each of  these factors.

Government Regulation

Our operations and many of the products  that we distribute  in the  United States are  subject to
regulation by state and local health departments,  the USDA  and  the  United States Food  and Drug
Administration (the ‘‘FDA’’), which generally  impose standards for product  quality and sanitation and
are responsible for the administration of bioterrorism  legislation. In the United States, our facilities
generally are inspected at least once annually  by state or  federal authorities. For certain product  lines,
we are also subject to the Federal Meat Inspection Act, the Poultry Products Inspection Act, the
Perishable Agricultural Commodities  Act, the Packers and  Stockyard Act and regulations  promulgated
by the USDA to interpret and implement these statutory provisions.  The  USDA imposes  standards for
product  safety, quality and sanitation through  the federal  meat and poultry inspection  program.

In late 2010, the FDA Food Safety Modernization Act  (‘‘FSMA’’)  was  enacted. The  FSMA
represents a significant expansion of food  safety requirements and FDA food safety authorities and,
among other things, requires that the  FDA impose comprehensive, prevention-based controls  across the
food supply chain, further regulates food  products  imported into the United States, and provides the
FDA with mandatory recall authority.  The FSMA requires the FDA  to  undertake  numerous
rulemakings and to issue numerous guidance documents, as well as reports, plans, standards, notices,
and other tasks. As a result, implementation of the  legislation is ongoing and likely  to  take several
years.

The Surface Transportation Board and the  Federal  Highway Administration regulate  our  trucking

operations. In addition, interstate motor carrier operations are subject to safety requirements
prescribed by the United States Department  of  Transportation and other relevant federal and  state
agencies. Such matters as weight and  dimension of  equipment  are also  subject to federal  and state
regulations.

Many of our facilities in the U.S. and  in Canada  are subject  to  various  environmental protection

statutes and regulations, including those relating to the use of water resources  and the  discharge of
wastewater. Further, many of our distribution  facilities have ammonia-based refrigeration  systems and
tanks for the storage of diesel fuel, hydrogen fuel and other petroleum products which are subject to
laws regulating such systems and storage tanks. Moreover, in  some of  our facilities we, or third parties
with whom we contract, perform vehicle  maintenance. Our policy  is to comply  with all applicable
environmental and safety legal requirements. We  are subject to other  federal,  state, provincial  and local
provisions relating to the protection  of the  environment or the discharge of  materials; however,  these
provisions do not materially impact the use or operation of our facilities.

The failure to comply with applicable regulatory  requirements could result  in, among other things,

administrative, civil, or criminal penalties  or fines, mandatory or voluntary product recalls, warning  or
untitled letters, cease and desist orders against operations that are not  in compliance,  closure of

13

facilities or operations, the loss, revocation, or modification  of  any existing licenses, permits,
registrations, or approvals, or the failure  to obtain additional licenses,  permits,  registrations, or
approvals in new jurisdictions where we  intend  to  do business,  any of  which could have  a material
adverse effect on our business, financial  condition,  or results  of operations.  These laws and regulations
may change in the future and we may incur material costs in our efforts to  comply with  current or
future laws and regulations or in any required product recalls.

We  believe that we are in material compliance  with all federal, provincial,  state and local  laws

applicable to our operations.

Employees

As of August 1, 2015, we had approximately 8,700  full and part-time employees, 428 of  whom
(approximately 4.9%) are covered by  collective bargaining agreements at our Edison,  New Jersey,
Leicester, Massachusetts, Iowa City, Iowa,  Dayville,  Connecticut  and  Auburn, Washington facilities. The
Edison, New Jersey, Leicester, Massachusetts, Iowa City, Iowa,  Auburn, Washington and Dayville,
Connecticut agreements expire in June 2017, March  2017, June 2017, February 2017  and July 2019,
respectively. We continue to believe  that  our  relations  with our employees  are good.

Seasonality

Generally, we do not experience any material  seasonality. However, our  sales and operating results
may vary significantly from quarter to quarter due to factors such as changes in  our operating expenses,
management’s ability to execute our  operating and growth  strategies,  personnel changes,  demand for
our  products, supply shortages and general economic conditions.

Available  Information

Our internet address is http://www.unfi.com.  The  contents of our website  are not part of this

Annual Report on Form 10-K, and our  internet address is included  in this document as  an inactive
textual reference only. We make our  Annual Report on  Form 10-K, Quarterly Reports on Form  10-Q,
Current Reports on Form 8-K and all  amendments to those reports filed  or furnished pursuant to
Section 13(a) or 15(d) of the Securities  Exchange Act of 1934, as  amended (the ‘‘Exchange Act’’)
available free of charge through our  website as  soon  as reasonably practicable after  we file such reports
with, or furnish such reports to, the Securities and Exchange Commission.

We  have adopted a code of conduct and ethics that applies  to  our Chief Executive Officer, Chief

Financial Officer and employees within  our finance operations, and sales departments.  Our code of
conduct and ethics is publicly available  on our website at  www.unfi.com  and is available free of charge
by writing to United Natural Foods, Inc., 313 Iron Horse Way, Providence, Rhode  Island 02908, Attn:
Investor Relations. We intend to make  any legally required disclosures regarding amendments  to,  or
waivers of, the provisions of the code of  conduct and ethics  on  our website at www.unfi.com. Please
note that our website address is provided  as an inactive  textual reference only.

14

Executive Officers of the Registrant

Our executive officers are elected on  an annual basis and serve at the discretion of our Board of

Directors. Our executive officers and  their ages as of September 30, 2015  are listed  below:

Name

Steven L. Spinner . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Mark E. Shamber . . . . . . . . . . . . .

Age

55
46

Joseph  J. Traficanti . . . . . . . . . . . .

64

Position

President and Chief Executive Officer
Senior Vice President, Chief Financial Officer and
Treasurer
Senior Vice President, General Counsel, Chief Compliance
Officer and Corporate Secretary

Sean F. Griffin . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Eric A. Dorne . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
. . . . . . . . . . . . .
Thomas A. Dziki

56 Chief Operating Officer
54
54

Craig H. Smith . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

56

Donald P. McIntyre . . . . . . . . . . . .

60

Christopher P. Testa . . . . . . . . . . .

45

Michael  P. Zechmeister . . . . . . . . .

48

Senior Vice President, Chief Information  Officer
Senior Vice President, Chief Human Resource and
Sustainability Officer
Senior Vice President, National Sales and Service and
President of the Eastern Region
Senior Vice President, National Supply  Chain  and Strategy
and President of the Western Region
President, Woodstock Farms Manufacturing and Blue
Marble Brands
Senior Vice President

Steven L. Spinner has served as our President and Chief Executive  Officer and as  a member of our
Board of Directors since September  2008. Mr. Spinner  served  as the  Interim President  of  our  Eastern
Region, after David Matthews became President of UNFI International in  September 2010  and prior  to
the hiring of Craig H. Smith in December 2010.  Prior to joining us in  September 2008, Mr. Spinner
served as a director and as Chief Executive  Officer of Performance Food Group Company  (‘‘PFG’’)
from October 2006 to May 2008, when PFG was acquired by affiliates  of  The  Blackstone Group and
Wellspring Capital Management. Mr.  Spinner previously had  served  as PFG’s President  and Chief
Operating Officer beginning in May 2005.  Mr. Spinner served  as PFG’s Senior Vice  President  and
Chief Executive Officer—Broadline Division from February  2002 to May  2005 and as PFG’s  Broadline
Division President from August 2001 to February 2002.

Mark E. Shamber has served as Senior Vice President, Chief  Financial Officer and  Treasurer since

October 2006. Mr. Shamber previously  served as  our  Vice  President,  Chief  Accounting Officer and
Acting Chief Financial Officer and Treasurer from January 2006 until October 2006, as Vice President
and Corporate Controller from August 2005 to October 2006 and as our Corporate Controller  from
June 2003 until August 2005. From February 1995 until  June 2003, Mr. Shamber served  in various
positions of increasing responsibility up  to  and including senior manager within  the assurance and
advisory business systems practice at the  international accounting firm of  Ernst & Young LLP.

Joseph J.  Traficanti has served as our Senior  Vice President, General Counsel, Chief Compliance
Officer and Corporate Secretary since April 2009. Prior to joining  us, Mr. Traficanti served as  Senior
Vice President, General Counsel, Chief Compliance  Officer  and Corporate  Secretary of PFG from
November 2004 until April 2009.

Sean  F. Griffin has served as our Chief Operating Officer since September  2014. Mr. Griffin
previously served as our Senior Vice President, Group President from June 2012  to  September 2014
and as our Senior Vice President, National Distribution from January 2010 to June 2012.  Prior  to
joining us, Mr. Griffin was East Region  Broadline  President  of PFG. Previously  he served  as President
of PFG—Springfield, MA from 2003  until 2008. He began his  career with Sysco Corporation in 1986

15

and has held various leadership positions  in  the foodservice distribution industry with U.S. Foodservice,
Alliant Foodservice and Sysco Corporation.

Eric A. Dorne has served as our Senior Vice President, Chief Information  Officer  since September
2011. Prior to joining us, Mr. Dorne  was  Senior  Vice  President  and Chief Information  Officer  for The
Great Atlantic & Pacific Tea Company, Inc.,  the parent company of  the A&P, Pathmark, SuperFresh,
Food Emporium and Waldbaum’s supermarket chains  located  in the  Eastern  United States from
January 2011 to August 2011, and Vice  President  and Chief  Information Officer  from August 2005 to
January 2011. In his more than thirty  years at  The Great Atlantic  & Pacific Tea Company, Mr. Dorne
held various executive positions including Vice President of  Enterprise IT Application Management and
Development, Vice President of Store Operations Systems and Director  of Retail  Support Services.

Thomas A. Dziki has served as our Senior  Vice President, Chief  Human  Resource  and

Sustainability Officer since August 2010. Prior to August  2010, Mr. Dziki served as  our  Senior Vice
President of Sustainable Development  since  January 2010,  as our  Vice President of Sustainable
Development since June 2009, and as  National Vice  President  of Real Estate and  Construction since
August 2006. Prior to that time, Mr. Dziki had  served  as President of Woodstock Farms  Manufacturing
and Select Nutrition from December  2004 until August 2006, Corporate Vice President of Special
Projects from December 2003 to November 2004  and  as our Manager of Special  Projects from May
2002 to December 2003. Prior to joining us, Mr. Dziki served as a private consultant to our company,
our  subsidiaries, Woodstock Farms Manufacturing, Earth Origins, Albert’s, and our predecessor
company, Cornucopia Natural Foods, Inc.,  from 1995 to May 2002.

Craig H. Smith has served as our Senior  Vice President, National  Sales and Service since

September 2013 and was reappointed  as  President  of  the Eastern Region in August 2014,  a position  he
previously held from December 2010  to  August 2013. Prior to joining us, Mr. Smith was Atlantic
Region President of U.S. Foodservice,  a  leading  broadline foodservice distributor of  national, private
label, and signature brand items in the  United States from May 2008 to December  2010. In his
seventeen years at U.S. Foodservice,  Mr. Smith held various executive  positions  including Senior  Vice
President Street Sales, North Region Zone President, Detroit  Market President and Boston Market
President. Prior to U.S. Foodservice,  Mr. Smith held several positions at food service industry
manufacturer and distributor Rykoff-Sexton,  Inc. from 1982 until 1993.

Donald P. McIntyre has served as our  Senior Vice  President,  National Supply Chain and Strategy
since September 2013 and was reappointed as our President of the Western Region in  August 2014, a
position previously held from July 2012 to August  2013. Prior to joining us, Mr. McIntyre served as
President and CEO of Claridge Foods from March  2006 to January 2012. Mr. McIntyre also  held
several senior positions within subsidiaries  of  Sara Lee Corporation, including  President and  CEO of
Sara Lee Coffee & Tea from April 2004  to March  2006, and CFO of Sara Lee Coffee &  Tea from
August 2002 to March 2004.

Christopher P. Testa has served as our  President, Woodstock Farms Manufacturing since September

2012 and President, Blue Marble Brands since August 2009.  Prior to joining us, Mr. Testa served as
Vice President of Marketing for Cadbury  Schweppes  Americas Beverages from August 2002  to  May
2005 and as CEO of Wild Waters, Inc.  from May 2005  to  August  2009.

Michael P. Zechmeister has served as our Senior  Vice  President  since September 2015. Prior to

joining us, Mr. Zechmeister served in  a  variety of senior finance roles  with General Mills, Inc.,
including most recently as Vice President, Finance Yoplait USA from 2012 to September 2015.  In
addition, Mr. Zechmeister was Vice President  and  Treasurer  from 2010  to  2012, Vice President,
Finance US Retail Sales from 2007 to 2010  and  Vice  President,  Finance, Pillsbury Division from 2005
to 2007.

16

ITEM 1A. RISK FACTORS

Our business, financial condition and  results  of operations are  subject to various risks and

uncertainties, including those described below and elsewhere  in this Annual Report on Form  10-K. This
section discusses factors that, individually or in the  aggregate,  we  think could cause our actual results to
differ  materially from expected and historical  results. Our business, financial condition or results of
operations could be materially adversely  affected by  any  of  these risks.

We  note these factors for investors as permitted  by the  Private Securities  Litigation Reform  Act of
1995. You should understand that it  is not possible to predict or  identify all such  factors. Consequently,
you should not consider the following to be a complete  discussion of all potential risks or uncertainties
applicable to our business. See ‘‘Item 7.  Management’s Discussion and  Analysis of Financial Condition
and Results of Operations—Forward-Looking Statements.’’

We depend heavily on our principal customers and  our success is heavily  dependent on  our principal
customers’ ability to grow their business.

Whole Foods Market accounted for approximately  35% of our net sales in  fiscal  2015. We serve as

the primary distributor of natural, organic  and specialty  non-perishable  products to Whole Foods
Market in all of its regions in the United  States under  the terms  of  our distribution agreement which
expires on September 25, 2020. Through our Tony’s subsidiary, we also sell certain specialty protein,
cheese, and deli items to certain Whole Foods Market stores in  California and  other  states in the
Western United States. Whole Foods Market was Tony’s largest customer in fiscal 2015. Our ability  to
maintain a close mutually beneficial  relationship  with Whole  Foods Market is  an important element to
our  continued growth.

The loss or cancellation of business from Whole Foods  Market, including from increased
distribution to their own facilities or closures  of stores, could materially  and adversely  affect our
business, financial condition or results  of  operations. Similarly,  if Whole Foods Market  is not able to
grow its business, including as a result of  a reduction  in the level  of discretionary spending by its
customers or competition from other retailers, our  business,  financial condition or results of operations
may be materially and adversely affected.

In addition to our dependence on Whole Foods  Market, we are also dependent upon sales to our
conventional supermarket customers. Net  sales  to  these customers accounted for approximately 26% of
our  total net sales in fiscal 2015, and the recent notification to us  by the  Albertsons/Safeway group of
stores that they intended to change the  source of purchases of natural and organic  products from  us  to
another distributor demonstrated both the  importance of this customer group to our results  and
operations as well as to the public perception  of our business  in the investor and analyst community. To
the extent that customers in this group make  decisions to utilize alternative sources of  products,
whether other distributors or self distribution, our results of operations  and  stock price may be
materially or adversely affected.

Our operations are sensitive to economic downturns.

The grocery industry is sensitive to national and regional  economic conditions and the demand  for
the products that we distribute, particularly our specialty  products,  may  be  adversely affected from  time
to time by economic downturns that impact  consumer spending, including discretionary spending.
Future economic conditions such as employment levels,  business  conditions, housing starts, interest
rates, inflation rates, energy and fuel costs, fund costs and tax  rates could  reduce consumer spending or
change consumer purchasing habits. Among these  changes could be a  reduction in the  number of
natural and organic products that consumers purchase where  there  are  non-organic, which we  refer  to
as conventional, alternatives, given that  many  natural and organic products,  and particularly natural and
organic foods, often have higher retail prices  than do their  conventional counterparts.

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Our business is a low margin business and our profit margins may decrease due to consolidation in the
grocery industry and our increased focus on sales  to the  conventional  supermarket channel.

The grocery distribution industry generally is characterized by relatively high  volume of sales with
relatively low profit margins. The continuing consolidation  of  retailers  in the  natural products industry
and the growth of supernatural chains  may reduce our profit  margins in  the future as more customers
qualify for greater volume discounts,  and we experience pricing pressures from suppliers and retailers.
Over the last three fiscal years, when  excluding the  impact that acquisitions may have had, we  have
increased our sales to our supernatural chain and conventional supermarket customers in relation to
our  total net sales. Sales to customers within our supernatural chain and conventional  supermarket
channels generate a lower gross margin than do sales to our  independent  customers. Many of these
customers, including our largest customer, have agreements with us that include  volume discounts. As
the amounts these customers purchase  from us increase, the price that  they pay for the products they
purchase is reduced, putting downward pressure on  our  gross margins on these sales. To compensate
for these lower gross margins, we must reduce the expenses we incur to service  these customers. If  we
are unable to reduce our expenses as a  percentage of net sales, including our expenses  related to
servicing this lower gross margin business, our business, financial  condition  or results of  operations
could be adversely impacted.

Our business may be sensitive to inflationary and  deflationary pressures.

Many of our sales are at prices that  are  based on  our product cost plus a percentage markup. As  a
result, volatile food costs have a direct  impact  upon our profitability. Prolonged periods of product cost
inflation and periods of rapidly increasing  inflation may have a  negative  impact  on our profit margins
and results of operations to the extent  that  we are unable  to  pass on all or a  portion of such  product
cost increases to our customers. In addition, product cost inflation  may  negatively impact the  consumer
discretionary spending trends of our customers’ customers, which  could adversely affect our sales.
Conversely, because many of our sales  are  at prices that  are based  upon product cost  plus a percentage
markup, our profit levels may be negatively impacted during periods  of  product cost deflation even
though our gross profit as a percentage of net sales may remain relatively constant. To compensate for
lower gross margins, we, in turn, must  reduce  expenses that  we incur to service our customers. If we
are unable to reduce our expenses as a  percentage of net sales, our business, financial condition or
results of operations could be adversely impacted.

Our customers generally are not obligated to  continue purchasing products  from  us  and larger
customers that do have multiyear contracts with us may  terminate these contracts  early  in  certain
situations or choose not to renew or extend the contract  at  its expiration.

Many of our customers buy from us under purchase orders, and  we  generally  do not have

agreements with or commitments from  these customers for the purchase of products.  We cannot assure
you that  these customers will maintain  or  increase their sales volumes or orders for  the products
supplied by us or that we will be able  to  maintain or  add  to  our existing customer base. Decreases in
our  volumes or orders for products supplied by us for these customers  with whom we do  not  have a
long-term contract may have a material adverse  effect on  our business, financial condition or  results of
operations.

We  may have contracts with certain of  our customers (as is  the case with many of our conventional

supermarket customers) that obligate  the  customer  to  buy products from us for a particular  period of
time. Even in this case, the contracts  may  not require the customer to purchase a minimum amount of
products from us or the contracts may afford the customer better pricing in the  event that the volume
of the customer’s purchases exceeds certain levels. If these customers were to terminate these contracts
prior to their scheduled termination, or if  we or  the customer elected not to renew or extend the term
of the contract at its expiration, it may  have  a material adverse effect on our business, financial

18

condition or results of operations, including  additional operational expenses  to  transition  out of the
business or to adjust our staffing levels  to  account  for the  reduction in  net sales.

We have significant competition from a  variety of  sources.

We  operate in competitive markets and our  future success  will  be  largely  dependent on  our  ability

to provide quality products and services  at  competitive prices. Bidding for contracts or arrangements
with customers, particularly within the supernatural chain and conventional supermarket channels, is
highly competitive and distributors may  market  their services to a particular customer over a long
period of time before they are invited to bid.  Our  competition comes from a  variety of sources,
including other distributors of natural  products as  well as  specialty grocery and mass market grocery
distributors and retail customers that  have their own distribution channels. Mass market grocery
distributors in recent years have increased  their emphasis on natural and  organic products  and are  now
competing more directly with us and  many  conventional supermarket chains have increased
self-distribution of particular items or have  increased  their purchases of particular items directly from
suppliers. New competitors are also entering our markets as  barriers to entry for  new competitors  are
relatively low. Some of the mass market grocery  distributors with whom  we compete may  have been in
business longer than we have, may have  substantially  greater financial  and  other resources than  we
have and may be better established in  their  markets.  We cannot assure  you that our current  or
potential competitors will not provide  products or services comparable or  superior to those provided  by
us or adapt more quickly than we do to evolving industry trends or changing market requirements. It is
also possible that alliances among competitors may develop and rapidly acquire  significant market share
or that certain of our customers will  increase distribution to their  own retail facilities. Increased
competition may result in price reductions, reduced gross  margins, lost business and loss  of market
share, any of which could materially  and adversely affect our  business,  financial  condition or results  of
operations.

We  cannot assure you that we will be able to compete effectively  against  current and  future

competitors.

Our investment in information technology may not  result  in the anticipated benefits.

Much of our sales growth is occurring in our  lower gross  margin supernatural and conventional
supermarket channels. In our attempt  to  reduce operating expenses and increase  operating efficiencies,
we have aggressively invested in the development  and implementation of  new  information technology.
Based on our currently anticipated timeline, we expect  to  complete  the roll-out of our warehouse
management system and transportation  management  system by the end  of  fiscal  2018. While we
currently believe this revised timeline  will be met, we may not  be  able  to  implement these technological
changes in the time frame that we have  planned and delays in implementation could negatively impact
our  business, financial condition or results  of  operations. In  addition, the  costs to make these changes
may exceed our estimates and will exceed  the benefits  during  the early stages of implementation. Even
if we are able to implement the changes  in accordance  with our revised  plans, and within our current
cost estimates, we may not be able to  achieve  the expected  efficiencies and cost savings from this
investment, which could have a material  adverse effect  on our business, financial condition or results of
operations. Moreover, as we implement information technology enhancements, disruptions  in our
business may be created (including disruption with our customers) which may have  an adverse effect on
our  business, financial condition or results  of  operations.

Failure by us to develop and operate a reliable technology platform could negatively impact  our
business.

Our ability to decrease costs and increase  profits, as well as our  ability  to  serve customers most
effectively, depends on the reliability of our technology  platform.  We use  software and  other technology

19

systems, among other things, to generate  and select orders, to load and route  trucks  and to monitor
and manage our business on a day-to-day  basis. Any disruption to these computer systems could
adversely impact our customer service,  decrease the volume of our business and result in  increased
costs negatively affecting our business,  financial condition  or  results of operations.

We have experienced losses due to the  uncollectability  of accounts receivable  in the past  and could
experience increases in such losses in the future if our  customers  are unable to timely pay their debts to
us.

Certain of our customers have from time to time experienced bankruptcy,  insolvency and/or  an

inability to pay their debts to us as they  come due. If  our customers suffer significant financial
difficulty, they may be unable to pay their  debts to us  timely  or at  all, which could have  a material
adverse effect on our results of operations. It  is possible that customers may  reject their contractual
obligations to us under bankruptcy laws  or otherwise. Significant  customer bankruptcies could further
adversely affect our revenues and increase our  operating expenses by requiring larger provisions for bad
debt. In addition, even when our contracts  with these customers  are  not rejected, if customers are
unable to meet their obligations on a  timely  basis, it could adversely affect our ability to collect
receivables. Further, we may have to  negotiate significant discounts  and/or extended financing terms
with these customers in such a situation,  each of which could have  material  adverse  effect on our
business, financial condition, results of operations or  cash flows.  During periods of economic weakness,
small to  medium-sized businesses, like many  of  our independently owned natural  products retailer
customers, may be impacted more severely and more quickly  than larger businesses. Similarly, these
smaller businesses may be more likely  to  be more severely  impacted by  events outside  of their  control,
like significant weather events. Consequently, the ability of such businesses to repay their  obligations to
us may deteriorate, and in some cases  this deterioration may occur quickly, which could adversely
impact our business, financial condition  or results  of  operations.

Our acquisition strategy may adversely  affect our business.

A portion of our past growth has been achieved through acquisitions of,  or mergers with,  other
distributors of natural, organic and specialty  products. We also continually evaluate  opportunities to
acquire other companies. We believe  that there are risks  related to acquiring companies,  including an
inability to successfully identify suitable  acquisition candidates  or consummate such potential
acquisitions. To the extent that our future growth includes acquisitions, we cannot assure you that we
will not overpay for acquisitions, lose  key  employees of acquired companies,  or fail  to  achieve  potential
synergies or expansion into new markets as  a result  of  our acquisitions. Therefore, future acquisitions,
if any, may have a material adverse effect  on our results  of  operations, particularly in  periods
immediately following the consummation of those transactions while the  operations of  the acquired
business are being integrated with our  operations. Achieving the benefits  of acquisitions depends on
timely, efficient and successful execution of  a number  of  post-acquisition  events, including,  among  other
things:

(cid:129) maintaining the  customer and supplier base;

(cid:129) optimizing delivery routes;

(cid:129) coordinating administrative, distribution and finance functions; and

(cid:129) integrating management information systems and personnel.

The integration process could divert  the attention  of  management and any difficulties  or problems

encountered in the transition process could have a material adverse effect on  our  business,  financial
condition or results of operations. In particular, the integration process  may temporarily redirect
resources previously focused on reducing  product cost  and  operating expenses,  resulting in lower gross

20

profits in  relation to sales. In addition, the  process of combining companies  could  cause  the
interruption of, or a loss of momentum and operating  profits in, the activities  of the respective
businesses, which could have an adverse effect  on their combined operations.

In connection with acquisitions of businesses  in the future, if  any, we may  decide to consolidate

the operations of any acquired businesses with  our existing operations or make other changes  with
respect to the acquired businesses, which  could result in special charges or other expenses. Our results
of operations also may be adversely affected  by expenses we incur  in making  acquisitions, by
amortization of acquisition-related intangible assets with definite lives  and by additional depreciation
attributable to acquired assets. Any of the  businesses we  acquire may also have liabilities or adverse
operating issues, including some that  we  fail to discover before the acquisition, and our indemnity for
such liabilities may also be limited. Additionally, our ability to make any future acquisitions may
depend  upon obtaining additional financing. We  may  not be able to obtain  additional financing on
acceptable terms or at all. To the extent that we  seek  to  acquire other  businesses in exchange for our
common stock, fluctuations in our stock  price could have  a material adverse effect on our ability to
complete acquisitions.

Our business strategy of increasing our sales of fresh,  perishable items,  that  we accelerated with our
acquisition of Tony’s, may not produce  the results  that  we expect.

A key element of our current growth  strategy is to increase the amount of fresh, perishable
products that we distribute. We believe that  the ability to distribute these products that are typically
found in the perimeter of our customers’  stores,  in addition to the products we have  historically
distributed, will differentiate us from our  competitors and increase demand for our products.  We
accelerated this strategy with our acquisition  of  Tony’s.  If we  are unable to  grow  this  portion of our
business and manage that growth effectively, our  business, financial condition and  results of operations
may be materially and adversely affected.

We may have difficulty managing our growth.

The growth in the  size of our business  and  operations has placed, and is expected  to  continue to

place, a significant strain on our management. Our  future growth may be limited by our inability to
make acquisitions, successfully integrate  acquired entities or  significant new customers, implement
information systems initiatives, acquire  or  timely construct  new distribution  centers or  expand  our
existing distribution centers, or adequately  manage our personnel.  Our future growth is limited in part
by the size and location of our distribution centers. As  we near maximum utilization  of a given facility
or maximize our processing capacity, operations may  be  constrained and inefficiencies have been and
may be created, which could adversely affect  our results of operations unless the facility is expanded,
volume is shifted to another facility or  additional processing capacity is added. Conversely, as we add
additional facilities or expand existing operations or facilities, excess capacity  may be created. Any
excess capacity may also create inefficiencies and adversely  affect our results  of  operations,  including as
a result of incurring additional operating  costs for these  facilities before demand for products  to  be
supplied from these facilities rises to a  sufficient level. We cannot  assure you  that  we will be able to
successfully expand our existing distribution centers or open new distribution centers  in new  or existing
markets as needed to accommodate or facilitate growth. Even if we are able to expand our distribution
network, our ability to compete effectively and to manage  future growth,  if  any, will depend on  our
ability to continue to implement and  improve operational, financial and management information
systems, including our warehouse management systems, on a timely basis and  to  expand, train,  motivate
and manage our work force. We cannot assure you  that our existing personnel, systems,  procedures  and
controls will be adequate to support  the future  growth of our operations. Our inability to manage our
growth effectively  could have a material adverse effect  on our business, financial condition or results of
operations.

21

Increased fuel costs may adversely affect our results of operations.

Increased fuel costs may have a negative impact  on our results  of  operations. The high cost of
diesel fuel can increase the price we  pay for  products as  well as  the costs we incur to deliver products
to our customers. These factors, in turn, may  negatively impact our net sales, margins,  operating
expenses and operating results. To manage  this risk, we have  in the past  periodically  entered, and  may
in the future periodically enter, into  heating oil  derivative  contracts  to  hedge a  portion of our projected
diesel fuel requirements. Heating crude oil prices have a highly  correlated relationship to fuel prices,
making these derivatives effective in offsetting changes in  the cost of diesel fuel. We are not party to
any commodity swap agreements and,  as  a result, our exposure  to  volatility  in the price  of  diesel  fuel
has increased relative to our exposure  to  volatility in  prior periods  in which we  had outstanding heating
oil derivative contracts. We do not enter  into fuel hedge contracts for speculative purposes.  We have in
the past, and may in the future, periodically  enter into forward purchase commitments for  a portion of
our  projected monthly diesel fuel requirements at fixed prices. As of August 1,  2015, we  had forward
diesel fuel commitments totaling approximately $11.3 million and $10.4 million through  December 2015
and December 2016, respectively. Our commitments were  entered into at  prevailing rates throughout
the fiscal year. If fuel prices decrease significantly, these forward purchases may prove ineffective and
result in us paying higher than the then market costs for a portion of our diesel fuel. We also  maintain
a fuel surcharge program which allows  us to pass  some of our higher  fuel costs through  to  our
customers. We cannot guarantee that  we will continue to be able to pass a comparable proportion or
any of our higher fuel costs to our customers in the future, which may adversely affect  our business,
financial condition or results of operations.

Disruption of our distribution network could adversely affect our business.

Damage or disruption to our distribution capabilities due to weather, natural disaster, fire,

terrorism, pandemic, strikes, the financial and/or operational instability of key suppliers,  or other
reasons could impair our ability to distribute our products.  To the extent that we are unable, or it is not
financially feasible, to mitigate the likelihood  or potential impact of such  events, or to manage
effectively such events if they occur,  there  could be an adverse  effect on our business, financial
condition or results of operations.

The cost of the capital available to us  and  any limitations on  our ability  to access additional capital
may have a material adverse effect on our business, financial  condition or results of operations.

In May 2014, we entered into a First Amendment Agreement  (the  ‘‘Amendment’’) to our amended
and restated revolving credit facility,  which  increased  the maximum borrowings under the amended and
restated  revolving credit facility to $600.0  million  and extended  the maturity date to May  21, 2019. Up
to $550.0 million is available to our U.S.  subsidiaries and  up to $50.0  million is available  to  UNFI
Canada. After giving effect to the Amendment, the amended and restated revolving  credit facility
provides a one-time option to increase the borrowing base by up  to  an additional  $150.0 million (but in
not less than $10.0 million increments)  subject to certain customary conditions and the lenders
committing to provide the increase in funding, and also permits the  Company to enter into a  real-estate
backed term loan facility which shall not exceed $200.0 million. The  borrowings of the US portion of
the amended and restated credit facility,  prior to and after giving effect to the Amendment,  accrue
interest, at our option, at either (i) a base rate (generally defined as the highest of (x)  the Bank  of
America Business Capital prime rate,  (y) the  average overnight federal funds effective rate plus
one-half  percent (0.50%) per annum  and  (z) one-month London Interbank  Offered Rate  (‘‘LIBOR’’)
plus one percent (1%) per annum) plus an initial  margin of 0.50%, or (ii) the  LIBOR for one, two,
three or six months or, if approved by  all affected lenders,  nine  months plus  an initial margin of 1.50%.
The borrowings on the Canadian portion  of  the credit facility for Canadian  swing-line loans,  Canadian
overadvance loans or Canadian protective  advances accrue interest, at the Company’s  option, at either

22

(i) a prime rate (generally defined as  the highest of (x)  0.50% over  30-day Reuters Canadian Deposit
Offering Rate for bankers’ acceptances, (y)  the prime rate of Bank of America, N.A.’s  Canada  branch,
and (z) a bankers’ acceptance equivalent  rate for a one month interest period plus 1.00%) plus an
initial margin of 0.50%, or (ii) a bankers’ acceptance equivalent rate of the rate of interest per annum
equal to the annual rates applicable to  Canadian  Dollar bankers’  acceptances  on the  ‘‘CDOR Page’’  of
Reuter Monitor Money Rates Service,  plus  five  basis points (the  ‘‘CDOR rate’’), and an initial margin
of 1.50%. All other borrowings on the Canadian portion of the amended  and restated  credit facility,
prior to and after giving effect to the Amendment, must exclusively accrue interest under  the CDOR
rate plus the applicable margin. The  amended and restated revolving credit facility  includes an annual
commitment fee in the amount of 0.30%  if  the average daily  balance  of amounts actually  used (other
than swing-line loans) is less than 40% of  the aggregate commitments, or 0.25% if such average daily
balance is 40% or more of the aggregate commitments.

As of August 1, 2015, our borrowing  base, based  on accounts receivable and inventory levels  and
described more completely below under ‘‘Management’s Discussion and Analysis  of  Financial Condition
and Results of Operations—Liquidity and Capital Revenues,’’ was $581.4 million, with  remaining
availability of $180.6 million.

In August 2014, we and our Albert’s subsidiary entered into a $150.0 million Term Loan

Agreement (the ‘‘Term Loan Agreement’’), with  the financial institutions that are parties  thereto  and
Bank of America, N.A., as the administrative agent. The Term Loan Agreement requires us to make
quarterly principal payments of $2.5 million commencing on  November 1,  2014, with the  remaining
principal balance to be paid at maturity. The Term  Loan Agreement terminates  on the  earlier of
(a) August 14, 2022 and (b) the date  that is ninety  days  prior to the termination date of our amended
and restated revolving credit facility.  The  term  loan facility is secured by certain parcels of our and
certain of our subsidiaries’ real property. Additionally, the Term  Loan Agreement is guaranteed by
most of our subsidiaries. The borrowings under the  Term Loan Agreement accrue  interest,  at our
option, at either (i) a base rate (generally defined as  the highest of (x) the Bank of America’s prime
rate, (y) the average overnight federal  funds effective rate plus one-half percent (0.50%) per annum
and (z) one-month LIBOR plus one percent (1%) per annum) plus  a  margin of 1.50%,  or (ii)  the
LIBOR for one, two, three or six months or,  if approved by all affected  lenders, nine months plus a
margin of 2.50%.

In an effort to maximize our profit margins, we  rely  on strategic  investment buying  initiatives, such
as discounted bulk purchases, which require spending significant amounts of working  capital up front to
purchase products that we will sell over  a multi-month time period. In the event  that  our cost of capital
increases, such as during a period in  which we are not in compliance with the fixed charge coverage
ratio covenants under our amended and  restated revolving credit  facility, or our  ability to borrow funds
or raise equity capital is limited, we could  suffer reduced  profit margins and  be  unable to grow our
business organically or through acquisitions, which could have a material adverse effect on our business,
financial condition or results of operations.

Our debt agreements contain restrictive  covenants  that  may limit our operating flexibility.

Our debt agreements underlying our amended and restated revolving credit  facility  and Term Loan

Agreement contain financial covenants  and  other restrictions that  limit our operating flexibility,  limit
our  flexibility in planning for or reacting to changes  in our business and make  us  more vulnerable to
economic downturns and competitive pressures. Our  indebtedness could have significant negative
consequences, including:

(cid:129) increasing our vulnerability to general  adverse  economic  and industry conditions;

(cid:129) limiting our ability to obtain additional financing;

23

(cid:129) limiting our ability to pursue certain acquisitions;

(cid:129) limiting our flexibility in planning for or reacting to changes in our business and the industry in

which  we compete; and

(cid:129) placing us at a competitive disadvantage  compared to competitors with  less  leverage or  better

access to capital resources.

In addition, our amended and restated revolving credit  facility and the  Term Loan Agreement  each

require that we comply with various financial tests and impose  certain restrictions  on us, including
among other things, restrictions on our ability to incur  additional indebtedness,  create liens on assets,
make loans or investments or pay dividends. Failure to comply  with these covenants could have  a
material adverse effect on our business, financial condition or results  of  operations.

Our operating results are subject to significant fluctuations.

Our operating results may vary significantly from period to  period  due to:

(cid:129) demand for our products, including as a result of seasonal  fluctuations;

(cid:129) changes in our operating expenses, including fuel and insurance  expenses;

(cid:129) management’s ability to execute our  business  and growth strategies;

(cid:129) changes in customer preferences, including levels of enthusiasm for health, fitness and

environmental issues;

(cid:129) public perception of the benefits of natural  and organic products  when compared to similar

conventional products;

(cid:129) fluctuation of natural product prices due to competitive pressures;

(cid:129) the addition or loss of significant customers;

(cid:129) personnel changes;

(cid:129) general economic conditions, including inflation;

(cid:129) supply shortages, including a lack of an adequate  supply of high-quality livestock or  agricultural

products due to poor growing conditions, water shortages, natural disasters or otherwise;

(cid:129) volatility in prices of high-quality livestock or  agricultural  products resulting from poor growing

conditions, water shortages, natural disasters or otherwise; and

(cid:129) future  acquisitions, particularly in periods immediately following the  consummation of such

acquisition transactions while the operations of the acquired businesses are being integrated into
our  operations.

Due to the foregoing factors, we believe that period-to-period  comparisons of our operating results

may not necessarily be meaningful and that such comparisons  cannot  be  relied upon as indicators  of
future performance.

Conditions beyond our control can interrupt our supplies  and increase our product  costs.

We  offer more than 85,000 high-quality natural,  organic and specialty  foods and non-food

products, which we purchase from more  than 9,000 suppliers.  The  majority of our suppliers are  based
in the United States and Canada, but we  also  source products from suppliers throughout Europe,  Asia,
Central America, South America, Africa  and  Australia. For the most part, we do  not  have long-term
contracts with our suppliers committing them  to  provide  products  to  us. Although our purchasing
volume can provide benefits when dealing  with suppliers, suppliers may not  provide the products

24

needed by us in the quantities and at the  prices  requested. We  are  also  subject to delays caused by
interruption in production and increases  in product  costs based on conditions outside of our control.
These conditions include work slowdowns, work interruptions,  strikes or other job  actions by employees
of suppliers, short-term weather conditions or more prolonged climate change, crop conditions,  product
recalls, water shortages, transportation interruptions, unavailability of  fuel  or increases in  fuel  costs,
competitive demands, raw material shortages and natural disasters  or  other catastrophic events
(including, but not limited to food-borne illnesses). We have  continued to  experience  higher levels of
manufacturer out-of-stocks causing us to incur higher operating expenses as we moved products around
our  distribution facilities as we sought to keep our service  level high, and we cannot be sure when this
trend will end or whether it will recur  during future  years.  As the  consumer demand for natural and
organic products has increased, certain retailers and other producers have entered  the market and
attempted to buy certain raw materials  directly, limiting their availability  to  be  used in certain vendor
products. Further, increased frequency or duration of extreme  weather conditions could also impair
production capabilities, disrupt our supply  chain or  impact  demand  for our  products, including the
specialty protein and cheese products  sold  by Tony’s. For example,  weather  patterns in  recent years
have resulted in lower than normal levels  of precipitation in  key  agricultural states  such as California,
impacting the price of water and corresponding prices  of  food  products grown in  states facing drought
conditions. The impact of sustained droughts  are uncertain and could  result in  volatile input costs.
Input  costs could increase at any point in time for a large  portion of the products that we sell  for a
prolonged period. Our inability to obtain  adequate products as a result of any  of  the foregoing factors
or otherwise could mean that we could not fulfill our obligations  to  customers, and customers may turn
to other distributors. In that case, our  financial condition,  results of operations and business could be
adversely affected.

We are subject to significant governmental regulation.

Our business is highly regulated at the federal,  state and local  levels and  our products  and

distribution operations require various  licenses,  permits and approvals. In  particular:

(cid:129) the products that we distribute in the  United States are  subject to inspection by the  FDA;

(cid:129) our warehouse and distribution centers are subject to inspection  by the USDA  and state health

authorities; and

(cid:129) the United States Department of Transportation  and the  United States Federal Highway

Administration regulate our United States  trucking  operations.

Our Canadian operations are similarly  subject to extensive regulation,  including the  English and

French dual labeling requirements applicable  to  products that  we distribute  in Canada. The loss or
revocation of any existing licenses, permits or  approvals or  the  failure to obtain any additional  licenses,
permits or approvals in new jurisdictions  where we intend to do business could have a material adverse
effect on our business, financial condition  or results  of  operations. In  addition, as a distributor and
manufacturer of natural, organic, and  specialty foods, we are subject  to  increasing governmental
scrutiny of and public awareness regarding food  safety and the sale, packaging  and marketing of natural
and organic products. Compliance with these  laws may impose a  significant burden on our operations.
If we  were to manufacture or distribute foods that are or  are perceived  to  be  contaminated,  any
resulting product recalls could have an adverse effect on our  business,  financial  condition or results  of
operations. Additionally, concern over  climate change, including the impact of global  warming,  has led
to significant United States and international legislative and regulatory  efforts to limit greenhouse gas
emissions. Increased regulation regarding  greenhouse gas emissions, especially diesel engine emissions,
could impose substantial costs on us. These  costs include an  increase in the  cost of the  fuel and other
energy we purchase and capital costs associated  with updating  or  replacing our vehicles prematurely.
Until the timing, scope and extent of  such regulation becomes  known, we  cannot predict its effect on

25

our  results of operations. It is reasonably possible, however, that  it could  impose material costs on us
which  we may be unable to pass on to our customers.

If we  fail to comply with applicable laws and regulations or encounter disagreements  with respect

to our contracts subject to governmental  regulations, including those referred to above, we  may be
subject to investigations, criminal sanctions  or civil remedies, including  fines, injunctions, prohibitions
on exporting, seizures or debarments  from  contracting with the government. The cost of  compliance or
the consequences of non-compliance, including debarments, could  have a material adverse effect on our
business and results of operations. In addition, governmental  units  may make changes in  the regulatory
frameworks within which we operate that  may  require either the corporation as a whole or individual
businesses to incur substantial increases in costs in  order to comply with such laws and  regulations.

Product liability claims could have an  adverse  effect on our business.

We  face an inherent risk of exposure  to product liability claims  if the products we manufacture  or
sell cause injury or illness. In addition,  meat,  seafood and poultry products  that  we distribute could be
subject to recall because they are, or  are  alleged  to  be,  contaminated,  spoiled  or inappropriately
labeled. Our meat and poultry products may be subject  to contamination by disease-producing
organisms, or pathogens, such as Listeria monocytogenes,  Salmonella and generic E.coli. These
pathogens are generally found in the  environment, and as a result, there is a risk that they,  as a result
of food processing, could be present  in our meat  and  poultry products. These  pathogens  can also be
introduced as a result of improper handling  at the  consumer level.  These risks may be controlled,
although not eliminated, by adherence to good manufacturing practices and finished product  testing.
We  have little, if any, control over proper  handling before we receive the product or  once the product
has been shipped to our customers. We may be subject  to  liability,  which could be substantial, because
of actual or alleged contamination in products manufactured or sold by us,  including products sold by
companies before we acquired them. We  have,  and the companies we have  acquired have had, liability
insurance with respect to product liability  claims. This  insurance may not continue to be available at a
reasonable cost or at all, and  may not be adequate to cover product liability claims against us or
against companies we have acquired. We  generally  seek contractual indemnification from
manufacturers, but any such indemnification is limited, as a practical matter, to the creditworthiness of
the indemnifying party. If we or any of  our acquired companies do not have adequate  insurance or
contractual indemnification available,  product liability claims  and costs associated with product recalls,
including a loss of business, could have a material  adverse effect on our business, financial condition or
results of operations.

A cybersecurity incident and other technology  disruptions could negatively impact our  business  and our
relationships with customers.

We  use computers in substantially all  aspects of  our business operations. We  also use mobile
devices, social networking and other  online  activities to connect with our employees, suppliers, business
partners and our customers. Such uses  give rise to cybersecurity risks, including security breach,
espionage, system disruption, theft and inadvertent release of information.  Our business involves the
storage and transmission of numerous classes  of  sensitive  and/or confidential information  and
intellectual property, including customers’ and suppliers’ personal information, private  information
about employees, and financial and strategic information about the Company and its business partners.
Further, as we pursue our strategy to  grow through acquisitions and to pursue new initiatives that
improve our operations and cost structure, we are also expanding and improving our  information
technologies, resulting in a larger technological presence and corresponding exposure to cybersecurity
risk. If we fail to assess and identify cybersecurity risks  associated with acquisitions  and new initiatives,
we may become increasingly vulnerable to such risks.  Additionally, while we have  implemented
measures to prevent security breaches  and cyber  incidents, our  preventative measures and incident

26

response efforts may not be entirely  effective. The theft, destruction,  loss, misappropriation,  or release
of sensitive and/or confidential information  or intellectual  property, or interference with  our
information technology systems or the  technology systems of third parties on which  we rely, could result
in business disruption, negative publicity, brand  damage, violation of privacy laws, loss of customers,
potential liability and competitive disadvantage.

We are dependent on a number of key  executives.

Management of our business is substantially dependent upon the services of certain key

management employees. Loss of the  services  of any officers or any other  key management employee
could have a material adverse effect  on  our business, financial condition or  results of operations.

Union-organizing activities could cause  labor relations difficulties.

As of August 1, 2015 we had approximately 8,700  full and part-time employees, 428 of whom
(approximately 4.9%) are covered by  collective bargaining agreements at our Edison,  New Jersey,
Auburn, Washington, Leicester, Massachusetts,  Iowa  City, Iowa, and  Dayville,  Connecticut facilities.
The Edison, New Jersey, Leicester, Massachusetts,  Iowa  City, Iowa, Auburn, Washington, and Dayville,
Connecticut agreements expire in June 2017, March  2017, June 2017, February 2017,  and July 2019,
respectively. We have in the past been  the focus of union-organizing efforts, and we  believe it  is likely
that we will be the focus of similar efforts  in the  future.

As we increase our employee base and broaden  our distribution operations to new  geographic
markets, our increased visibility could result in increased or  expanded union-organizing  efforts. In  the
event we are  unable to negotiate contract renewals with our  union associates, we could be subject to
work stoppages. In that event, it would be necessary for us to hire  replacement workers to continue to
meet our obligations to our customers. The costs  to  hire replacement workers and employ effective
security measures could negatively impact  the profitability of  the facility, and  depending  on the length
of time that we are required to employ replacement workers and security measures these costs could be
significant and could have a material adverse effect on our business,  financial  condition or results  of
operations.

In November 2014, the National Labor  Relations Board certified the election  results of our drivers

in Moreno Valley,  California to be represented  by  the Teamsters Local 63. Management has  appealed
those results to the D.C. Circuit Court  of  Appeals on  the grounds that  the  election was not held within
an appropriate unit of bargaining. During  the pendency of the  appeal, we  could  be  subject to work
stoppages which could cause us difficulties in meeting all our obligations  to our customers, as well as
result in our need to hire temporary drivers and enhance our  security measures, all of  which could
negatively impact the profitability of  the Moreno Valley facility and any  of  our other  facilities  that  are
impacted by these events.

We may fail to establish sufficient insurance reserves and  adequately estimate for future workers’
compensation and automobile liabilities.

We  are primarily self-insured for workers’  compensation and automobile liability insurance. We
believe that our workers’ compensation  and automobile  insurance coverage  is customary  for businesses
of our size and type. However, there  are  types of losses we may  incur that cannot be insured against or
that we believe are not commercially reasonable to insure. These losses, should they occur, could have
a material and adverse effect on our  business,  financial  condition or results of operations. In  addition,
the cost of workers’ compensation insurance and automobile insurance  fluctuates based upon  our
historical trends, market conditions and availability.

Any projection of  losses concerning workers’ compensation and  automobile  insurance is  subject to

a considerable degree of variability. Among  the causes of this  variability are  unpredictable external

27

factors affecting litigation trends, benefit  level  changes and claim settlement patterns. If actual  losses
incurred are greater than those anticipated, our reserves  may be insufficient and additional  costs could
be recorded in our consolidated financial  statements. If  we  suffer a substantial  loss that is not covered
by our self-insurance reserves, the loss and attendant  expenses could harm our  business  and operating
results. We have purchased stop loss  coverage  from third parties, which limits our exposure  above the
amounts we have self-insured.

Adverse judgments or settlements resulting  from legal proceedings in which we may be involved in the
normal course of our business could reduce  our profits or limit our ability to  operate our business.

In the normal course of our business, we are  involved in  various legal proceedings. The  outcome

of these  proceedings cannot be predicted. If any of these proceedings were to be determined adversely
to us or a settlement involving a payment of  a material sum of money were to occur, it could materially
and adversely affect our profits or ability  to  operate our  business. Additionally, we  could  become the
subject of future claims by third parties,  including our employees, our investors, or regulators.  Any
significant adverse judgments or settlements would  reduce our profits  and  could  limit  our  ability  to
operate our business. Further, we may incur costs related  to  claims for which we  have appropriate
third-party indemnity, but such third  parties fail to fulfill  their contractual  obligations.

The market price for our common stock may be  volatile.

At times,  there has been significant volatility in the market price of our common stock. In

addition, the market price of our common  stock  could fluctuate substantially in  the future  in response
to a number of factors, including the  following:

(cid:129) our quarterly operating results or the operating results of other  distributors of  organic or natural

food and non-food products and of supernatural chains and conventional  supermarkets  and
other of our customers;

(cid:129) the addition or loss of significant customers;

(cid:129) changes in general conditions in the economy, the financial markets or  the organic or  natural

food and non-food product distribution industries;

(cid:129) changes in financial estimates or recommendations by stock market analysts regarding us or our

competitors;

(cid:129) announcements  by us or our competitors  of significant  acquisitions;

(cid:129) increases in labor, energy, fuel costs or the costs of food products;

(cid:129) natural disasters, severe weather conditions  or other developments  affecting us or our

competitors;

(cid:129) publication of research reports about us, the  benefits of  organic and  natural  products, or  the

organic or natural food and non-food product  distribution industries generally;

(cid:129) changes in market valuations of similar companies;

(cid:129) additions or departures of key management personnel;

(cid:129) actions by institutional stockholders; and

(cid:129) speculation in the press or investment community.

In addition, in recent years the stock market has  experienced extreme price and  volume

fluctuations. This volatility has had a significant effect on the market prices  of securities issued  by  many

28

companies for reasons unrelated to their  operating performance.  These broad market fluctuations may
materially adversely affect our stock price,  regardless of our operating results.

A failure of our internal control over financial  reporting could materially  impact our business or stock
price.

Our management is responsible for establishing and maintaining adequate internal  control over
financial reporting and in the second quarter  of fiscal 2015 we identified a  material  weakness  in our
internal control over financial reporting. Although we have remediated this material weakness and
management concluded that our internal  control  over financial reporting was effective  as of August 1,
2015, an internal control system, no matter how  well designed and operated,  can provide only
reasonable, not absolute, assurance that the objectives of the control system are met. Further, the
design of a control system must reflect the  fact that there  are resource constraints, and  the benefits of
controls must be considered relative  to  their costs.  Because of the inherent limitations  in all internal
control systems, internal control over  financial reporting may  not prevent or detect misstatements. Any
failure to maintain an effective system  of internal control  over  financial reporting could limit our ability
to report our financial results accurately and  timely  or to detect and prevent fraud,  and could expose us
to litigation or adversely affect the market  price of our common stock. See Part  II, ‘‘Item 9A. Controls
and Procedures—Management’s Report  on  Internal Control  over Financial Reporting,’’  of this  report
for additional information regarding  our  internal control over financial report.

ITEM 1B. UNRESOLVED STAFF COMMENTS

None.

ITEM 2. PROPERTIES

We  maintained thirty-one distribution  centers at August  1, 2015 which were utilized  by  our
wholesale division. These facilities, including offsite storage space, consisted of an  aggregate of
approximately 7.7 million square feet  of  storage space, which  we  believe represents the largest capacity
of any distributor within the United  States in  the natural,  organic and specialty  products industry. In
the first and third quarter of fiscal 2015,  respectively, we began operations at  our new distribution
centers in Hudson Valley, New York and Prescott, Wisconsin.  We are also constructing a  new
distribution center in Gilroy, California.

29

Set forth below for each of our distribution centers is  its location and the expiration  of  leases as of

August 1, 2015 for those distribution  centers that we  do  not own.

Location

Atlanta, Georgia* . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Auburn, California* . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Auburn, Washington . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Aurora, Colorado . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Burnaby, British Columbia . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Charlotte, North Carolina . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Chesterfield, New Hampshire* . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Concord, Ontario . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Dayville, Connecticut* . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Greenwood, Indiana* . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Hudson Valley, New York* . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Iowa City, Iowa* . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Lancaster, Texas . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Leicester, Massachusetts . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Logan Township, New Jersey . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Moreno Valley, California . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Mounds View, Minnesota . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Philadelphia, Pennsylvania . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Prescott, Wisconsin . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Racine, Wisconsin* . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Richmond, British Columbia . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Ridgefield, Washington* . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Ridgefield, Washington . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Rocklin,  California* . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Sarasota, Florida . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
St. Laurent, Quebec . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Truckee, California . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Vernon, California* . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
West Sacramento, California . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
York, Pennsylvania . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Yuba City, California . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

Lease Expiration

Owned
Owned
August 2019
October 2033
October 2018
September 2019
Owned
December 2021
Owned
Owned
Owned
Owned
July 2025
April 2016
May 2028
July 2023
November 2015
January 2020
Owned
Owned
August 2022
Owned
September 2017
Owned
July 2017
July 2017
August 2020
Owned
Owned
May 2020
September 2021

*

The properties noted above are mortgaged under and  encumbered  by our Term Loan
Agreement entered into on August 14, 2014.

We  lease facilities to operate thirteen natural products  retail stores through our Earth Origins
division in Florida, Maryland and Massachusetts,  each with  various lease expiration dates.  We also  lease
a processing and manufacturing facility in  Edison, New  Jersey  with a lease expiration  date of March  31,
2018.

We  lease office space in Santa Cruz, California, Chesterfield, New Hampshire, Uniondale, New

York, Richmond, Virginia, and Providence,  Rhode Island, the site of our  corporate headquarters. Our
leases have been entered into upon terms  that we believe  to be reasonable and  customary.

We  lease warehouse facilities in Minneapolis, Minnesota  that we acquired in  connection with  our
acquisition of Roots & Fruits Produce Cooperative in 2005  and  West Sacramento, California that we
acquired in connection with our acquisition of Tony’s. Both of these  facilities are currently being
subleased under an agreement that expires concurrently  with our lease termination in  November 2016

30

and April 2018, respectively. We also  lease offsite  storage space  near certain of our distribution
facilities.

ITEM 3. LEGAL PROCEEDINGS

From time to time, we are involved in routine  litigation that arises in the ordinary course of our

business. There are no pending material legal  proceedings to which  we  are a party or  to  which our
property is subject.

ITEM 4. MINE SAFETY DISCLOSURES

Not applicable.

31

PART II.

ITEM 5. MARKET FOR THE REGISTRANT’S COMMON EQUITY, RELATED STOCKHOLDER

MATTERS AND ISSUER PURCHASES  OF EQUITY  SECURITIES

Our common stock is traded on the Nasdaq Global Select  Market(cid:4)  under the symbol ‘‘UNFI.’’

Our common stock began trading on  the Nasdaq Stock  Market(cid:4) on November 1, 1996.

The following table sets forth, for the fiscal periods  indicated, the  high and low sale prices per

share of our common stock on the Nasdaq  Global Select  Market(cid:4):

Fiscal 2015

High

Low

First Quarter . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Second Quarter . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Third Quarter . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Fourth Quarter . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

$69.51
80.77
83.91
69.26

$58.48
67.71
66.34
45.26

Fiscal 2014

First Quarter . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Second Quarter . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Third Quarter . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Fourth Quarter . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

$75.85
76.85
79.64
69.85

$58.29
66.74
64.12
58.04

On August 1, 2015, we had 88 stockholders  of  record. The number of record holders  may not be
representative of the number of beneficial holders of our common stock because depositories, brokers
or other  nominees hold many shares.

We  have never declared or paid any cash dividends on  our capital stock. We anticipate  that  all  of

our  earnings in the foreseeable future will be retained to finance the continued growth  and
development of our business, and we have no current intention to pay cash dividends. Our  future
dividend policy will depend on our earnings, capital requirements and financial  condition, requirements
of the financing agreements to which we are then a party  and other factors considered relevant  by  our
Board of Directors. Additionally, the  terms of our existing  revolving  credit facility restrict  us  from
making any cash dividends unless certain conditions  and financial  tests are  met.

In the fourth quarter of fiscal 2015 the UNFI Employee  Stock Ownership Plan (the ‘‘ESOP’’)
acquired shares of the Company’s common stock on the open market in connection with the  ESOP’s
final allocation and release of shares  under the ESOP. The following table provides  information relating
to the ESOP’s purchase of those shares:

Period

(a) Total Number
of Shares
Purchased(1)

(b) Average Price
Paid per  Share

(c) Total Number of
Shares Purchased
as Part of
Publicly
Announced
Plans  or  Programs

(d) Maximum Number
(or Approximate
Dollar Value) of
Shares that May
Yet Be Purchased
Under the Plans
or  Programs(2)

May 3, 2015—June 6, 2015 . . .
June 7, 2015—July 4, 2015 . . .
July 5, 2015—August 1, 2015 .

—
455
8,938

—
$62.86
$55.76

—
—
—

N/A
N/A
N/A

(1) All purchases were made through  open market transactions.

(2) The ESOP made its final allocation and  release of shares of the Company’s common stock prior to

the end of fiscal 2015 and no future  purchases of the  Company’s common stock under the ESOP
are expected.

32

Except as described in the table above, no shares of the Company’s  common  stock were

repurchased in the fourth quarter of fiscal 2015.

Comparative Stock Performance

The graph below compares the cumulative total stockholder return  on our common stock for the
last five fiscal years with the cumulative total return on (i) an index of Food Service Distributors and
Grocery Wholesalers and (ii) The NASDAQ Composite Index. The comparison assumes the  investment
of $100 on July 31, 2010 in our common stock and in each  of the indices and,  in each case, assumes
reinvestment of all dividends. The stock  price performance  shown below is not necessarily  indicative of
future performance.

The index of Food Distributors and Wholesalers  includes SuperValu, Inc. and SYSCO

Corporation.

This performance graph shall not be deemed ‘‘soliciting material’’ or be deemed to be ‘‘filed’’  for

purposes  of Section 18 of the Exchange  Act or otherwise  subject  to  the liabilities under that Section
and shall not be deemed to be incorporated by reference into any of our filings  under the  Securities
Act of 1933, as amended (the ‘‘Securities  Act’’), or the  Exchange Act.

COMPARISION OF 5 YEAR CUMULATIVE TOTAL RETURN*
Among United Natural Foods, Inc., the  NASDAQ  Composite Index,
and Index of Food Distributors and Wholesalers

$250

$200

$150

$100

$50

$0
07/31/10

07/30/11

07/28/12

08/03/13

08/02/14

08/01/15

United Natural Foods, Inc

NASDAQ Composite

Index of Food Distributors and Wholesalers

13OCT201520020679

*

$100 invested on 7/31/10 in UNFI  common stock or 7/31/10 in relevant  index, including reinvestment
of dividends. Index calculated on a month-end basis.

33

ITEM 6. SELECTED FINANCIAL  DATA

The selected consolidated financial data presented  below  are derived  from our consolidated
financial statements, which have been  audited by KPMG LLP, our independent  registered  public
accounting firm. The historical results  are  not necessarily indicative of results  to  be  expected for any
future period. The following selected  consolidated financial data should be read in conjunction  with
and is qualified by reference to ‘‘Item 7. Management’s  Discussion  and Analysis of  Financial Condition
and Results of Operations’’ and our Consolidated  Financial  Statements and  Notes thereto included
elsewhere in this Annual Report on Form 10-K.

Consolidated Statement of Income Data:(1)

August 1,
2015

August 2,
2014

August  3,
2013

July 28,
2012

July  30,
2011

Net sales . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Cost of sales . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

$8,184,978
6,924,463

(53 weeks)
(In thousands, except per share data)
$6,064,355
5,039,279

$5,236,021
4,320,018

$6,794,447
5,666,802

$4,530,015
3,705,205

1,260,515
1,017,755

1,127,645
916,857

1,025,076
837,953

Gross profit . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Operating expenses . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Restructuring and asset impairment

expense . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

803

Total operating expenses . . . . . . . . . .

1,018,558

Operating income . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Other expense (income):
Interest expense . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Interest income . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Other, net . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

Total other expense, net . . . . . . . . . . .

241,957

14,498
(356)
(1,954)

12,188

—

916,857

210,788

7,753
(508)
(3,865)

3,380

1,629

839,582

185,494

5,897
(632)
6,113

11,378

174,116
66,262

916,003
755,744

5,101

760,845

155,158

4,734
(715)
356

4,375

150,783
59,441

91,342

1.87

$

$

$

$

824,810
688,859

6,270

695,129

129,681

5,000
(1,226)
(528)

3,246

126,435
49,762

76,673

1.62

Income before income taxes . . . . . . . .
Provision for income taxes . . . . . . . . .

229,769
91,035

207,408
81,926

Net income . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

$ 138,734

$ 125,482

$ 107,854

Per share data—Basic:
Net income . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

Weighted average basic shares of

$

2.77

$

2.53

$

2.19

common stock . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

50,021

49,602

49,217

48,766

47,459

Per share data—Diluted:
Net income . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

Weighted average diluted shares of

$

2.76

$

2.52

$

2.18

$

1.86

$

1.60

common stock . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

50,267

49,888

49,509

49,100

47,815

Consolidated Balance Sheet Data:

Working capital . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Total assets . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Total long-term debt and capital

August 1,
2015

August 2,
2014

August  3,
2013

July 28,
2012

July  30,
2011

$1,022,882
2,550,190

$ 854,451
2,288,891

(In thousands)
$ 716,951
1,729,908

$ 612,700
1,493,946

$ 381,071
1,400,988

leases, excluding current portion . . .
Total stockholders’ equity . . . . . . . . . .

174,780
$1,385,533

32,510
$1,243,364

33,091
$1,099,146

635
$ 978,716

986
$ 869,667

(1) Includes the effect of acquisitions  from  the date of acquisition.

34

ITEM 7. MANAGEMENT’S DISCUSSION AND ANALYSIS  OF FINANCIAL CONDITION AND

RESULTS OF OPERATIONS

The following discussion and analysis should be read  in  conjunction  with our  consolidated financial

statements and the notes thereto appearing elsewhere in  this  Annual  Report  on Form 10-K.

Forward-Looking Statements

This Annual Report on Form 10-K and the documents incorporated by reference in this  Annual
Report on Form 10-K contain forward-looking statements  within the meaning of  Section 27A of  the
Securities Act, and Section 21E of the Exchange Act  that involve  substantial risks and uncertainties.  In
some cases you can identify these statements by forward-looking words such as ‘‘anticipate,’’ ‘‘believe,’’
‘‘could,’’ ‘‘estimate,’’ ‘‘expect,’’ ‘‘intend,’’  ‘‘may,’’  ‘‘plans,’’ ‘‘seek,’’ ‘‘should,’’ ‘‘will,’’ and ‘‘would,’’ or
similar words. You should read statements that contain these words  carefully because  they discuss
future expectations, contain projections of  future results of operations or of financial positions or  state
other  ‘‘forward-looking’’ information.

Forward-looking statements involve inherent  uncertainty  and may  ultimately  prove to be incorrect

or false. You are cautioned not to place undue reliance on forward-looking statements. Except as
otherwise may be required by law, we undertake no obligation  to  update  or  revise forward-looking
statements to reflect changed assumptions,  the  occurrence of unanticipated events or  actual operating
results. Our actual results could differ materially from those anticipated in these forward-looking
statements as a result of various factors, including, but not limited to:

(cid:129) our dependence on principal customers;

(cid:129) our sensitivity to general economic conditions,  including  the current economic  environment;

(cid:129) changes in disposable income levels and consumer  spending trends;

(cid:129) our ability to reduce our expenses in amounts  sufficient  to  offset  our increased focus on sales to

conventional supermarkets and the shift in our product mix  as a  result of our acquisition of
Tony’s and the resulting lower gross margins on these sales;

(cid:129) our reliance on the continued growth in sales of natural and organic foods and non-food

products in comparison to conventional products;

(cid:129) our ability to timely and successfully deploy our new warehouse management  system throughout

our distribution centers and our transportation management system across our Company;

(cid:129) the addition or loss of significant customers;

(cid:129) volatility in fuel costs;

(cid:129) our ability to successfully consummate  our expense reduction efforts  in connection with the

previously announced termination of  a  contractual  customer relationship within  the expected
timeframe and cost estimates currently contemplated;

(cid:129) our sensitivity to inflationary and deflationary pressures;

(cid:129) the relatively low margins and economic sensitivity of  our business;

(cid:129) the potential for disruptions in our supply chain by circumstances  beyond our control;

(cid:129) the risk of interruption of supplies due to lack of long-term  contracts,  severe weather, work

stoppages or otherwise;

(cid:129) consumer demand for natural and organic products outpacing suppliers’ ability to produce these

products;

35

(cid:129) union-organizing activities that could  cause labor relations difficulties and  increased costs;

(cid:129) the ability to identify and successfully  complete acquisitions of other natural,  organic and

specialty food and non-food products distributors;

(cid:129) management’s allocation of capital and the timing of capital  expenditures; and

(cid:129) our ability to successfully deploy our operational  initiatives to achieve synergies  from the

acquisition of Tony’s

This list of risks and uncertainties, however, is only a summary of some of the  most important
factors and is not intended to be exhaustive. You should carefully  review the  risks described under
‘‘Part I. Item 1A. Risk Factors,’’ as well as  any  other  cautionary language in this Annual Report on
Form 10-K, as the  occurrence of any of  these events could have  an adverse effect on our  business,
results of operations and financial condition.

Overview

We  believe we are a leading national distributor based on  sales of  natural, organic and  specialty

foods and non-food products in the United States and Canada  and that our thirty-one distribution
centers, representing approximately 7.7 million square feet of warehouse space, provide us with the
largest capacity of any North American-based  distributor  in the natural, organic and  specialty products
industry. We offer more than 85,000  high-quality natural,  organic and specialty foods and non-food
products, consisting of national brands,  regional brands, private label and master  distribution products,
in six product categories: grocery and general  merchandise, produce, perishables and frozen foods,
nutritional supplements and sports nutrition, bulk  and food service products and  personal  care items.
We  serve more than 40,000 customer locations primarily located  across the United States and Canada,
the majority of which can be classified  into one of the  following  categories: independently owned
natural products retailers, which include  buying clubs; supernatural  chains, which consist solely of
Whole Foods Market; conventional supermarkets, which  include  mass market  chains;  and other  which
includes foodservice and international customers outside of Canada.

Our operations are comprised of three principal operating divisions. These operating divisions are:

(cid:129) our wholesale division, which includes our broadline  natural,  organic and specialty distribution

business in the United States, UNFI Canada, which  is our natural, organic and specialty
distribution business in Canada, Tony’s which is a  leading  distributor  of  a wide variety of
specialty protein, cheese, deli, food service and bakery  goods, principally throughout the Western
United States, Albert’s, which is a leading distributor of organically grown produce  and
non-produce perishable items within the United States, and  Select Nutrition, which  distributes
vitamins, minerals and supplements;

(cid:129) our retail division, consisting of Earth Origins, which operates our thirteen natural products

retail stores within the United States;  and

(cid:129) our manufacturing division, consisting of Woodstock  Farms Manufacturing, which specializes in

the international importation, roasting, packaging and  distribution of nuts, dried fruit, seeds, trail
mixes, granola, natural and organic  snack items,  and confections, and  our Blue  Marble Brands
product lines.

In recent years, our sales to existing and  new customers have increased through  the continued

growth of the natural and organic products industry in general,  increased  market share as a  result of
our  high quality service and a broader  product selection, including specialty  products, and the
acquisition of, or merger with, natural  and  specialty products distributors,  the expansion  of  our  existing
distribution centers; the construction  of  new distribution  centers; the introduction of new products  and
the development of our own line of natural  and  organic branded  products. Through  these efforts,  we

36

believe that we have been able to broaden  our geographic penetration,  expand  our customer base,
enhance and diversify our product selections  and  increase our market share.

We  have been the primary distributor to Whole Foods  Market for more than seventeen years. We

have and continue to serve as the primary distributor to Whole Foods Market  in all of its regions in
the United States pursuant to a distribution agreement that  expires  on September  25, 2020. Whole
Foods Market accounted for approximately 35% and 36%  of  our net sales for  the years ended
August 1, 2015 and August 2, 2014, respectively.

In July 2014, we completed the acquisition of all of  the outstanding capital  stock  of Tony’s,  through

our  wholly-owned subsidiary, UNFI West for consideration  of approximately  $202.7 million. With  the
completion of the transaction, Tony’s is now a  wholly-owned subsidiary and  continues to operate as
Tony’s Fine Foods. Founded in 1934 by the Ingoglia family, Tony’s  is headquartered in West
Sacramento, California and is a leading  distributor  of perishable  food products, including a wide array
of specialty protein, cheese, deli, food service and bakery goods  to  retail and specialty grocers, food
service customers and other distribution companies principally located  throughout the  Western  United
States, as well as Alaska and Hawaii.  We believe  that the acquisition of Tony’s accomplished certain of
our  strategic objectives as Tony’s provides  us with  a platform for expanding  both our  high-growth
perishable product offerings and our distribution footprint in  the Western Region  of the United  States.

The ability to distribute specialty food items (including ethnic,  kosher and gourmet) has

accelerated our expansion into a number of  high-growth business  markets and  allowed  us  to  establish
immediate market share in the fast-growing specialty foods market. We have now integrated specialty
food products and natural and organic  specialty non-food products into most  of  our  broadline
distribution centers across the United States  and  Canada. Due to our  expansion into specialty  foods,
over the past several years we have been awarded  new business with  a number of conventional
supermarkets that  we previously had not done business with because we did not distribute  specialty
products. We believe that distribution  of  these  products enhances our conventional supermarket
business channel and that our complementary product  lines  continue to present opportunities for cross-
selling.

In June 2011, we entered into an asset  purchase  agreement with  L&R  Distributors pursuant to

which  we agreed to sell our conventional  non-foods  and general merchandise  lines  of  business,
including certain inventory related to  these product lines.  This divestiture was completed in the first
quarter of fiscal 2012, and has allowed  us  to  concentrate on our  core business of the distribution of
natural, organic, and specialty foods and non-food products.

To maintain our market leadership and  improve  our  operating efficiencies, we seek to continually:

(cid:129) expand our marketing and customer service programs across  regions;

(cid:129) expand our national purchasing opportunities;

(cid:129) offer a broader product selection than  our  competitors;

(cid:129) offer operational excellence with high service levels and a higher percentage of on-time

deliveries than our competitors;

(cid:129) centralize general and administrative functions  to  reduce expenses;

(cid:129) consolidate systems applications among  physical locations and regions;

(cid:129) increase our investment in people,  facilities, equipment and technology;

(cid:129) integrate administrative and accounting functions; and

(cid:129) reduce the geographic overlap between  regions.

37

Our continued growth has allowed us to expand our existing  facilities and open new  facilities  in an

effort to achieve increasing operating  efficiencies.  We have made significant  capital expenditures  and
incurred considerable expenses in connection with  the opening  and  expansion of our facilities. At
August 1, 2015, our distribution capacity  totaled approximately 7.7 million square feet. In September
2010, we began shipping products from our distribution center in Lancaster, Texas, which serves
customers throughout the Southwestern United States, including Texas, Oklahoma, New  Mexico,
Arkansas and Louisiana. In May 2013,  we  began operations at our  new 540,000  square  foot distribution
center in Aurora, Colorado, replacing  our existing two broadline distribution centers, an  Albert’s
distribution center and an off-site storage location and also  began operations at our new Albert’s
distribution center in Logan, New Jersey.  We  have progressed in our multi-year expansion plan,  which
included new distribution centers in Racine, Wisconsin, Hudson  Valley, New  York, and Prescott,
Wisconsin, from which we began operations in  June  2014, September 2014  and April 2015, respectively,
and we are currently constructing a new  distribution center in  Gilroy, California, from which we  expect
to begin operations in the third quarter of  fiscal  2016.

Our net  sales consist primarily of sales of natural, organic  and specialty  products  to  retailers,
adjusted for customer volume discounts,  returns and allowances.  Net sales  also consist  of amounts
charged by us to customers for shipping  and handling and fuel  surcharges. The principal components of
our  cost of sales include the amounts  paid to manufacturers and  growers for product  sold, plus the  cost
of transportation necessary to bring the  product  to  our  distribution centers, offset  by  consideration
received from suppliers in connection  with  the purchase or promotion of the suppliers’ products. Cost
of sales also includes amounts incurred  by us at our manufacturing subsidiary,  Woodstock Farms
Manufacturing, for inbound transportation  costs and for depreciation for  manufacturing equipment.
Our gross margin may not be comparable  to  other  similar companies within our industry that may
include all costs related to their distribution network in  their costs of sales rather than as operating
expenses. We include purchasing, receiving, selecting  and outbound transportation expenses within our
operating expenses rather than in our  cost of sales. Total operating expenses  include salaries and wages,
employee benefits (including payments under our Employee  Stock  Ownership Plan), warehousing and
delivery, selling, occupancy, insurance,  administrative, share-based compensation,  depreciation and
amortization expense. Other expenses  (income) include interest  on our outstanding  indebtedness,
including the financing obligation related to our  Aurora, Colorado distribution center,  interest  income
and miscellaneous income and expenses. Fiscal 2015  other income  includes a gain  of $4.2 million
associated with a transfer of land at  the Company’s Prescott,  Wisconsin facility. Fiscal 2014  other
income includes a gain of $4.8 million associated with a non-cash transfer pursuant to which  we
acquired the land on which we constructed our Racine, Wisconsin  facility.  Fiscal year 2013  other
expense also includes a pre-tax charge  of $4.9  million  in the first quarter  related to an agreement to
settle a multi-state unclaimed property audit.

38

Results of Operations

The following table presents, for the periods indicated, certain  income and expense items

expressed as a percentage of net sales:

Fiscal year ended

August 1,
2015

August 2,
2014

August 3,
2013

Net sales . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Cost of sales . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

100.0% 100.0%
84.6% 83.4%

100.0%
83.1%

Gross profit . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

15.4% 16.6%

Operating expenses . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Restructuring and asset impairment expenses . . . . . . . . . . . . .

12.4% 13.5%
—%

—%

Total operating expenses . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

12.4% 13.5%

Operating income . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

3.0%

3.1%

Other expense (income):

Interest expense . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Interest income . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Other, net . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

Total other expense, net . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

Income before income taxes . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Provision for income taxes . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

Net income . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

0.2%
—%
—%

0.1%*

2.8%*
1.1%

1.7%

0.1%
—%
(0.1)%

—%

3.1%
1.2%

1.8%*

16.9%

13.8%
—%

13.8%

3.1%

0.1%
—%
0.1%

0.2%

2.9%
1.1%

1.8%

*

Total reflects rounding

Fiscal year ended August 1, 2015 compared to fiscal year ended August 2, 2014

Net Sales

Our net  sales for the fiscal year ended August 1, 2015  increased approximately 20.5%,  or

$1.39 billion, to a record $8.18 billion  from $6.79  billion for the fiscal year ended  August  2, 2014. Net
sales for the fiscal year ended August  1, 2015  were negatively impacted  by $9.3 million as a  result of
additional amounts owed to a customer from an  incorrect calculation of  contractual obligations  to  that
customer from fiscal 2009 through fiscal 2014. The year-over-year increase in net sales was primarily
due to growth in our wholesale segment of $1.39  billion. We experienced  organic growth  (sales growth
excluding the impact of acquisitions)  of 7.9%  over the prior fiscal year  due to the continued growth of
the natural and organic products industry in general, increased market share as a result  of  our  focus on
service and value added services, and  a  broader  selection of products, including  specialty foods. Net
sales for the fiscal year ended August  1, 2015  was  favorably impacted by the  acquisition  of  Tony’s  which
contributed approximately $882.8 million of net sales as  compared to $45.3 million for the fiscal year
ended August 2, 2014, as Tony’s was acquired during the fourth quarter of fiscal 2014. Our net  sales  for
the fiscal year ended August 1, 2015  were  also favorably impacted by moderate price  inflation of
approximately 2% during the year.

39

Our net  sales by customer type for the  fiscal  years  ended August 1, 2015 and August 2,  2014 were

as follows (in millions):

Customer Type

2015
Net  Sales

% of Total
Net Sales

2014
Net Sales

% of Total
Net Sales

Independently owned natural products

retailers . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Supernatural chains . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Conventional supermarkets . . . . . . . . . . . .
Other . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

$2,650
2,822
2,132
581

32% $2,223
2,422
35%*
1,755
26%
394
7%

33%
36%
26%
5%*

Total . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

$8,185

100% $6,794

100%

*

Total reflects rounding

Net sales to our independent retailer  channel increased by approximately $427 million, or  19.2%

during the fiscal year ended August 1, 2015 compared to the  fiscal  year ended August 2, 2014, and
accounted for 32% and 33% of our total net sales  for fiscal 2015 and fiscal 2014,  respectively. While
net sales in this channel have increased, they have  grown  at  a  slower rate than  net sales in our
supernatural and conventional supermarket channels,  and therefore represent a lower  percentage of
our  total net sales compared to the prior year.

Whole Foods Market is our only supernatural chain customer, and net sales  to  Whole Foods
Market for the fiscal year ended August  1, 2015 increased by approximately $400 million or 16.5% over
the prior year and accounted for approximately 35% and 36% of our  total  net sales for  the fiscal years
ended August 1, 2015 and August 2, 2014, respectively.  The  increase in  sales to Whole  Foods Market is
primarily due to increases in same-store sales as well as net  store openings  and net  sales  to  Whole
Foods Market by our Tony’s business.

Net sales to conventional supermarkets  for the fiscal year ended August 1,  2015 increased by
approximately $377 million, or 21.5% from fiscal 2014 and represented approximately 26% of  total  net
sales in fiscal 2015 and fiscal 2014. The increase in net sales  to  conventional supermarkets is due to
continued success in our strategy of seeking  to  be  the sole supplier of natural, organic and specialty
products to our conventional supermarket  customers, as well as net sales by our Tony’s business.

Other net sales, which include sales to foodservice and sales from the United  States to other
countries, as well as sales through our  retail division,  manufacturing  division, and our branded  product
lines, increased by approximately $187 million or 47.5% during the fiscal year ended August  1, 2015
over the prior fiscal year and accounted for  approximately  7%  of total net  sales in fiscal 2015 as
compared to 5% in fiscal 2014. The increase in  other  net sales  is attributable  to  net sales  from our
Tony’s business and expanded sales to  our  existing foodservice partners.

As we continue to aggressively pursue  new  customers and expand  relationships  with existing
customers, we expect net sales for fiscal  2016 to grow  over  fiscal 2015, although we  expect that our net
sales growth in fiscal 2016 will be lower  than in fiscal 2015 as  we experience the reduction in net  sales
that will result from the loss of business from  a significant conventional  supermarket  customer that
notified us in the fourth quarter of fiscal 2015 that it was terminating  its relationship with us  in
September 2015. We believe that the integration of our specialty business into our national platform
has allowed us to attract customers that  we would  not  have been able to attract  without that business
and will continue to allow us to pursue a  broader  array  of customers  as many customers seek a  single
source for their natural, organic and specialty products.  We also expect that our ability to add products
that Tony’s has historically sold to our selection  of products in our  other markets will contribute  to  an
increase in net sales. We believe that  our projected net  sales  growth will  come from both sales to new
customers (including as a result of acquisitions) and  an increase in the number of products that we sell

40

to existing customers. We expect that  most  of this  net sales  growth will  occur in our lower  gross margin
supernatural and conventional supermarket channels.  Although sales to these customers typically
generate lower gross margins than sales  to  customers within our independent retailer channel, they also
typically carry a lower average cost to serve than sales to our independent customers.  We also  believe
that food price inflation similar to the  levels experienced in fiscal 2015  will contribute to our projected
net sales growth in fiscal 2016.

Cost of Sales and Gross Profit

Our gross profit increased approximately 11.8%,  or $132.9 million, to $1.26 billion for  the fiscal
year ended August 1, 2015, from $1.13  billion  for the  fiscal  year ended August 2, 2014.  Our gross profit
as a percentage of  net sales was 15.4%  for the fiscal year ended August 1,  2015 and  16.6% for the
fiscal year ended August 2, 2014. The  decrease in  gross profit  as a  percentage of net sales in  fiscal 2015
is primarily due to the dilution from Tony’s net  sales,  the adverse  impact from the reduction in net
sales attributable to the incorrect calculation  of  customer contractual obligations disclosed  above, the
impact of unfavorable foreign exchange on our Canadian business, a decline in  fuel  surcharges and  a
shift  in the mix of sales.

Our gross profits are generally higher on net  sales  to  independently owned retailers and  lower on

net sales in the conventional supermarket and the supernatural channels.  For the fiscal year ended
August 1, 2015 approximately $777 million of our total  net sales growth of $1.39  billion was from
increased net sales in the conventional  supermarket and supernatural channels. Approximately  61% of
our  total net sales for each of the fiscal  years  2015 and 2014 were to the conventional supermarket and
supernatural channels.

We  anticipate net sales growth in the conventional supermarket  and  supernatural channels will
continue to outpace growth in the independent and other channels.  We expect that our distribution
relationship with Whole Foods Market  as well  as our opportunities in  the conventional supermarket
channel  will continue to generate lower  gross profit  percentages than our historical rates. We will seek
to fully offset these reductions in gross  profit percentages by reducing our operating expenses as  a
percent of net sales primarily through improved efficiencies in our  supply  chain and improvements to
our  information technology infrastructure, including  our ongoing  warehouse management system
platform.

Operating Expenses

Our total operating expenses increased approximately 11.1%, or $101.7 million, to $1.02  billion for
the fiscal year ended August 1, 2015, from $916.9  million for the fiscal year ended August  2, 2014. As a
percentage of net sales, total operating expenses decreased to approximately  12.4% for the fiscal year
ended August 1, 2015, from approximately 13.5% for the fiscal year ended August 2,  2014.The increase
in total operating expenses for the fiscal year ended August  1, 2015 was primarily  due  to  an increase in
net sales and the additional costs to  service higher sales volume. Total operating expenses  for the  fiscal
year ended August 1, 2015 included startup costs of approximately $3.0 million  related to the  our
Hudson Valley, New York, Auburn, California  and Prescott, Wisconsin facilities,  $0.6 million associated
with the write-off of an intangible asset related to the Company’s Canadian division,  which was
acquired in June 2010, a $0.2 million  restructuring charge related to the closure  of the Company’s  Aux
Mille facility located in Quebec, Canada,  and approximately $0.3 million in costs related  to  the
Company’s acquisition of Tony’s, offset  in part by a  $0.8 million  energy grant received related to our
Hudson Valley, New York facility. Operating  expenses for the fiscal year ended August  2, 2014 included
approximately $2.2 million related to  the  start up of the Company’s Racine, Wisconsin  and Hudson
Valley, New York facilities, in addition to approximately $1.5 million of Tony’s  acquisition  costs.

41

Total operating expenses for fiscal 2015  include share-based  compensation expense of

$14.0 million, compared to $14.6 million  in fiscal 2014.  Share-based compensation expense for  the fiscal
year ended August 2, 2014 includes approximately  $1.1 million  in expense  related to performance
share-based awards granted to our Chief Executive Officer related  to  certain financial goals for the
year August 2, 2014. No such expense was recorded for the fiscal year  ended August 1, 2015  as the
applicable goals were not attained. Share-based  compensation  expense also  includes an overall benefit
of $1.0 million and $0.1 million for the years ended  August  1, 2015 and  August  2, 2014, respectively,
related to performance-based equity compensation arrangements with a 2-year performance-based
vesting component established for members of our executive leadership  team. The  $1.0 million net
benefit recorded for fiscal 2015 was a  result  of established metrics not being met  for the  2-year
performance period ended August 1,  2015 as compared  to  a $0.1 million benefit  recorded in fiscal 2014
as result of established metrics not being met  for the  2-year  performance period ended August 2,  2014.
See Note 3 ‘‘Equity Plans’’ to our Consolidated Financial Statements  included in  ‘‘Item 8. Financial
Statements and Supplementary Data’’  of this  Annual  Report on Form 10-K.

In connection with the termination of our relationship with a significant conventional supermarket

customer in the first quarter of fiscal  2016, we  expect to incur approximately $4.0  to  $5.0 million in
restructuring expenses in the first quarter  of  fiscal 2016 principally related to severance costs.

Operating Income

Operating income increased approximately  14.8%, or $31.2  million,  to  $242.0 million for  the fiscal

year ended August 1, 2015, from $210.8  million for the fiscal year ended August 2,  2014. As  a
percentage of net sales, operating income  was 3.0%  and  3.1% for  the fiscal years ended August 1,  2015
and August 2, 2014, respectively.

Other Expense (Income)

Other expense, net increased $8.8 million  to  $12.2 million for  the fiscal year ended August 1,  2015,

from $3.4 million for the fiscal year ended August 2, 2014.  Interest expense for the fiscal  year ended
August 1, 2015 increased to $14.5 million from  $7.8 million in the  fiscal year  ended August 2, 2014.
This increase is primarily due to an increase in borrowings over the prior year  and higher average
interest rates as well as $0.9 million of  interest expense  recorded related to the  capital lease for our
Providence, Rhode Island headquarters  as the lease agreement  was amended  during  fiscal 2015.
Interest income for the fiscal year ended August 1, 2015 decreased to $0.4 million from $0.5 million  in
the fiscal year ended August 2, 2014. Other income for  the fiscal year ended  August 1, 2015 includes  a
gain of $4.2 million associated with a  transfer of land  at the  Company’s Prescott, Wisconsin facility.
Other income for the fiscal year ended  August 2, 2014 includes a  pre-tax  gain of $4.8 million associated
with a non-cash transfer pursuant to which we acquired the land  on  which we constructed our Racine,
Wisconsin facility.

Provision for Income Taxes

Our effective income tax rate was 39.6%  and  39.5% for  the fiscal years ended August 1,  2015 and

August 2, 2014, respectively. The increase  in the effective  income tax rate is  primarily  due  to  the
reduced tax benefit of our foreign operations partially offset by the benefit  for a  federal solar tax credit
claimed by the Company in fiscal 2015.

Net Income

Reflecting the factors described in more detail above, net income  increased $13.3  million  to
$138.7 million, or $2.76 per diluted share, for  the fiscal year ended August 1,  2015, compared to
$125.5 million, or $2.52 per diluted share for  the fiscal year ended August 2,  2014.

42

Fiscal year ended August 2, 2014 compared to fiscal year ended August 3, 2013

Net Sales

Our net  sales for the fiscal year ended August 2, 2014  increased approximately 12.0%,  or

$730 million, to $6.79 billion from $6.06 billion for the fiscal year ended August 3,  2013. This increase
was primarily due to growth in our wholesale  segment of $711.9 million. We  experienced organic
growth of 10.2% over the prior fiscal year  due to the continued growth  of  the natural  and organic
products industry in general, increased  market  share as a  result of our  focus  on service and value
added services, and a broader selection  of products, including specialty foods. Net  sales  for the  fiscal
year ended August 3, 2013 were benefited  by  approximately $118.7  million  due  to  an additional week
during the fiscal year compared to fiscal 2014. Net sales for the  fiscal year  ended August 2, 2014  were
favorably impacted by the acquisition of Trudeau Foods and Tony’s which contributed  approximately
$62.9 million and $45.3 million of net sales, respectively. Our net sales for  the fiscal year ended
August 2, 2014 were also favorably impacted by moderate price  inflation of approximately 2%  during
the year.

Our net  sales by customer type for the  fiscal  years  ended August 2, 2014 and August 3,  2013 were

as follows (in millions):

Customer Type

2014
Net  Sales

% of Total
Net Sales

2013
Net Sales

% of Total
Net Sales

Independently owned natural products

retailers . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Supernatural chains . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Conventional supermarkets . . . . . . . . . . . .
Other . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

$2,223
2,422
1,755
394

33% $2,040
2,207
36%
1,501
26%
316
5%*

34%
36%
25%
5%

Total . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

$6,794

100% $6,064

100%

*

Total reflects rounding

Net sales to our independent retailer  channel increased by approximately $183 million, or  9.0%
during the fiscal year ended August 2, 2014 compared to the  fiscal  year ended August 3, 2013. While
net sales in this channel increased, they  grew at a slower  rate  than net  sales in our  supernatural  and
conventional supermarket channels, and therefore represented a lower percentage of our total net  sales
compared to the prior year.

Whole Foods Market is our only supernatural chain customer, and net sales  to  Whole Foods
Market for the fiscal year ended August  2, 2014 increased by approximately $215 million or 9.7% over
the prior year and accounted for approximately 36% of  our total net sales for  each  of the fiscal years
ended August 2, 2014 and August 3, 2013. The increase in sales to Whole Foods Market  was  primarily
due to increases in same-store sales as  well as  sales by our Tony’s subsidiary to Whole Foods Market,
Tony’s largest customer in fiscal 2014.

Net sales to conventional supermarkets  for the fiscal year ended August 2,  2014 increased by
approximately $254 million, or 16.9% from fiscal 2013 and represented approximately 26% of  total  net
sales in fiscal 2014 compared to 25%  in  fiscal  2013. The increase in net sales to conventional
supermarkets was due to increased demand for our products,  conventional supermarkets expanding the
breadth of products carried in their stores,  and  additional sales as a result of our acquisition of Trudeau
Foods and Tony’s during fiscal 2014.

Other net sales, which include sales to foodservice and sales from the United  States to countries
other than Canada, as well as sales through our retail division, manufacturing division, and  our  branded
product  lines, increased by approximately  $78 million or 24.7%  during  the fiscal year ended August 2,

43

2014 over the prior fiscal year and accounted for approximately 5%  of  total  net sales in fiscal 2014  and
fiscal 2013. The increase in other net  sales  was  primarily driven by an increase in broadline distribution
sales to foodservice customers.

Cost of Sales and Gross Profit

Our gross profit increased approximately 10.0%,  or $102.6 million, to $1.13 billion for  the fiscal
year ended August 2, 2014, from $1.03  billion  for the  fiscal  year ended August 3, 2013.  Our gross profit
as a percentage of  net sales was 16.6%  for the fiscal year ended August 2,  2014 and  16.9% for the
fiscal year ended August 3, 2013. The  decrease in  gross profit  was  attributed  to  a combination of severe
weather in the second quarter, the foreign exchange impact of weakness in  the Canadian dollar on our
Canadian business and the continued  shift in  sales growth towards  supernatural, national supermarket
and multi-unit independent customers.  These challenges were partially offset by improved execution by
the supply chain group, specifically with  respect to procurement and inbound logistics.

Our gross profits are generally higher on net  sales  to  independently owned retailers and  lower on

net sales in the conventional supermarket and the supernatural channels.  For the year fiscal ended
August 2, 2014 approximately $469 million of our total  net sales growth of $730  million  was  from
increased net sales in the conventional  supermarket and supernatural channels. Approximately  61% of
our  total net sales for each of the fiscal  years  2014 and 2013 were to the conventional supermarket and
supernatural channels.

Operating Expenses

Our total operating expenses increased approximately 9.2%, or $77.3 million, to $916.9  million for
the fiscal year ended August 2, 2014, from $839.6  million for the fiscal year ended August  3, 2013. The
increase in total operating expenses for the fiscal year ended August 2, 2014 was primarily due to an
increase in net sales year over year as  well as the inclusion of operating  expenses attributable  to  fiscal
2014 acquisitions. Total operating expenses for  the fiscal year ended August 2,  2014 included
approximately $1.4 million and $0.8 million  related to the  start up of the Company’s Racine,  Wisconsin
and Hudson Valley, New York facilities,  respectively,  in addition to approximately $1.5 million of Tony’s
acquisition costs. Operating expenses  for  the fiscal  year ended  August 3,  2013 included $6.3 million in
labor action related costs at our Auburn,  Washington facility and  approximately  $1.6 million related  to
the termination of a licensing agreement and  write-off of the associated  intangible  asset.

Total operating expenses for fiscal 2014  included share-based  compensation expense  of

$14.6 million, compared to $15.1 million  in fiscal 2013.  Share-based compensation expense for  the fiscal
years ended August 2, 2014 and August  3, 2013  included approximately $1.1  million and $1.5  million,
respectively, in expense related to performance  share-based awards  granted to our  Chief  Executive
Officer related to certain financial goals  for those years ended August 2, 2014  and August 3,  2013.
Share-based compensation expense also  included an  overall benefit of $0.1  million  for the  year ended
August 2, 2014 and expense of $1.7 million for the year ended August 3, 2013, related  to  performance-
based equity compensation arrangements with a  2-year performance-based vesting component that was
established for members of our executive  leadership team. The  $0.1 million net benefit  recorded for
fiscal 2014 was a result of established  metrics not being met for the 2-year performance  period ended
August 2, 2014, offset by expense recorded for  the 2-year  performance year ended August 1,  2015. See
Note 3 ‘‘Equity Plans’’ to our Consolidated  Financial Statements included in  ‘‘Item 8. Financial
Statements and Supplementary Data’’  of this  Annual  Report on Form 10-K.

As a percentage of net sales, total operating expenses decreased to approximately  13.5% for the
fiscal year ended August 2, 2014, from approximately  13.8% for  the fiscal year ended  August 3, 2013.
The decrease in total operating expenses as a percentage of  net sales was primarily  attributable to the
growth in the supernatural and conventional supermarket  channels which in  general have  lower

44

operating expenses and higher fixed  cost coverage due  to  higher  sales, as  well as expense control
programs across all of our divisions. Our  operating expenses as a percentage of net sales for fiscal 2013
were negatively impacted by $6.3 million  in labor  action related costs at our Auburn, Washington
facility and approximately $1.6 million related to the termination of a licensing agreement and write-off
of the associated intangible asset. We were able to manage our fuel costs  despite  rising  prices by
locking in the price of a portion of our  expected fuel usage,  updating and  revising existing routes to
reduce miles traveled and optimize use of trailer  space, reducing idle times and other similar  measures.

Operating Income

Operating income increased approximately  13.6%, or $25.3  million,  to  $210.8 million for  the fiscal

year ended August 2, 2014, from $185.5  million for the fiscal year ended August 3,  2013. As  a
percentage of net sales, operating income  was 3.1%  for  each of the fiscal years ended August  2, 2014
and August 3, 2013.

Other Expense (Income)

Other expense (income) decreased $8.0  million  to  $3.4 million for  the fiscal year ended August 2,

2014, from $11.4 million for the fiscal  year ended August 3,  2013. Interest expense for  the fiscal year
ended August 2, 2014 increased to $7.8 million  from $5.9 million in  the fiscal year ended August 3,
2013. This increase was primarily related to a full year of  interest expense recorded for our Aurora,
Colorado facility, which we accounted  for under the financing  method due to our meeting the criteria
for continuing involvement in this sale-leaseback transaction, which increased $1.8 million to
$2.5 million for fiscal 2014 from $0.7 million in fiscal 2013. Interest income for the fiscal year ended
August 2, 2014 decreased to $0.5 million from $0.6 million in the fiscal year ended August  3, 2013.
Other income for the fiscal year ended  August 2, 2014 included a pre-tax gain of $4.8  million
associated with a non-cash transfer pursuant to which  we acquired the  land on which we constructed
our  Racine, Wisconsin facility. Other  expense  for the fiscal year ended August 3,  2013 includes a
pre-tax charge of $4.9 million related  to  an agreement to settle  a  multi-state unclaimed property audit.

Provision for Income Taxes

Our effective income tax rate was 39.5%  and  38.1% for  the fiscal years ended August 2,  2014 and

August 3, 2013, respectively. The increase  in the effective  income tax rate was the  result of a net
benefit for the reversal of uncertain tax positions in  the fiscal year ended August 3, 2013, and  tax
credits associated with a renewable energy project in Moreno Valley,  California. This increase was
partially offset by tax benefits associated with anticipated amended state  tax return filings to claim prior
year state net operating losses. Our effective income tax rate in both fiscal  years  was  also affected  by
increased state taxes resulting from the states  in which  we operate.

Net Income

Reflecting the factors described in more detail above, net income  increased $17.6  million  to
$125.5 million, or $2.52 per diluted share, for  the fiscal year ended August 2,  2014, compared to
$107.9 million, or $2.18 per diluted share for  the fiscal year ended August 3,  2013.

Liquidity and Capital Resources

We  finance our day to day operations and growth primarily with cash  flows  from operations,
borrowings under our amended and restated revolving credit  facility, operating leases, a  finance lease,
trade payables and bank indebtedness. In  addition,  from time  to  time, we may issue equity and debt
securities to finance our operations and  acquisitions.  We believe  that our  cash on hand  and available
credit through our amended and restated revolving credit facility  as discussed below is  sufficient for our

45

operations and planned capital expenditures over the next twelve months. We  expect to generate an
average of $75.0 million to $125 million  in cash flow  from operations  per year  for the  2016 and 2017
fiscal years. We intend to continue to utilize this cash  generated from operations to fund acquisitions,
fund investment in working capital and  capital  expenditure needs and  reduce our debt levels. We
intend to manage capital expenditures to approximately 0.6%  to  0.7%  of net sales for fiscal 2016,
excluding the impact of any potential sale-leaseback transactions, reflecting  a decrease over levels
experienced in fiscal 2014 and fiscal 2015. We  expect to finance requirements with  cash generated  from
operations and borrowings under our  amended and  restated revolving credit  facility. Our planned
capital projects in fiscal 2016 will be  focused on  the completion  of  our Gilroy, California distribution
facility and continuing the implementation of  our information technology projects across  the Company
that we believe will provide us with increased efficiency and  the capacity to continue to support the
growth of our customer base. Future investments and acquisitions may be financed through  equity,
long-term debt or borrowings under our amended  and restated revolving credit facility.

In May 2014, we entered into the Amendment to our amended and restated revolving  credit

facility, which increased the maximum  borrowings under  the amended  and restated  revolving credit
facility to $600 million and extended  the  maturity date to May 21, 2019. Up to $550.0  million  is
available to our U.S. subsidiaries and up to $50.0  million  is available to UNFI Canada. After  giving
effect to the Amendment, the amended and restated revolving credit facility provides a  one-time option
to increase the borrowing base by up  to  an additional $150  million (but  in not less than $10.0 million
increments) subject to certain customary conditions and the lenders committing to provide  the increase
in funding, and also permits us to enter into a real-estate backed  term loan facility which  shall not
exceed $200.0 million. The borrowings  of  the  U.S. portion  of  the amended and  restated credit  facility,
prior to and after giving effect to the Amendment, accrue interest, at our option, at either (i) a base
rate (generally defined as the highest  of (x) the  Bank  of  America Business Capital prime  rate, (y)  the
average overnight federal funds effective  rate plus one-half  percent (0.50%) per annum and
(z) one-month LIBOR plus one percent  (1%) per annum) plus an initial margin of 0.50%,  or (ii)  the
LIBOR for one, two, three or six months or,  if approved by all affected  lenders, nine months plus an
initial margin of 1.50%. The borrowings on the  Canadian portion of  the  credit facility for Canadian
swing-line loans, Canadian overadvance  loans or  Canadian protective advances accrue interest, at  our
option, at either (i) a prime rate (generally defined  as the highest of (x) 0.50% over 30-day Reuters
Canadian Deposit Offering Rate for  bankers’ acceptances, (y) the prime rate  of  Bank of  America,
N.A.’s Canada branch, and (z) a bankers’  acceptance equivalent  rate for a  one  month interest period
plus 1.00%) plus an initial margin of 0.50%, or  (ii) a  bankers’ acceptance equivalent rate  of  the rate  of
interest per annum equal to the annual  rates applicable to Canadian Dollar bankers’  acceptances on
the ‘‘CDOR Page’’ of Reuter Monitor Money Rates  Service, plus the CDOR rate, and  an initial margin
of 1.50%. All other borrowings on the Canadian portion of the amended  and restated  credit facility,
prior to and after giving effect to the Amendment, must exclusively accrue interest under  the CDOR
rate plus the applicable margin. An annual commitment fee in  the amount of 0.30% if the average
daily balance of amounts actually used (other  than  swing-line loans) is less  than 40%  of  the aggregate
commitments, or 0.25% if such average  daily balance is 40% or more of  the aggregate commitments.

As of August 1, 2015, our borrowing  base, based  on eligible accounts  receivable and inventory

levels, was $581.4 million. As of August  1, 2015, we  had $363.0 million  outstanding under our  credit
facility, $35.2 million in letter of credit commitments  and $2.6 million in reserves  which generally
reduces our available borrowing capacity under our revolving credit  facility  on a dollar for  dollar basis.
Our resulting remaining availability was $180.6  million  as of August 1, 2015.  The revolving credit
facility, as amended and restated, subjects  us to a springing minimum fixed charge coverage ratio  (as
defined in the underlying credit agreement) of 1.0 to 1.0 calculated at the end of each of our fiscal
quarters on a rolling four quarter basis when  aggregate availability (as defined in  the underlying credit
agreement) is less than the greater of  (i) $35.0 million and (ii) 10% of the  aggregate  borrowing  base.

46

We  were not subject to fixed charge coverage ratio covenants as  of the fiscal year ended  August  1,
2015.

On August 14, 2014, we entered into  a real-estate backed Term Loan Agreement  by  and among us,

our  wholly-owned subsidiary Albert’s, the financial institutions that  are  parties  thereto  as lenders
(collectively, the ‘‘Lenders’’), Bank of America, N.A. as administrative agent for the Lenders and the
other parties thereto. The total initial borrowings under the  Term Loan Agreement were  $150.0 million.
We  have been required to make $2.5  million principal payments quarterly since November 1, 2014.  The
Term Loan Agreement will terminate  on  the earlier  of  (a)  August 14,  2022 and  (b) the  date that is
ninety days prior to the termination  date of our amended and restated revolving  credit facility. Under
the Term Loan Agreement, we at our  option may  request  the establishment of  one  or more new term
loan commitments in increments of at least  $10.0 million, but not to exceed $50.0  million  in total,
subject to the approval of the Lenders electing to participate  in such incremental loans and the
satisfaction of the conditions required  by the  Term Loan  Agreement. We will be required to make
quarterly principal payments on these incremental borrowings in accordance with the terms  of  the Term
Loan Agreement. Proceeds from this  Term Loan  Agreement were used to pay down borrowings on our
amended and restated revolving credit facility.

The Term Loan Agreement includes  financial covenants that require  (i) the  ratio of the Company’s

consolidated EBITDA (as defined in the  Term Loan Agreement) minus the unfinanced portion of
Capital Expenditures (as defined in the Term Loan  Agreement)  to  the Company’s consolidated Fixed
Charges (as defined in the Term Loan  Agreement) to be at least 1.20  to  1.00 as of the  end of any
period of four fiscal quarters, (ii) the ratio of the  Company’s Consolidated Funded Debt (as defined in
the Term Loan Agreement) to the Company’s  EBITDA for  the four fiscal  quarters  most recently ended
to be not more than 3.00 to 1.00 as of  the end  of any  fiscal quarter and  (iii)  the ratio, expressed as  a
percentage, of the Company’s outstanding principal balance under  the Loans (as defined in the  Term
Loan Agreement), divided by the Mortgaged Property Value (as defined in  the Term Loan Agreement)
to be not more than 75% at any time.

On January 23, 2015 we entered into a forward starting interest rate swap  agreement with an
effective date of August 3, 2015, which expires in August 2022 concurrent  with the scheduled  maturity
of our Term Loan Agreement. This interest rate swap agreement has an  initial notional amount of
$140.0 million and provides for us to  pay  interest for a seven-year period at a fixed rate of 1.795%
while receiving interest for the same period at the one-month LIBOR on the same notional principal
amount. The interest rate swap agreement has an amortizing notional amount which  adjusts down on
the dates  payments are due on the underlying  term loan.  The  interest  rate swap has been entered into
as a hedge against LIBOR movements  on $140.0 million of  the  current variable rate indebtedness
under the Term Loan Agreement at  one-month  LIBOR plus 1.00% and  a margin  of  1.50%, thereby
fixing  our effective rate on the notional  amount at  4.295%. The swap agreement qualifies as an
‘‘effective’’ hedge under Accounting Standards Codification (‘‘ASC’’) 815  Derivatives  and Hedging.

Our capital expenditures for the 2015 fiscal year were $129.1 million, compared  to  $147.3 million
for fiscal 2014, primarily driven by the  construction of our  new Racine, Wisconsin and Hudson Valley,
New York distribution centers. We believe that our capital requirements for fiscal 2016 will be between
$49 million and $59 million. This does not include  any potential  proceeds related  to  a planned  sale
leaseback transaction at our Prescott,  Wisconsin facility. We  expect to finance these  requirements with
cash generated from operations, proceeds  from a planned sale leaseback and borrowings under  our
amended and restated revolving credit facility.  Our  planned capital projects  will provide  technology that
we believe will provide us with increased efficiency and  the capacity to continue to support the growth
of our customer base. We believe that our capital  requirements  after fiscal 2016 will be marginally
lower than our anticipated fiscal 2016  requirements,  as a percentage of net  sales, although we plan to
continue to invest in technology and  expand  our  facilities.  Future investments and acquisitions will be

47

financed through our revolving credit  facility, or with  the issuance of equity or  long-term debt,
negotiated at the time of the potential acquisition.

Net cash provided by operations was  $48.9 million  for  the year ended August 1, 2015,  a decrease
of $13.6 million from the $62.4 million provided by  operations for  the  year  ended August 2, 2014.  The
primary reasons for the net cash provided by operating activities for  fiscal  2015 were  net income for  the
year of $138.7 million, and depreciation  and  amortization of $63.8  million offset by an increase in
inventories of $153.7 million in part as  a result stocking inventory at  new  facilities.  Net cash  provided
by operations of $62.4 million for the  year ended August 2, 2014 was impacted by an increase  in
inventories of $97.8 million in part as  a result of stocking inventory in our  Racine, Wisconsin facility as
we began to commence operations, and an  increase in  accounts receivable of  $71.2 million due to our
sales growth during the year, offset by  net income of $125.5 million.  Days in inventory was 50 days at
August 1, 2015, compared to 51 days  at August  2, 2014.  Days sales outstanding decreased from 23 at
August 2, 2014 to 22 days at August 1,  2015. Working  capital  increased by $168.4 million, or 19.7%,  to
$1.02 billion at August 1, 2015, compared  to working capital  of  $854.5 million at August 2,  2014,
primarily as a result of the increase in  our inventory and accounts receivable balances.

Net cash used in investing activities decreased $210.7 million to $142.1 million for the fiscal year

ended August 1, 2015, compared to $352.8 million for the fiscal year ended  August  2, 2014. The
decrease from the fiscal year ended August 2, 2014  was  primarily due  to  the fact that we did not
complete any acquisitions during fiscal  2015. Net cash  used  in investing activities of $352.8 million  for
the fiscal year ended August 2, 2014  was  primarily due the acquisitions of Trudeau Foods during the
first quarter of fiscal 2014 and Tony’s  in  the fourth  quarter of fiscal 2014  as well as  an increase in
capital spending associated with our Racine, Wisconsin and Hudson Valley, New  York distribution
centers.

Net cash provided by financing activities was  $94.4 million  for  the fiscal year ended August 1, 2015.

We  present proceeds and borrowings  related to the  Company’s amended and  restated revolving credit
facility on a gross  basis. The net cash provided  by  financing activities  was  primarily due to gross
borrowings under our amended and restated revolving credit  facility and term loan of $728.3  million
and $150.0 million, respectively, partially  offset by repayments of our revolving  credit line and
long-term debt of $779.5 million and $11.2 million, respectively. Net cash provided  by  financing
activities was $295.4 million for the fiscal year ended August 2,  2014 and was  primarily  due  to  the
borrowings used to fund capital expenditures and the acquisition of Tony’s in the  fourth quarter of
fiscal 2014.

We  may from time to time enter into commodity swap agreements to reduce  price risk  associated

with our anticipated purchases of diesel  fuel. These commodity swap agreements hedge a portion  of
our  expected fuel usage for the periods  set forth in the  agreements. We monitor the commodity
(NYMEX #2 Heating oil) used in our swap  agreements to  determine  that  the correlation between the
commodity and diesel fuel is deemed to be ‘‘highly effective.’’ During the  fiscal  years  ended August 1,
2015 and August 2, 2014, we had no outstanding commodity swap agreements.

In addition to the previously discussed interest  rate and commodity swap agreements,  from
time-to-time we enter into fixed price fuel supply  agreements. As  of August  1, 2015, we had  entered
into agreements which require us to purchase a  total  of approximately  7.4 million gallons ranging from
$3.20 to $3.92 per gallon through December 2015 and approximately 3.6 million gallons ranging from
$2.59 to $3.18 through December 2016. As  of  August  2, 2014, we had  entered into agreements which
required us to purchase a total of approximately 8.9 million gallons of diesel  fuel at prices  ranging from
$3.17 to $4.00 per gallon through December 2014. These fixed price  fuel agreements  qualify for the
‘‘normal purchase’’ exception under ASC  815, Derivatives and Hedging as physical deliveries  will occur
rather than net settlements, therefore the fuel purchases  under these contracts are expensed as
incurred and included within operating expenses.

48

Critical Accounting Policies and Estimates

The preparation of our consolidated  financial statements requires us to make estimates  and

judgments that affect the reported amounts  of assets, liabilities, revenues and expenses, and  the related
disclosure of contingent assets and liabilities. The Securities  and Exchange Commission  has defined
critical accounting policies as those that  are  both  most important to the portrayal of our financial
condition and results and require our  most  difficult, complex or  subjective judgments or estimates.
Based on this definition, we believe our  critical accounting policies are: (i) determining our allowance
for doubtful accounts, (ii) determining  our reserves for the self-insured portions of our workers’
compensation and automobile liabilities, (iii) valuing assets and liabilities acquired  in business
combinations; and (iv) valuing goodwill  and  intangible assets. For all financial statement periods
presented, there have been no material  modifications  to  the application of these critical accounting
policies.

Allowance for doubtful accounts

We  analyze customer creditworthiness, accounts receivable balances, payment  history, payment

terms and historical bad debt levels when evaluating the adequacy of our  allowance for  doubtful
accounts. In instances where a reserve  has been  recorded for a particular customer, future sales  to  the
customer are conducted using either  cash-on-delivery  terms, or the  account is closely monitored  so that
as agreed upon payments are received, orders are released; a failure to pay results  in held or  cancelled
orders. Our accounts receivable balance  was $474.5 million and $441.5 million, net  of the allowance for
doubtful accounts of $7.5 million and  $7.6  million,  as of August 1, 2015 and  August 2, 2014,
respectively. Our notes receivable balances were $7.4 million and $5.9  million, net of  the allowance  for
doubtful accounts of $1.0 million and  $0.7  million,  as of August 1, 2015 and  August 2, 2014,
respectively.

Insurance reserves

We  are primarily self-insured for workers’  compensation and general  and  automobile liability

insurance. It is our policy to record the self-insured portions  of  our workers’  compensation  and
automobile liabilities based upon actuarial  methods of estimating the  future cost of claims and related
expenses that have been reported but not settled, and that  have been incurred but not yet reported.
Any projection of  losses concerning workers’ compensation and  automobile  liability  is subject  to  a
considerable degree of variability. Among the  causes  of  this variability are unpredictable  external
factors affecting litigation trends, benefit  level  changes and claim settlement patterns. If actual  claims
incurred are greater than those anticipated, our reserves  may be insufficient and additional  costs could
be recorded in our consolidated financial  statements. Accruals for  workers’ compensation and
automobile liabilities totaled $18.7 million and $18.9 million as of  August 1,  2015 and  August  2, 2014,
respectively.

Business Combinations

We  account for acquired businesses using  the purchase method  of  accounting which requires that

the assets acquired and liabilities assumed be recorded at the  date of  the  acquisition  at their respective
estimated fair values. The judgments  made  in determining  the estimated fair value assigned to each
class of assets acquired, as well as the  estimated life  of  each asset, can materially impact the  net
income of the periods subsequent to  the acquisition through depreciation  and amortization,  and in
certain instances through impairment charges, if the asset  becomes  impaired in  the future. In
determining the estimated fair value for  intangible assets, we  typically utilize the  income  approach,
which  discounts the projected future net  cash flow  using an appropriate discount rate  that  reflects the
risks associated with such projected future cash flow.

49

Determining the useful life of an intangible asset also requires judgment,  as different types of
intangible assets will have different useful lives  and certain  assets may even be considered to have
indefinite useful lives. Intangible assets determined  to  have an  indefinite useful life are  reassessed
periodically based on the expected use of the asset by us, legal or contractual provisions that may affect
the useful life or renewal or extension of  the asset’s contractual  life  without  substantial cost, and  the
effects of demand, competition and other  economic factors.

Valuation of goodwill and intangible assets

We  are required to test goodwill for  impairment at least  annually, and between  annual tests if

events occur or circumstances change  that would more likely than not reduce the  fair value  of a
reporting unit below its carrying amount.  We have elected  to  perform our annual tests  for indications
of goodwill impairment as of the first day of the  fourth quarter  of each fiscal year. We test for goodwill
impairment at the reporting unit level,  which is at or one level below the operating segment level.
Beginning in fiscal 2012, the first step in  our annual  assessment of  each  of  our  reporting units is a
qualitative assessment as allowed under  Accounting Standards Update (‘‘ASU’’) No. 2011-08,
Intangibles—Goodwill and Other (Topic 350):  Testing Goodwill for Impairment (‘‘ASU 2011-08’’), unless
we believe it is more likely than not that a reporting  unit’s fair  value is  less than the  carrying value. In
order to qualify for an exclusion from  the quantitative two-step goodwill test, the thresholds used by
the Company for this determination  are  that a reporting unit  must  (1) have  passed  its previous two-step
test with a margin  of calculated fair value versus  carrying value of  at least 20%,  (2) have had a
two-step test within the past five years, (3) have  had no significant  changes to its working  capital
structure, (4) have current year income which  is at  least 85% of prior year  amounts,  and (5) present no
other factors to be considered as outlined in  ASU  2011-08. For reporting units  which do not meet  this
exclusion, the quantitative goodwill impairment analysis is  a  two-step test. The first step, used to
identify potential impairment, involves  comparing  each reporting unit’s estimated  fair value to its
carrying  value, including goodwill. Each  reporting  unit regularly prepares  discrete operating forecasts
and uses these forecasts as the basis  for  the assumptions used in  the discounted cash flow analysis.  If
the estimated fair value of a reporting  unit exceeds its carrying  value,  goodwill is considered  not  to  be
impaired and no further testing is required.  If the carrying value exceeds  estimated fair value, there is
an indication of potential impairment and the second  step is  performed  to  measure  the amount of
impairment. If required, the second step  involves calculating an  implied fair value of goodwill for  each
reporting unit for which the first step indicated potential  impairment. The implied fair  value of
goodwill is determined in a manner similar to the  amount  of  goodwill calculated in a business
combination, by measuring the excess  of the estimated fair value of the reporting unit,  as determined in
the first step, over the aggregate estimated  fair values of the  individual assets, liabilities  and identifiable
intangibles as if the reporting unit was being acquired in  a business combination. If the implied  fair
value of goodwill exceeds the carrying  value of goodwill assigned to the reporting unit, there is no
impairment. If the carrying value of goodwill assigned  to  a reporting unit  exceeds  the implied fair value
of the goodwill, an impairment charge is recorded for the excess.

As of August 1, 2015, our annual assessment of each of our  reporting units indicated that no
impairment of goodwill existed. Approximately 93.4%  of  our  goodwill  is within  our wholesale  reporting
unit. Total goodwill as of August 1, 2015  and August 2,  2014 was $266.6 million and $274.5 million,
respectively.

Intangible assets with indefinite lives  are tested for  impairment  at  least annually  as of the first day

of the fourth fiscal quarter and if events occur or circumstances change that would indicate that the
value of the asset may be impaired. In  accordance with ASU No. 2012-02, Intangibles—Goodwill and
Other (Topic 350): Testing Indefinite-Lived Intangible Assets for Impairment (‘‘ASU No. 2012-02’’), we
analyzed several qualitative factors to  determine whether it was more  likely than not that an indefinite-
lived intangible asset was impaired as  a  basis for determining whether it  is necessary to perform the

50

quantitative impairment test. Impairment would  be  measured as the difference between the  fair value
of the asset and its carrying value. As  of  August 1, 2015,  our  annual assessment of each of our
intangible assets with indefinite lives indicated  that no impairment  existed, Total indefinite lived
intangible assets as of August 1, 2015 and  August 2, 2014 were  $53.7 million and  $53.6 million,
respectively.

Intangible assets with finite lives are  tested for  impairment  whenever  events or changes  in
circumstances indicate that the carrying value  may not be recoverable. Cash flows expected to be
generated by  the related assets are estimated over the asset’s  useful life based on  updated projections.
If the evaluation indicates that the carrying  amount  of the asset may  not  be  recoverable, the potential
impairment is measured based on a projected discounted  cash  flow model. During the fiscal  year ended
August 1, 2015, an impairment charge  of  $0.6 million was recognized  in connection with the  closure of
a Canadian facility. During the fiscal year ended  August 3, 2013, an impairment  charge of $1.6 million
was recognized in connection with the termination of a long-term licensing agreement  and the  write-off
of the associated intangible asset. Total  finite-lived intangible  assets as of  August 1, 2015 and August 2,
2014 were $72.2 million and $81.4 million, respectively.

The assessment of the recoverability of goodwill  and intangible  assets will be impacted if  estimated

future cash flows are not achieved.

Commitments and Contingencies

The following schedule summarizes our contractual  obligations and commercial  commitments  as of

August 1, 2015:

Payments Due by Period

Total

Less than
One Year

1–3
Years

3–5
Years

Thereafter

(in thousands)

Inventory purchase commitments . . . . . . . . . . .
Diesel  fuel purchase commitments . . . . . . . . . .
Notes payable(1) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Long-term debt(2) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Deferred compensation . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Company owned life insurance premiums . . . . .
Long-term non-capitalized leases . . . . . . . . . . .

$ 17,495
21,671
362,993
186,393
10,384
11,700
227,212

$ 17,495
17,332
—
11,613
1,360
2,925
51,341

4,339

—
— 362,993
115,143
2,016
2,925
53,023

23,914
2,315
5,850
84,944

—
—
35,723
4,693
—
37,904

Total

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

$837,848

$102,066

$121,362

$536,100

$78,320

(1) The notes payable obligations shown reflect the expiration of the  credit facility, not necessarily the
underlying individual borrowings. Notes  payable does not included  outstanding letters of credit of
approximately $35.2 million at August 1, 2015 nor approximately $26.1 million in  interest payments
(including unused lines fees) projected to be due in future years (less than 1 year—$6.8  million;
1-3 years—$13.7 million; and 3-5 years—$5.6 million) based on the  variable  rates  in effect at
August 1, 2015. Variable rates, as well  as outstanding principal  balances, could change in future
periods. See ‘‘Liquidity and Capital Resources’’ above and Note 6 ‘‘Notes Payable’’ to our
Consolidated Financial Statements included in  ‘‘Item 8. Financial  Statements and Supplementary
Data’’ of this Annual Report on Form 10-K for a  discussion of our credit  facility.

(2) Long-term debt does not include interest payments projected to be due  in future  years  related to
our  capital lease obligations and real-estate backed Term Loan Agreement,  which amount to
approximately $32.4 million and $18.9  million,  respectively, (less than  1 year—$9.9  million;
1-3 years—$18.0 million; 3-5 years—$12.3 million; thereafter—$11.1 million). See Note 7
‘‘Long-Term Debt’’ to our Consolidated Financial Statements  included in ‘‘Item  8. Financial

51

Statements and Supplementary Data’’  of this  Annual  Report on Form 10-K for a discussion of our
long-term debt.

Included in other liabilities in the consolidated balance sheet at August  1, 2015 are  uncertain tax

positions including potential interest  and penalties of $0.5  million  that have been taken or are expected
to be taken in various income tax returns. The Company does  not know the ultimate resolution of
these uncertain tax positions and as such, does not know the ultimate timing  of payments  related to
this  liability. Accordingly, these amounts  are not included in the  table above.

Seasonality

Generally, we do not experience any material  seasonality. However, our  sales and operating results
may vary significantly from quarter to quarter due to factors such as changes in  our operating expenses,
management’s ability to execute our  operating and growth  strategies,  personnel changes,  demand for
natural products, supply shortages and general economic conditions.

Recently Issued Financial Accounting Standards

In August 2015, the Financial Accounting Standards Board  (‘‘FASB’’) issued ASU No. 2015-14,
Revenue from Contracts with Customers, (Topic 606): Deferral of the Effective Date  deferring the  adoption
of previously  issued guidance published  in May  2014, ASU No. 2014-09, Revenue from  Contracts  with
Customers, (Topic 606). The core principle of the  new guidance  is that an  entity  will  recognize revenue
to depict the transfer of promised goods  or services to customers  in an amount that reflects  the
consideration to which the entity expects to be entitled in exchange  for  those goods  or services. The
new pronouncement is effective for public companies with annual periods, and interim  periods within
those periods, beginning after December 15,  2017, which  for  the Company will be the first quarter of
the fiscal year ending August 3, 2019. We are in the process of  evaluating  the impact that this  new
guidance will have on the Company’s  consolidated financial statements.

In April 2015, the FASB issued ASU No.  2015-03,  Interest—Imputation  of  Interest (Subtopic 835-30)

(‘‘ASU 2015-03’’), which simplifies the  presentation of debt issuance costs. ASU  2015-03  requires that
debt issuance costs related to a recognized  debt  liability  be  presented in the balance sheet as a  direct
deduction from the carrying amount  of that  debt liability, consistent  with the  presentation of debt
discounts. ASU 2015-03 is effective for financial statements issued for fiscal years beginning after
December 15, 2015, and interim periods  within  those fiscal years, which for  the Company will be the
first quarter of the fiscal year ending  July 29, 2017, with early adoption  permitted and  retrospective
application required. If the Company had  adopted this  standard in the  fourth  quarter  of  fiscal 2015, the
result would have been the reclassification of $4.2  million and $3.1 million as  of August  1, 2015 and
August 2, 2014, respectively, from deferred financing costs  to  long-term debt on the  Company’s
Consolidated Balance Sheets.

In August 2014, the FASB issued ASU No. 2014-15, Disclosure  of Uncertainties about an Entity’s
Ability to Continue as a Going Concern. The new  guidance requires management to evaluate whether
there is substantial doubt about an entity’s  ability  to  continue as  a  going  concern and to provide related
footnote disclosures as appropriate. The  new pronouncement is effective for  public  companies with
annual periods ending after December  15, 2016, and interim  periods thereafter,  which for the Company
will be first quarter of fiscal 2017. We  do not expect  the adoption of this guidance to have  a significant
impact on the Company’s consolidated financial statements.

In April 2014, the FASB issued ASU No.  2014-08,  Presentation of Financial Statements (Topic 2015)

and Property Plant, and Equipment (Topic  360): Reporting Discontinued  Operations  and Disclosures of
Disposals of Components of an entity. The new guidance raises the threshold for  disposals that would
qualify as discontinued operations and  also  requires additional disclosures regarding discontinued
operations, as well as material disposals that do not meet the definition of  discontinued operations. The

52

amendments are effective for fiscal years,  and  interim periods  within those years, beginning on  or after
December 15, 2014, which would be the Company’s first quarter of the fiscal  year  ended July  30, 2016,
and should be applied on prospective basis. We do not expect the adoption of  these provisions to have
a significant impact on the Company’s consolidated financial statements.

ITEM 7A. QUANTITATIVE AND QUALITATIVE DISCLOSURES  ABOUT MARKET RISK.

We  are exposed to interest rate fluctuations  on our borrowings.  As more fully described  in Note  8

‘‘Fair Value Measurements’’ to the Consolidated Financial Statements included in ‘‘Item 8. Financial
Statements and Supplementary Data’’  of this  Annual  Report on Form 10-K, we have used interest rate
swap agreements to modify variable rate  obligations to fixed rate obligations.

At August 1, 2015, we had long-term  floating rate debt under our amended  and restated  revolving

credit facility of $363.0 million and our real-estate backed  Term  Loan  $140.0 million, and  long-term
fixed rate debt of $46.4 million, representing 91.6% and 8.4%, respectively, of our long-term
borrowings. At August 2, 2014, we had  long-term floating  rate  debt  under our amended  and restated
revolving credit facility of $415.7 million  and long-term  fixed  rate  debt  of  $33.5 million, representing
92.5% and 7.5%, respectively, of our long-term borrowings. Holding other debt levels  constant, a  25
basis point decrease in interest rates would  change the unrealized fair market value of the fixed rate
debt by approximately $0.7 million and $0.6  million for the fiscal years ended August 1, 2015  and
August 2, 2014, respectively.

53

ITEM 8. FINANCIAL STATEMENTS  AND SUPPLEMENTARY DATA

The financial statements listed below are filed  as part of this  Annual  Report on Form 10-K.

INDEX TO FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

United Natural Foods, Inc. and Subsidiaries:
Report of Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Consolidated Balance Sheets . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Consolidated Statements of Income . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Consolidated Statements of Comprehensive Income . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Consolidated Statements of Stockholders’  Equity . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

Page

55
57
58
59
60
61
62

54

Report of Independent Registered Public  Accounting Firm

The Board of Directors and Stockholders
United Natural Foods, Inc.:

We  have audited the accompanying consolidated balance sheets of United Natural  Foods, Inc. and

subsidiaries (‘‘UNFI’’) as of August 1,  2015 and  August  2, 2014, and the related consolidated
statements of income, comprehensive  income,  stockholders’ equity, and cash  flows for each of the  years
in the three-year period ended August  1, 2015.  We also have audited UNFI’s  internal control over
financial reporting as of August 1, 2015,  based on criteria established in Internal  Control—Integrated
Framework (2013) issued by the Committee of  Sponsoring Organizations of  the Treadway Commission
(COSO). UNFI’s management is responsible for these consolidated financial statements, for
maintaining effective internal control  over financial  reporting, and for its assessment of the
effectiveness of internal control over  financial reporting,  included in  the accompanying  Management’s
Annual Report on Internal Control Over Financial Reporting. Our responsibility  is to express an
opinion on these consolidated financial  statements  and  an opinion on the Company’s  internal control
over financial reporting based on our audits.

We  conducted our audits in accordance with the standards  of  the Public Company Accounting

Oversight Board (United States). Those  standards require that we  plan and perform the audits to
obtain reasonable assurance about whether the  financial statements  are  free of material misstatement
and whether effective internal control over financial reporting  was  maintained in all material respects.
Our audits of the consolidated financial  statements  included examining, on a  test basis, evidence
supporting the amounts and disclosures  in the financial statements,  assessing the  accounting principles
used and significant estimates made  by management, and  evaluating the overall financial statement
presentation. Our audit of internal control over financial reporting  included obtaining an  understanding
of internal control over financial reporting,  assessing  the risk that  a material weakness exists,  and
testing and evaluating the design and  operating effectiveness of internal  control  based on  the assessed
risk. Our audits also included performing  such  other  procedures  as we considered  necessary  in the
circumstances. We believe that our audits provide  a reasonable basis for  our  opinions.

A company’s internal control over financial reporting is a process designed to provide  reasonable

assurance regarding the reliability of  financial  reporting and the preparation  of  financial  statements  for
external  purposes in accordance with  generally accepted accounting  principles. A company’s internal
control over financial reporting includes those policies and procedures that (1)  pertain to the
maintenance of records that, in reasonable  detail, accurately and fairly reflect the  transactions and
dispositions of the assets of the company; (2) provide reasonable assurance that transactions  are
recorded  as necessary to permit preparation of financial statements in  accordance with generally
accepted accounting principles, and that receipts and expenditures of the company are being made  only
in accordance with authorizations of management and directors of the company; and  (3) provide
reasonable assurance regarding prevention  or timely detection of unauthorized acquisition, use, or
disposition of the company’s assets that  could have a material effect on the financial statements.

Because of its inherent limitations, internal control over  financial  reporting may not prevent or

detect misstatements. Also, projections  of any evaluation  of  effectiveness to future periods are  subject
to the risk that controls may become inadequate  because of changes in conditions, or  that  the degree
of compliance with the policies or procedures may deteriorate.

55

In our opinion, the consolidated financial statements referred to above present fairly,  in all
material respects, the financial position of  United Natural Foods, Inc. and subsidiaries as  of August  1,
2015 and August 2, 2014, and the results of their operations and their cash  flows for each of the  years
in the three-year period ended August  1, 2015,  in conformity  with U.S. generally accepted accounting
principles. Also in our opinion, United  Natural  Foods,  Inc. maintained,  in all material respects,
effective internal control over financial reporting as of August 1,  2015, based on criteria established in
Internal Control—Integrated Framework (2013) issued by the Committee of Sponsoring  Organizations  of
the Treadway Commission (COSO).

Providence, Rhode Island
September 30, 2015

25JUL201303573253

56

UNITED NATURAL FOODS, INC. AND  SUBSIDIARIES

CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS

(In thousands, except per share data)

ASSETS
Current assets:
Cash and cash equivalents . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Accounts receivable, net of allowance  of $7,489  and  $7,589,  respectively . . . .
Inventories . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Deferred income taxes . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Prepaid expenses and other current assets . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

Total current assets . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Property and equipment, net . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Goodwill
Intangible assets, net of accumulated  amortization of  $25,717  and $19,002,

August 1,
2015

August  2,
2014

$

17,380
474,494
982,559
32,333
46,976

$

16,116
441,528
834,722
32,518
45,064

1,553,742
572,452
266,640

1,369,948
483,960
274,548

respectively . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Other assets . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

125,830
31,526

134,989
25,446

Total assets . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

$2,550,190

$2,288,891

LIABILITIES AND STOCKHOLDERS’ EQUITY
Current liabilities:
Accounts payable . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Accrued expenses and other current  liabilities . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Current portion of long-term debt . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

$ 390,134
129,113
11,613

$ 377,548
136,959
990

Total current liabilities . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Notes payable . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Deferred income taxes . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Other long-term liabilities . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Long-term debt, excluding current portion . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

530,860
362,993
65,644
30,380
174,780

515,497
415,660
50,995
30,865
32,510

Total liabilities . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

1,164,657

1,045,527

Commitments and contingencies (Note  9)

Stockholders’ equity:
Preferred stock, $0.01 par value, authorized 5,000  shares;  none  issued or

outstanding . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Common stock, $0.01 par value, authorized  100,000 shares; 50,096 issued and
outstanding shares at August 1, 2015;  49,771 issued and  outstanding shares
at August 2, 2014 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Additional paid-in capital
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Unallocated shares of Employee Stock  Ownership Plan . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Accumulated other comprehensive loss . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Retained earnings . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

—

—

501
420,584
—
(19,443)
983,891

498
402,875
(14)
(5,152)
845,157

Total stockholders’ equity . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

1,385,533

1,243,364

Total liabilities and stockholders’ equity . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

$2,550,190

$2,288,891

See accompanying notes to consolidated  financial statements.

57

UNITED NATURAL FOODS, INC. AND  SUBSIDIARIES

CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF INCOME

(In thousands, except per share data)

Fiscal year ended

August 1,
2015

August 2,
2014

August  3,
2013

Net sales . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Cost of sales . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

$8,184,978
6,924,463

$6,794,447
5,666,802

$6,064,355
5,039,279

Gross profit . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

1,260,515

1,127,645

1,025,076

Operating expenses . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Restructuring and asset impairment expenses . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

1,017,755
803

Total operating expenses . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

1,018,558

916,857
—

916,857

837,953
1,629

839,582

Operating income . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

241,957

210,788

185,494

Other expense (income):

Interest expense . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Interest income . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Other, net . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

Total other expense, net

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

14,498
(356)
(1,954)

12,188

7,753
(508)
(3,865)

3,380

5,897
(632)
6,113

11,378

Income before income taxes . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Provision for income taxes . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

229,769
91,035

207,408
81,926

174,116
66,262

Net income . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

$ 138,734

$ 125,482

$ 107,854

Basic per share data:
Net income . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

Weighted average basic shares of common stock . . . . . . . . . . . .

Diluted per share data:
Net income . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

$

$

2.77

$

2.53

$

2.19

50,021

49,602

49,217

2.76

$

2.52

$

2.18

Weighted average diluted shares of common stock . . . . . . . . . . .

50,267

49,888

49,509

See accompanying notes to consolidated financial statements.

58

UNITED NATURAL FOODS, INC. AND  SUBSIDIARIES

CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF COMPREHENSIVE INCOME

(In thousands)

Net income . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Other comprehensive loss, net of tax:

Foreign currency translation adjustments . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Change in fair value of swap agreements . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

Fiscal year ended

August 1,
2015

August 2,
2014

August  3,
2013

$138,734

$125,482

$107,854

$ (13,852) $ (4,060) $ (2,988)
—

(439)

—

Total other comprehensive loss, net of tax . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

$ (14,291) $ (4,060) $ (2,988)

Total comprehensive income . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

$124,443

$121,422

$104,866

See accompanying notes to consolidated  financial statements.

59

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S

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
UNITED NATURAL FOODS, INC. AND  SUBSIDIARIES

CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CASH  FLOWS

Fiscal year ended

August 1,
2015

August 2,
2014

August 3,
2013

$ 138,734

$ 125,482

$ 107,854

(In thousands)
CASH FLOWS FROM OPERATING  ACTIVITIES:
Net income . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

Adjustments to reconcile  net income  to  net cash  provided  by operating

activities:

Depreciation and amortization . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Deferred income tax expense . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Share-based compensation . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Excess tax benefit from share-based payment  arrangements . . . . . . . . . . .
(Gain) loss on disposals  of property and equipment . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Restructuring and asset impairment . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Gain associated with acquisition of land . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Impairment of indefinite lived intangibles
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Provision for doubtful accounts . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Non-cash interest expense . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

Changes in assets and liabilities, net  of  acquired companies:

Accounts receivable . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Inventories . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Prepaid expenses and other assets . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Accounts payable . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Accrued expenses and other liabilities . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

Net cash provided by operating activities . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
CASH FLOWS FROM INVESTING ACTIVITIES:

Capital expenditures . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Purchases of acquired businesses, net of cash  acquired . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Long-term investment . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Payment of company owned  life insurance premiums . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Proceeds from disposals of property and equipment . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

63,800
15,339
13,981
(2,746)
(499)
803
(2,824)
—
5,059
389

(42,257)
(153,701)
4,541
16,001
(7,756)

48,864

(129,134)
(8,036)
(3,000)
(2,925)
1,026

48,758
881
14,608
(2,601)
647
—
(4,840)
—
3,152
2,012

(71,247)
(97,819)
2,024
28,734
12,627

62,418

(147,303)
(211,574)
—
—
6,084

Net cash used in  investing activities . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

(142,069)

(352,793)

CASH FLOWS FROM FINANCING  ACTIVITIES:

Proceeds from borrowings under revolving credit  line . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Repayments of borrowings under revolving credit line . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Proceeds from borrowings of long-term debt
Repayments of long-term debt . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Increase in bank overdraft . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Proceeds from exercise of stock options . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Payment of employee restricted  stock tax withholdings . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Excess tax benefit from share-based payment  arrangements . . . . . . . . . . .
Capitalized debt issuance costs . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Net cash provided by financing activities . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Effect of exchange rate changes on cash and cash  equivalents . . . . . . . . . .
NET INCREASE  (DECREASE) IN CASH AND  CASH EQUIVALENTS . . . .
Cash and cash equivalents at beginning of  period . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

728,316
(779,461)
150,000
(11,197)
5,003
3,415
(2,430)
2,746
(1,965)
94,427
42

1,264

16,116

853,884
(568,338)
—
(1,226)
11,501
2,215
(3,757)
2,601
(1,523)
295,357

23

5,005

11,111

42,398
6,780
15,104
(1,952)
(513)
—
—
1,629
4,227
651

(34,739)
(123,904)
(17,702)
32,418
12,080

44,331

(66,554)
(8,135)
—
—
2,368

(72,321)

610,046
(594,107)
—
(353)
6,347
1,942
(3,484)
1,952
—
22,343

636

(5,011)

16,122

Cash and cash equivalents at end of period . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

$ 17,380

$ 16,116

$ 11,111

Supplemental disclosures  of cash flow information:

Non-cash financing activity . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

$ 14,088

Non-cash investing activity . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

$ 14,088

Cash paid for interest . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

$ 14,632

$

$

$

— $ 32,826

7,104

$ 32,826

6,599

$

5,246

Cash paid for federal and state income taxes,  net of  refunds . . . . . . . . . . .

$ 72,357

$ 77,091

$ 64,367

See accompanying notes to consolidated financial statements.

61

UNITED NATURAL FOODS, INC.

NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL  STATEMENTS

1.

SIGNIFICANT ACCOUNTING  POLICIES

(a) Nature of Business

United Natural Foods, Inc. and its subsidiaries (the ‘‘Company’’) is a leading distributor and
retailer of natural, organic and specialty  products. The Company sells its products primarily  throughout
the United States and Canada.

(b) Basis of Presentation

The accompanying consolidated financial statements include the accounts of  the Company and its
wholly-owned subsidiaries. All significant intercompany transactions and  balances have been  eliminated
in consolidation. Certain prior year amounts have  been reclassified to conform to the  current year’s
presentation.

The fiscal year of the Company ends  on the Saturday closest to July 31.  Fiscal 2015, 2014 and  2013

ended on August 1, 2015, August 2, 2014  and  August 3,  2013, respectively. Fiscal  2015 and  2014
contained 52 weeks and fiscal 2013 contained 53 weeks. Each of the  Company’s interim  quarters
consisted of 13 weeks except for the  fourth quarter  of  fiscal year  2013 which contained 14 weeks.

Net sales consists primarily of sales of natural,  organic and specialty  products to retailers, adjusted
for customer volume discounts, returns and allowances. Net sales also includes  amounts charged by the
Company to customers for shipping and  handling, and fuel  surcharges.  The principal components of
cost of sales include the amount paid to manufacturers and growers for product  sold,  plus the cost of
transportation necessary to bring the product to the  Company’s distribution  centers, offset by
consideration received from suppliers in  connection with the purchase of the  suppliers’ products.  Cost
of sales also includes amounts incurred  by the Company’s manufacturing subsidiary, Woodstock Farms
Manufacturing, for inbound transportation  costs and depreciation for manufacturing  equipment, offset
by consideration received from suppliers  in  connection with the purchase or promotion of  the suppliers’
products. Operating expenses include salaries and wages, employee benefits (including  payments under
the Company’s Employee Stock Ownership  Plan), warehousing  and delivery, selling,  occupancy,
insurance, administrative, share-based  compensation and amortization expense. Operating expenses also
include depreciation expense related to the wholesale and retail divisions. Other  expense (income)
includes interest on outstanding indebtedness, interest income and miscellaneous income and  expenses.
Certain items in the consolidated statements  of  cash flows  for the  fiscal years  ended August 2, 2014
and August 3, 2013 have been reclassed to conform to a change in  the current year presentation  of
operating activities. Additionally, certain items in  the consolidated  balance sheet  as of August 2, 2014
have been reclassed to conform with current  year  presentation. These revisions were not material to
the Company’s consolidated financial statements as  a whole.

(c) Cash Equivalents

Cash equivalents consist of highly liquid investments  with original maturities  of three months or

less.

(d) Inventories and Cost of Sales

Inventories consist primarily of finished goods  and  are stated at the lower  of  cost or market, with
cost being determined using the first-in, first-out (FIFO) method. Allowances received from suppliers
are recorded as reductions in cost of sales upon the sale of  the  related  products.

62

(e) Property and Equipment

Property and equipment are stated at  cost less accumulated  depreciation and  amortization.

Equipment under capital leases is stated at the lower  of  the present value of minimum  lease payments
at the inception of the lease or the fair value of the asset. Property and equipment  includes the
Company’s non-cash capital expenditures made  by the  landlord for the Aurora, Colorado distribution
center and related accumulated depreciation.  Refer to Note  7, Long-Term  Debt, for additional
information regarding this transaction.  Depreciation and amortization of property and  equipment is
computed on a straight-line basis, over the  estimated  useful lives  of  the assets  or, when  applicable, the
life of the lease, whichever is shorter.

Applicable interest charges incurred during the  construction of new facilities may  be  capitalized  as

one of the elements of cost and amortized over  the assets’ estimated useful lives. The Company
capitalized $0.5 million during the fiscal year ended  August  1, 2015 related to the construction of new
distribution centers in Prescott, Wisconsin  and  Gilroy, California.  The  Company capitalized $0.9 million
of interest during the fiscal year ended August 2, 2014 related  to  the construction of new  distribution
centers in Racine, Wisconsin and Hudson  Valley, New York. There was no interest capitalized during
the fiscal year ended August 3, 2013.

Property and equipment consisted of  the following at August 1, 2015  and  August 2, 2014:

Original
Estimated
Useful Lives
(Years)

2015

2014

Land . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Buildings and improvements . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Leasehold improvements . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Warehouse equipment . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Office equipment . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Computer software . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Motor vehicles . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Construction in progress . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

Less accumulated depreciation and amortization . .

Net property and equipment . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

(In thousands, except years)
$ 43,033
302,066
133,120
155,477
57,519
130,652
4,357
63,557

$ 31,324
215,172
130,739
128,121
71,524
97,196
4,520
79,002

20-40
5-20
3-30
3-10
3-7
3-7

889,781
317,329

757,598
273,638

$572,452

$483,960

Depreciation expense amounted to $55.0 million, $42.9  million and $37.6  million for the fiscal

years ended August 1, 2015, August 2,  2014 and August  3, 2013, respectively.

(f)

Income Taxes

The Company accounts for income taxes under  the asset and liability method. Under the  asset and

liability method, deferred tax assets and  liabilities are recognized for the future tax  consequences
attributable to differences between the financial statement carrying amounts  of  existing assets  and
liabilities and their respective tax bases.  Deferred tax assets and liabilities are measured using  enacted
tax rates expected to apply to taxable income in the years in  which those  temporary differences are
expected to be recovered or settled. The  effect on deferred tax  assets and liabilities of a change in tax
rates is recognized in income in the period  that  includes the enactment date.

(g) Long-Lived Assets

Management reviews long-lived assets, including definite-lived intangible assets,  for indicators of

impairment whenever events or changes in circumstances indicate that the carrying value of the assets

63

may not be recoverable. Cash flows expected  to  be  generated  by the related assets are  estimated over
the assets’ useful lives based on updated  projections.  If the evaluation indicates that the carrying
amount of an asset may not be recoverable, the potential impairment is measured based on a fair  value
discounted cash flow model.

(h) Goodwill and Intangible Assets

Goodwill represents the excess of cost over the fair value of net assets  acquired  in a business
combination. Goodwill and other intangible assets with indefinite  lives are  not  amortized. Intangible
assets with definite lives are amortized on  a straight-line basis  over the following lives:

Customer relationships . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Non-competition agreements . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Trademarks and tradenames . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

7-20 years
1-10 years
4-10 years

Goodwill is assigned to the reporting  units  that are expected to benefit from  the synergies  of  the
business combination. The Company is  required  to  test goodwill for impairment at  least annually, and
between annual tests if events occur or  circumstances change that would more likely  than not reduce
the fair value of a reporting unit below its carrying  amount.  The Company has  elected  to  perform  its
annual tests for indications of goodwill  impairment as of the first  day  of the fourth quarter of each
fiscal year.

The Company’s reporting units are at  or  one  level below the  operating segment level.

Approximately 93.4% of the Company’s goodwill is within its wholesale reporting unit. In accordance
with Accounting Standards Update (‘‘ASU’’) No. 2011-08,  Intangibles—Goodwill and Other (Topic  350):
Testing Goodwill for Impairment (‘‘ASU 2011-08’’),  the Company is allowed to perform a qualitative
assessment for goodwill impairment unless  it believes it  is more likely than  not  that  a reporting unit’s
fair value is less than the carrying value. The thresholds  used  by the Company for this determination in
fiscal 2015 were for any reporting units that  (1) have  passed their previous two-step test with a  margin
of calculated fair value versus carrying  value of at least 20%,  (2) have  had a  two-step  test within the
past five years, (3) have had no significant changes  to  their working capital  structure, (4) have current
year income which is at least 85% of  prior year amounts,  and (5) present no  other  factors to be
considered as outlined in ASU 2011-08. Based on  the qualitative assessment performed  for fiscal  2015,
only one of the Company’s four reporting  units met these thresholds. As  this  reporting unit had passed
its  previous two-step test within the past 5 years, the reporting unit’s net  income  has not decreased
more than 15% and its working capital  requirements  have not increased significantly, no quantitative
testing was performed on this reporting unit  as part of the annual test in fiscal 2015.

For the three reporting units that did not  meet the thresholds above  for fiscal  2015, the Company

performed a two-step goodwill impairment analysis.  The  first step to identify potential impairment
involves comparing each reporting unit’s estimated fair value to its carrying value, including  goodwill.
Each  reporting unit regularly prepares  discrete operating forecasts and  uses these forecasts as the  basis
for the assumptions used in the discounted cash  flow  analysis which is  the  basis for the fair  value
analysis. If the estimated fair value of  a  reporting unit  exceeds  its  carrying value,  goodwill  is considered
not to be impaired and no further testing is required. This  was  the case for all three reporting units
which  required a quantitative test for the  annual assessment in fiscal 2015. Had the  carrying value
exceeded  estimated fair value for any of these  three units, there would  have  been an indication of
potential impairment and the second step would have  been performed to measure the amount of
impairment. If required, the second step  involves calculating an  implied fair value of goodwill for  each
reporting unit for which the first step indicated potential  impairment. The implied fair  value of
goodwill is determined in a manner similar to the  amount  of  goodwill calculated in a business
combination, by measuring the excess  of the estimated fair value of the reporting unit,  as determined in
the first step, over the aggregate estimated  fair values of the  individual assets, liabilities  and identifiable

64

intangible assets. If the implied fair value of goodwill  exceeds  the  carrying value of goodwill assigned to
the reporting unit, there is no impairment.  If the carrying value  of  goodwill  assigned to a reporting  unit
exceeds the implied fair value of the goodwill,  an impairment charge is recorded for  the excess.

Intangible assets with indefinite lives  are tested for  impairment  at  least annually  as of the first day

of the fourth fiscal quarter and if events occur or circumstances change that would indicate that the
value of the asset may be impaired. Impairment is  measured as the  difference between the  fair value  of
the asset and its carrying value.

In accordance with ASU No. 2012-02, Intangibles—Goodwill and Other (Topic 350): Testing

Indefinite Lived Intangible Assets for Impairment, the Company is allowed to perform a qualitative
assessment for intangible asset impairment unless it believes  it is more likely than not that an  intangible
asset’s fair value is less than the carrying value. The thresholds used by  the Company  for this
determination in the fourth quarter of  fiscal  2015 were for  any intangible assets (or groups of assets)
that (1) have passed their previous two-step test  with a margin of calculated fair value versus carrying
value of at least 20%, (2) have performed  a previous  two-step test within the past five years, and
(3) have current year income which is at  least 85% of prior year amounts. The Company’s only
indefinite lived intangible assets are the  branded product line asset group. During fiscal 2015,  the
Company’s annual qualitative assessment  of its  indefinite lived intangible assets indicated that no
impairment existed.

During  fiscal 2015, the Company ceased operations at  its Canadian  facility  located  in Scotstown,

Quebec which was acquired in 2010.  In connection with  this  closure, the Company recognized  an
impairment of $0.6 million during the  first  quarter of fiscal 2015 representing the remaining
unamortized value of an intangible asset.  In  the first quarter of fiscal  2013, the Company  entered into
an agreement to terminate its licensing  agreement with  the former owners of an  acquired business. In
connection with this termination agreement, during the three  months  ended October 27, 2012, the
Company recognized an impairment of  $1.6 million  representing the remaining unamortized balance of
the intangible asset.

The changes in the carrying amount of goodwill  and the  amount  allocated  by  reportable segment

for the years presented are as follows (in  thousands):

Goodwill as of August 3, 2013 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Goodwill adjustment for prior year business

Wholesale

Other

Total

$184,143

$17,731

$201,874

combinations . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

73,966

Contingent consideration for prior year  business

combinations . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Change in foreign exchange rates . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

62
(1,354)

—

—
—

73,966

62
(1,354)

Goodwill as of August 2, 2014 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Goodwill adjustment from prior year business

combinations . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Change in foreign exchange rates . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

$256,817

$17,731

$274,548

(3,487)
(4,421)

—
—

(3,487)
(4,421)

Goodwill as of August 1, 2015 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

$248,909

$17,731

$266,640

65

The following table presents the detail  of the Company’s  other  intangible assets  (in  thousands):

August 1, 2015

August 2, 2014

Gross Carrying Accumulated
Amortization

Amount

Net

Gross Carrying Accumulated
Amortization

Amount

Net

Amortizing intangible assets:
Customer relationships . . . . . . .
Non-compete agreements . . . . . .
Trademarks and tradenames . . . .

Total amortizing intangible assets
Indefinite lived intangible assets:
Trademarks and tradenames . . . .

$ 96,192
1,700
—

$25,364
353
—

$ 70,828
1,347
—

$ 98,928
800
678

$18,901
13
88

$ 80,027
787
590

97,892

25,717

72,175

100,406

19,002

81,404

53,655

—

53,655

53,585

—

53,585

Total . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

$151,547

$25,717

$125,830

$153,991

$19,002

$134,989

Amortization expense was $7.8 million, $5.1 million and $4.1 million for the fiscal  years  ended
August 1, 2015, August 2, 2014 and August 3,  2013, respectively. The estimated future  amortization
expense for each of the next five fiscal years and thereafter on definite lived intangible assets  existing
as of  August 1, 2015 is shown below:

Fiscal Year:

2016 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
2017 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
2018 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
2019 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
2020 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
2021 and thereafter

(In thousands)

$ 6,547
6,238
5,866
5,881
5,420
42,223

$72,175

(i) Revenue Recognition and Concentration of  Credit Risk

The Company records revenue upon delivery  of  products. Revenues are recorded net of applicable
sales discounts and estimated sales returns. Sales incentives provided to customers  are accounted for as
reductions in revenue as the related revenue  is recorded. The Company’s sales are primarily to
customers located throughout the United States and Canada.

Whole Foods Market, Inc. was the Company’s largest customer in  each fiscal year presented.
Whole Foods Market, Inc. accounted  for  approximately 35% of  the  Company’s net sales for the fiscal
year ended August 1, 2015 and 36%  for each  of  the fiscal years ended  August 2, 2014 and August 3,
2013. There were no other customers that individually generated 10% or  more of the Company’s net
sales.

The Company analyzes customer creditworthiness, accounts receivable balances, payment history,

payment terms and historical bad debt  levels  when evaluating  the adequacy  of  its  allowance for
doubtful accounts. In instances where a reserve has been recorded for a  particular customer, future
sales to the customer are conducted using either cash-on-delivery terms,  or  the account is  closely
monitored so that as agreed upon payments are  received, orders are released; a  failure to pay results in
held or cancelled orders.

66

(j) Fair Value of Financial Instruments

The carrying amounts of the Company’s financial instruments including cash and  cash equivalents,

accounts receivable, accounts payable  and  certain accrued expenses approximate  fair value due to the
short-term nature of these instruments.

The following estimated fair value amounts have  been determined by the  Company using available

market information and appropriate  valuation methodologies.  Refer to Note  8, Fair Value
Measurements, for additional information  regarding the fair value  hierarchy. The fair  value of notes
payable and long-term debt are based on the  instruments’ interest rate, terms,  maturity date and
collateral, if any, in comparison to the Company’s incremental borrowing  rate for similar  financial
instruments. However, considerable judgment is required in  interpreting  market data to develop the
estimates of fair value. Accordingly, the estimates presented  herein are  not  necessarily indicative of the
amounts that the Company could realize  in a  current market exchange.

Assets:
Cash and cash equivalents . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Accounts receivable . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Notes receivable . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Liabilities:
Accounts payable . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Notes payable . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Long-term debt, including current portion . . . . . . .

(k) Use of Estimates

August 1, 2015

August 2, 2014

Carrying Value

Fair Value

Carrying Value

Fair Value

(In thousands)

$ 17,380
474,494
7,361

$ 17,380
474,494
7,361

$ 16,116
441,528
5,936

$ 16,116
441,528
5,936

390,134
362,993
186,393

390,134
362,993
192,679

377,548
415,660
33,500

377,548
415,660
36,386

The preparation of financial statements in  conformity with  accounting principles generally accepted

in the United States of America requires  management to make estimates and assumptions that affect
amounts reported therein. Due to the  inherent  uncertainty involved  in making estimates, actual results
reported in future periods may be based on  amounts that  differ  from  those estimates.

(l) Notes Receivable, Trade

The Company issues trade notes receivable to certain customers under two basic  circumstances;

inventory purchases for initial store openings and  overdue accounts receivable. Notes  issued in
connection with store openings are generally receivable  over a period not to exceed thirty-six  months.
Notes issued in connection with overdue  accounts receivable may extend  for periods greater than one
year. All notes are issued at a market interest rate and contain certain guarantees and collateral
assignments in favor of the Company.

(m) Share-Based Compensation

The Company accounts for its share-based compensation in accordance with Financial Accounting

Standards Board (‘‘FASB’’) Accounting Standards Codification  (‘‘ASC’’) 718, Stock  Compensation
(‘‘ASC  718’’). ASC 718 requires the recognition of the fair value of share-based compensation in net
income. The Company has four share-based employee compensation plans,  which are  described more
fully in Note 3. Share-based compensation consists of stock options, restricted  stock awards, restricted
stock units, performance shares and performance  units. Stock options  are granted  to  employees and
directors at exercise prices equal to the  fair market value of the Company’s  stock at the  dates of  grant.
Generally, stock options, restricted stock awards and restricted stock  units granted  to  employees vest
ratably over 4 years from the grant date  and grants  to  members of the  Company’s Board  of Directors
vest ratably over 6 months with one half  vesting  immediately.  The  Company’s President and Chief

67

Executive Officer has been granted performance shares and performance units which have  vested,  when
and if earned, in accordance with the  terms  of the related Performance  Share and Performance  Unit
agreements. During fiscal 2015, fiscal  2014 and fiscal 2013, the  Company  granted performance-based
stock units to its executive officers that  will  vest  if  the Company achieves  certain  performance metrics
as of  and for the years ended July 30,  2016, August  1, 2015 and August 2, 2014, respectively.  The
Company recognizes share-based compensation expense on a  straight-line basis over the requisite
service period of the individual grants,  which generally equals  the vesting period.

ASC 718 also requires that compensation expense be recognized for only the portion  of share-
based awards that are expected to vest. Therefore, we apply estimated forfeiture rates  that  are derived
from historical employee and director  termination  activity to reduce the amount of compensation
expense recognized. If the actual forfeitures differ from  the estimate, additional adjustments to
compensation expense may be required  in  future periods.

The Company receives an income tax deduction for restricted  stock awards and restricted stock
units when they vest and for non-qualified stock  options exercised by  employees equal  to  the excess of
the fair market value of its common  stock  on the  vesting or exercise  date over  the exercised  price.
Excess tax benefits (tax benefits resulting  from tax deductions in excess of compensation cost
recognized) are presented as a cash inflow provided  by financing activities in the accompanying
consolidated statement of cash flows.

(n) Earnings Per Share

Basic earnings per share is calculated  by dividing net  income by the  weighted average number of
common shares outstanding during the period. Diluted earnings per share is calculated by adding the
dilutive potential common shares to the weighted average number of  common  shares that were
outstanding during the period. For purposes of the diluted earnings per share calculation, outstanding
stock options, restricted stock awards, restricted  stock units  and performance-based  awards, if
applicable, are considered common stock  equivalents,  using the treasury stock method. A reconciliation
of the weighted average number of shares  outstanding used in the computation of the basic and diluted
earnings per share for all periods presented follows:

Basic weighted average shares outstanding . . . . . . . . .
Net effect of dilutive common stock equivalents based
upon the treasury stock method . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

Fiscal year ended

August 1,
2015

August 2,
2014

August 3,
2013

50,021

(In thousands)
49,602

49,217

246

286

292

Diluted weighted average shares outstanding . . . . . . . .

50,267

49,888

49,509

Potential anti-dilutive share-based payment awards

excluded from the computation above . . . . . . . . . . .

7

6

121

(o) Comprehensive Income (Loss)

Comprehensive income (loss) is reported in accordance with  ASU No. 2013-02,  and includes net
income and the change in other comprehensive income (loss). Other comprehensive income (loss) is
comprised of the net change in fair value of derivative instruments designated  as cash flow hedges, as
well as foreign currency translation related to the translation  of UNFI Canada, Inc. (‘‘UNFI  Canada’’)
from the functional currency of Canadian  dollars  to  U.S. dollar reporting currency. For all periods
presented, the Company displays comprehensive income (loss) and  its components in the consolidated
statements of comprehensive income.

68

(p) Derivative Financial Instruments

The Company is exposed to market risks arising from  changes in  interest rates, fuel costs, and  with

the operation of UNFI Canada, foreign currency exchange rates. The Company uses  derivatives
principally in the management of interest rate and fuel price exposure. From time to time the Company
may use contracts to hedge transactions in foreign currency. The  Company does not utilize derivatives
that contain leverage features. For derivative  transactions accounted for as  hedges,  on the date the
Company enters into the derivative transaction, the  exposure is  identified. The Company formally
documents all relationships between hedging instruments and hedged items, as well  as its
risk-management objective and strategy  for  undertaking the hedge transaction.  In  this documentation,
the Company specifically identifies the asset, liability, firm  commitment, forecasted transaction,  or net
investment that has been designated  as the hedged item and  states  how the hedging  instrument is
expected to reduce the risks related to the hedged item. The Company measures  effectiveness  of  its
hedging relationships both at hedge inception  and  on an  ongoing basis as needed.

(q) Shipping and Handling Fees and  Costs

The Company includes shipping and  handling fees billed to customers  in net sales. Shipping and

handling costs associated with inbound  freight are  generally  recorded in  cost of sales, whereas shipping
and handling costs for selecting, quality assurance,  and  outbound transportation are  recorded in
operating expenses. Outbound shipping  and handling  costs totaled $452.9  million,  $397.7 million and
$358.8 million for the fiscal years ended  August 1,  2015, August  2, 2014 and August 3,  2013,
respectively.

(r) Reserves for Self-Insurance

The Company is primarily self-insured for workers’ compensation, and general and automobile

liability insurance. It is the Company’s  policy to record  the self-insured portion of workers’
compensation and automobile liabilities based  upon actuarial  methods to estimate  the future  cost of
claims and related expenses that have been  reported but not settled, and that have been  incurred but
not yet reported. Any projection of losses concerning workers’ compensation and automobile  liability  is
subject to a considerable degree of variability. Among the causes  of  this  variability  are unpredictable
external  factors affecting litigation trends, benefit level changes  and claim settlement  patterns.

(s) Operating Lease Expenses

The Company records lease expense via the  straight-line  method. For leases with step rent
provisions whereby the rental payments increase over the  life  of the lease,  and for leases where the
Company receives rent-free periods,  the  Company recognizes  expense  based on a straight-line basis
based on the total minimum lease payments  to  be  made over  the expected lease  term.

(t) Recently Issued Accounting Pronouncements

In August 2015, the FASB issued ASU No. 2015-14, Revenue  from Contracts  with Customers,
(Topic 606): Deferral of the Effective Date  (‘‘ASU 2015-14’’) deferring  the adoption of previously issued
guidance published in May 2014, ASU  No. 2014-09, Revenue from  Contracts with  Customers,
(Topic 606). The core principle of the new guidance is that an entity  will recognize  revenue to depict
the transfer of promised goods or services  to  customers in  an amount that reflects the  consideration to
which  the entity expects to be entitled in exchange for those goods or services. The  new
pronouncement is  effective for public  companies  with annual  periods, and interim periods  within those
periods, beginning after December 15,  2017, which for the Company will  be  the first quarter of the
fiscal year ended August 3, 2019. The  Company is  in the process of evaluating the impact that this new
guidance will have on the Company’s  consolidated financial statements.

In April 2015, the FASB issued Accounting  Standards Update ASU No. 2015-03, Interest—
Imputation of Interest (Subtopic 835-30) (‘‘ASU 2015-03’’), which simplifies the presentation  of  debt

69

issuance costs. ASU 2015-03 requires  that debt  issuance  costs related  to  a recognized debt liability be
presented in the balance sheet as a direct  deduction from the  carrying amount of that debt liability,
consistent with the presentation of debt discounts. ASU 2015-03 is effective for financial statements
issued for fiscal years beginning after  December 15, 2015, and interim periods within those fiscal years,
which  for the Company will be the first  quarter of the  fiscal  year ending July 29, 2017,  with early
adoption permitted and retrospective application required. If the Company had adopted this standard
in the fourth quarter of fiscal 2015, the result would have  been the reclassification of $4.2 million and
$3.1 million as of August 1, 2015 and August 2, 2014, respectively, from  deferred financing costs  to
long-term debt on the Company’s Consolidated Balance Sheets.

In August 2014, the FASB issued ASU No. 2014-15, Disclosure  of Uncertainties about an Entity’s
Ability to Continue as a Going Concern. The new  guidance requires management to evaluate whether
there is substantial doubt about an entity’s  ability  to  continue as  a  going  concern and to provide related
footnote disclosures as appropriate. The  new pronouncement is effective for  public  companies with
annual periods ending after December  15, 2016, and interim  periods thereafter,  which for the Company
will be the first quarter of fiscal 2017.  The Company does not expect the adoption of this guidance to
have a significant impact on the Company’s consolidated financial statements.

In April 2014, the FASB issued ASU No.  2014-08,  Presentation of Financial Statements (Topic 2015)

and Property Plant, and Equipment (Topic  360): Reporting Discontinued  Operations  and Disclosures of
Disposals of Components of an entity. The new guidance raises the threshold for  disposals that would
qualify as discontinued operations and  also  requires additional disclosures regarding discontinued
operations, as well as material disposals that do not meet the definition of  discontinued operations. The
amendments are effective for fiscal years,  and  interim periods  within those years, beginning on  or after
December 15, 2014, which would be the Company’s first quarter of the fiscal  year  ended July  30, 2016,
and should be applied on prospective basis. The Company does not expect the adoption of these
provisions to have a significant impact on  the Company’s consolidated financial statements.

(u) Correction of Prior Period Errors

During  the three months ended January 31, 2015, the  Company recorded a  cumulative adjustment

to net sales for $7.7 million related to  amounts owed to a customer resulting from  an incorrect
calculation of contractual obligations  to  that customer from fiscal year  2009 through fiscal year 2014.
The aggregate amount of the reduction  in  net sales related to this incorrect calculation  in fiscal 2015
was $9.3 million, including a $1.6 million reduction in the  first quarter of fiscal 2015. The  Company
reviewed the impact of these corrections  in  accordance with  Securities and Exchange  Commission Staff
Accounting Bulletin No. 99 ‘‘Materiality,’’  and determined that these corrections  were not material to
prior or current periods.

2. ACQUISITIONS

Wholesale Segment

Broadline Distribution Acquisitions. During the fourth quarter of fiscal 2015,  the Company
finalized its purchase accounting related to the Company’s  acquisition  of all of the outstanding  capital
stock of Tony’s Fine Foods (‘‘Tony’s’’) in the fourth quarter of 2014. Of the total purchase price of
approximately $202.7 million (the ‘‘Purchase Price’’), approximately $196.5 million  was paid in cash.
The remaining portion of the Purchase  Price was paid with approximately 112,000 shares of the
Company’s common stock.

70

The following table summarizes the consideration paid  for  the  acquisition  and the  amounts of

assets acquired and liabilities assumed  recognized at  the acquisition date:

(in  thousands)
Accounts receivable . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Inventory . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Property and equipment . . . . . . . . . . . .
Other assets . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Customer relationships . . . . . . . . . . . .
Tradename and other intangible assets .
Goodwill . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

Total assets . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Liabilities . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

Total purchase price . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

Preliminary as of
August 2, 2014

Adjustments in
Current Fiscal
Year

Final
Opening
Balance  Sheet

$ 40,307
31,807
42,793
5,815
55,500
26,000
64,644

$266,866
60,698

$206,168

$

270
—
(810)
—
(700)
900
(3,157)

$(3,497)
—

$(3,497)

$ 40,577
31,807
41,983
5,815
54,800
26,900
61,487

$263,369
60,698

$202,671

The fair value assigned to identifiable intangible  assets acquired was determined primarily by using
an income approach. Identifiable intangible  assets include customer relationships  with an estimated  fair
value of $54.8 million, the Tony’s tradename with an estimated fair  value of approximately
$25.2 million, and non-competition agreements  with an estimated fair value of $1.7 million. The
customer relationship intangible asset is currently being amortized  on a straight-line basis over an
estimated useful life of approximately  20 years, the non-competition  agreements that the Company
received from the owners of Tony’s are  being  amortized over  the 5 year terms  of the agreements, and
the Tony’s tradename is estimated to  have an indefinite useful  life. Significant assumptions utilized in
the income approach were based on certain  information and projections, which are not observable in
the market and are thus considered Level  3 measurements as defined  by authoritative  guidance. The
goodwill of $61.5 million represents the future economic  benefits expected to arise that could not be
individually identified and separately  recognized, including expansion  of the Company’s  sales  in natural
protein and specialty cheeses.

Acquisition costs related to the Tony’s  acquisition  were approximately $0.3  million and $1.5  million

for the fiscal years ended August 1, 2015 and August 2, 2014, respectively, and  have been expensed  as
incurred and are included within ‘‘Operating Expenses’’ in  the Consolidated Statements  of  Income. The
results of Tony’s operations have been  included in the consolidated financial statements  since the date
of acquisition. Net sales from the acquired  business totaled approximately $882.8  million  for the  fiscal
year ended August 1, 2015 and $45.3  million for the fiscal year  ended August  2, 2014.

During  the first quarter of fiscal 2014, the Company, within its wholesale segment,  completed a
business combination related to the acquisition  of  all of the equity  interests  of  Trudeau Foods, LLC
from Trudeau Holdings, LLC, a portfolio company of Arbor  Investments  II,  LP. The  total  cash
consideration related to this acquisition  was  approximately  $23.0 million. The fair value of the
identifiable intangible assets acquired  was determined by using an  income  approach. The identifiable
intangible assets recorded based on the valuation consist of customer lists of $9.5 million, which are
being amortized on a straight-line basis  over an estimated useful life  of  approximately ten  years.
Significant assumptions utilized in the  income approach were based on company-specific information
and projections, which are not observable in the market and are considered Level  3 measurements  as
defined by authoritative guidance. The results of  the acquired  operations  have been included in the
Company’s results  since September 26, 2013.

71

3. EQUITY PLANS

The Company recognized total share-based  compensation  expense of $14.0  million  for the  fiscal

year ended August 1, 2015, compared to $14.6 million and  $15.1 million for the fiscal years ended
August 2, 2014 and August 3, 2013, respectively. Share-based compensation expense  related to
performance-based share awards, including  compensation  expense recognized on  2-year long-term
incentive awards granted, for the fiscal years ended  August  2, 2014 and  August  3, 2013, was
$1.0 million and $3.3 million, respectively.  The  Company recognized  a benefit  of  $1.0 million related  to
performance-based share awards for  the  fiscal year ended August 1, 2015 due to the reversal of share-
based compensation expense recorded in fiscal  2014 caused by performance measures not being
attained as of the end of fiscal 2015  and the  resulting forfeiture of these awards.

As of August 1, 2015, there was $27.8 million of total unrecognized compensation  cost related to
outstanding share-based compensation  arrangements (including  stock  options,  restricted stock, restricted
stock units and performance-based restricted stock units). This  cost is expected to be recognized over a
weighted-average period of 2.5 years.

For stock options, the fair value of each grant was estimated  at the date of grant using the  Black-

Scholes option pricing model. Black-Scholes  utilizes assumptions related to volatility, the  risk-free
interest rate, the dividend yield and expected  life. Expected volatilities utilized in the  model  are based
on the historical volatility of the Company’s  stock  price. The risk-free interest rate  is derived  from the
U.S. Treasury yield curve in effect at  the time of grant.  The  model  incorporates exercise  and
post-vesting forfeiture assumptions based  on an analysis  of historical data. The expected  term is  derived
from historical information and other factors.  The  fair value of restricted  stock awards, restricted stock
units, and performance share units are  determined  based on  the number  of  shares or  units, as
applicable, granted and the quoted price of the Company’s  common  stock as of the  grant date.

The following summary presents the weighted average  assumptions  used  for stock options granted

in fiscal 2015, 2014 and 2013:

Fiscal year ended

August 1,
2015

August 2,
2014

August 3,
2013

Expected volatility . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Dividend yield . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Risk free interest rate . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Expected term (in years) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

26.2% 28.5% 29.8%
—%
—%
0.3%
1.2%
3.0
3.0

—%
1.4%
4.0

The Company has four equity incentive  plans that  provide for the issuance of  stock options: the

1996 Stock Option Plan (the ‘‘1996 Plan’’),  the 2002 Stock Incentive  Plan (the ‘‘2002  Plan’’), the 2004
Equity Incentive Plan, as amended (the  ‘‘2004 Plan’’), and  the 2012 Equity Incentive Plan (the ‘‘2012
Plan’’) (collectively, the ‘‘Plans’’). The Plans provide, or prior  to  their  expiration provided, for grants of
stock options to employees, officers,  directors and others. Since fiscal  2010, the Company  has not
granted stock options intended to qualify as incentive stock options  within the meaning of  Section 422
of the Internal Revenue Code. Vesting  requirements for awards under the Plans are at the discretion of
the Company’s Board of Directors, or Compensation Committee of the  Board of Directors. Typically,
options granted to employees vest ratably over 4 years. The Company did  not  grant options to directors
in fiscal 2013, fiscal 2014 or fiscal 2015.  The  maximum  term of all incentive and  non-statutory stock
options granted under the Plans is 10  years.  There were  9,050,000 shares authorized  for grant  under
the 1996 Plan, 2002 Plan and 2012 Plan.  There were  1,054,267 remaining shares authorized for grant
under the 2004 Plan as of December  16,  2010, the  effective date when the 2004 Plan was amended to
allow for the award of stock options.  Prior to the  expiration of the applicable plan, these shares may be
used to issue stock options, restricted stock, restricted stock units or performance based awards.  As of

72

August 1, 2015, 761,493 shares were  available for grant under the 2012  Plan.  The  authorization for  new
grants under the 1996 Plan, 2002 Plan  and 2004  Plan  has expired.

The following summary presents the weighted-average remaining contractual term  of  options

outstanding at August 1, 2015 by range of  exercise prices:

Exercise  Price Range

$12.00 - $26.00 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
$26.01 - $40.00 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
$40.01 - $54.00 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
$54.01 - $68.00 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

Number of
Options
Outstanding

83,730
136,352
5,530
218,904

444,516

Weighted
Average
Exercise Price
of Options
Outstanding

Weighted
Average
Remaining
Contractual
Term

$24.25
$34.95
$44.95
$63.19

$46.97

3.5
4.6
6.3
8.1

6.1

Number of
Options
Exercisable

83,730
118,645
5,180
45,450

253,005

Weighted
Average
Exercise  Price
of Options
Exercisable

$24.25
$34.53
$44.47
$61.12

$36.11

The following summary presents information regarding outstanding stock options as of August 1,

2015 and changes during the fiscal year  then ended with  regard to options under the Plans:

Outstanding at beginning of year . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Granted . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Exercised . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

Number of
Options

459,074
76,940
(91,498)

Outstanding at end of year . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

444,516

Exercisable at end of year . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

253,005

Weighted
Average
Exercise
Price

$42.10
$64.55
$37.32

$46.97

$36.11

Weighted
Average
Remaining
Contractual
Term

Aggregate
Intrinsic
Value

6.1 years

$3,232,768

4.6 years

$3,096,247

The weighted average grant-date fair  value of  options granted during the  fiscal years ended
August 1, 2015, August 2, 2014, and  August 3,  2013  was  $14.82, $16.48 and $12.21, respectively. The
aggregate intrinsic  value of options exercised during the  fiscal  years  ended August 1, 2015, August  2,
2014, and August 3, 2013, was $3.1 million,  $2.5  million and $1.6 million, respectively.

The 2004 Plan was amended during fiscal 2009 to provide for  the issuance of up to 2,500,000
equity-based compensation awards, and  during fiscal 2011 was  further amended to provide for the
issuance of stock options in addition to restricted  shares and  units, performance shares  and units, bonus
shares and stock appreciation rights.  Vesting requirements  for the awards  under the Plans are at the
discretion of the Company’s Board of  Directors, or  the Compensation Committee thereof, and  are
typically four equal annual installments  for employees  and two equal installments for non-employee
directors with the  first installment on the  date of grant and the second installment on the six month
anniversary of the grant date.

73

The following summary presents information regarding restricted stock awards, restricted  stock
units, performance shares and performance units under the Plans  as of August 1, 2015  and changes
during the fiscal year then ended:

Weighted
Average

Number of Grant-Date
Fair Value

Shares

Outstanding at August 2, 2014 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Granted . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Vested . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Forfeited . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

640,737
371,569
(259,671)
(131,403)

Outstanding at August 1, 2015 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

621,232

$55.77
$64.71
$51.04
$62.82

$61.60

The total intrinsic value of restricted stock awards and restricted  stock units  vested was

$17.3 million, $16.9 million and $16.7  million  during  the fiscal years ended August 1, 2015,  August 2,
2014 and August 3, 2013, respectively.  The  total intrinsic value of performance share  awards and
performance units vested was $1.3 million  and $1.6  million during the fiscal  years  ended August 2, 2014
and August 3, 2013, respectively. No performance  share awards or  performance units  vested during  the
fiscal year ended August 1, 2015.

During  the fiscal year ended August 1, 2015, 23,238  performance units  were granted, (subject to

the issuance of an additional 23,238 shares  if the  Company’s  performance exceeded specified  targeted
levels) to the Company’s President and CEO, the vesting of which  was contingent on  the attainment of
specific  levels of earnings before interest  and taxes and return on  invested capital.  The per share
grant-date fair value of these awards was $64.55.  Effective  August  1, 2015, all of  these performance
units were forfeited as the underlying performance criteria that were required to be achieved in order
for the units to vest were not achieved.

During  the fiscal year ended August 2, 2014, 22,229  performance shares were granted  (subject  to
the issuance of an additional 22,229 shares  if the  Company’s  performance exceeded specified  targeted
levels), and no performance units were  granted to the  Company’s  President  and CEO, the  vesting of
which  was contingent on the attainment  of  specific levels of  earnings before interest and taxes and
return  on invested capital. The per share grant-date fair value of these awards was  $67.48. Effective
August 2, 2014, a total of 19,396 performance  shares for fiscal 2014 vested with  a corresponding
intrinsic value and fair value of $1.3 million and $1.1 million, respectively.  The remainder of the
performance shares were forfeited.

During  the fiscal year ended August 3, 2013, 25,000  performance shares and 5,123 performance

units were granted (in each case subject to the issuance of an additional 25,000 shares  and 5,123 units
if the Company’s performance exceeded specified targeted levels) to the Company’s  President and
CEO, the vesting of which was contingent  on the attainment of specific levels of earnings  before
interest and taxes and return on invested  capital. The per share grant-date  fair value of these grants
was $52.00. Effective August 3, 2013,  an additional 695  units were  granted and  a total of 30,818
performance shares vested with a corresponding intrinsic value and fair value of $1.6 million and
$1.9 million, respectively.

During  the fiscal year ended July 28, 2012, the Company created  a  performance-based equity
compensation arrangement with a 2-year  performance-based  vesting component that was established for
members of the Company’s executive  leadership team. Under this  arrangement, the  executives  were
awarded performance-based stock units  with a grant-date  fair value equal  to  approximately  30% of the
sum of 125% of their annual base salary and 50%  of  their  cash-based  performance award earned in the
prior fiscal year. Similar to the performance awards  granted to the Company’s President and CEO, if

74

the Company’s performance exceeded specified targeted levels, the grants could be increased  up to an
additional 100%. For the 2-year performance periods ended August 1, 2015 and  August 2, 2014, it was
determined that targeted levels of performance were  not  met  and therefore,  the Company did  not  issue
shares to the executive leadership team in settlement  of the performance units and all the units were
forfeited.  Effective August 3, 2013, the  Company issued an aggregate of 23,882 shares to the executive
leadership team upon the vesting of an  equal number  of performance  share units  based on the final
results of the 2-year performance period  ended August 2, 2013.

4. ALLOWANCE FOR DOUBTFUL ACCOUNTS AND NOTES  RECEIVABLE

The allowance for doubtful accounts and notes  receivable consists of  the following:

Balance at beginning of year . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Additions charged to costs and expenses . . . . . . . . . . .
Deductions . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Charged to Other Accounts(1) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

Fiscal year ended

August 1,
2015

August 2,
2014

August 3,
2013

$ 8,294
5,059
(4,590)
(270)

(In thousands)
$10,026
3,152
(5,743)
859

$ 6,956
4,227
(1,157)
—

Balance at end of  year . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

$ 8,493

$ 8,294

$10,026

(1) Relates to acquisitions.

5. RESTRUCTURING ACTIVITIES

Canadian facility closure

During  fiscal 2015, the Company ceased operations at  its Canadian  facility  located  in Scotstown,

Quebec which was acquired in 2010.  In connection with  this  closure, the Company recognized  an
impairment of $0.6 million during the  first  quarter of fiscal 2015 representing the remaining
unamortized balance of an intangible  asset. During the second  quarter of  fiscal 2015, the Company
recognized a restructuring charge of $0.2  million in  connection with this closure.

Impairment of an intangible asset

During  fiscal 2007, the Company made  several asset acquisitions  under its Blue Marble  Brands
division, one of which included a licensing  agreement under  which the Company was permitted to sell
products under the seller’s existing trademark  in exchange for royalty payments. The fair value of the
intangible asset at the time of acquisition  was $2.1 million, and was being amortized over a  life of
27 years, the maximum life of the licensing agreement including renewal  periods.  In October 2012, the
Company entered into an agreement to terminate its licensing agreement with the  former owners.  In
connection with this termination agreement, during the first quarter of fiscal 2013 the  Company
recognized an impairment of $1.6 million  representing  the remaining unamortized balance of the
intangible asset.

6. NOTES PAYABLE

In May 2014, the Company entered into a First Amendment Agreement  (the ‘‘Amendment’’) to its

amended and restated revolving credit facility,  which increased the maximum borrowings under  the
amended and restated revolving credit facility  to  $600 million and extended the maturity  date to
May 21, 2019. Up to $550.0 million is available  to  the Company’s  U.S. subsidiaries and up to
$50.0 million is available to UNFI Canada. After giving effect to the Amendment,  the amended  and

75

restated  revolving credit facility provides  a one-time option to increase  the  borrowing  base  by  up to an
additional $150 million (but in not less than  $10.0 million increments) subject to certain customary
conditions and the lenders committing  to  provide the  increase in  funding,  and also permits the
Company to enter  into a real-estate backed term  loan facility  which shall  not  exceed $200.0 million.

The borrowings of the US portion of the amended and restated  credit facility,  prior to and after

giving effect to the Amendment, accrue  interest, at the Company’s  option, at either (i) a base rate
(generally defined as the highest of (x) the  Bank of America Business Capital prime  rate, (y)  the
average overnight federal funds effective  rate plus one-half  percent (0.50%) per annum and
(z) one-month London Interbank Offering Rate  (‘‘LIBOR’’) plus one percent  (1%) per annum) plus  an
initial margin of 0.50%, or (ii) the LIBOR  for one,  two, three  or six months or,  if approved by all
affected lenders, nine months plus an initial  margin of 1.50%. The  borrowings on the  Canadian  portion
of the credit facility for Canadian swing-line loans,  Canadian overadvance loans  or Canadian protective
advances accrue interest, at the Company’s option,  at either  (i) a prime  rate (generally defined as the
highest of (x) 0.50% over 30-day Reuters  Canadian Deposit Offering Rate  for bankers’  acceptances,
(y) the prime rate of Bank of America,  N.A.’s Canada branch,  and  (z) a bankers’ acceptance equivalent
rate for a one month interest period plus 1.00%) plus an initial margin of 0.50%,  or (ii)  a bankers’
acceptance equivalent rate of the rate of interest  per  annum equal  to  the  annual rates applicable to
Canadian Dollar bankers’ acceptances on  the ‘‘CDOR  Page’’  of Reuter  Monitor Money Rates Service,
plus five basis points (the ‘‘CDOR rate’’), and  an initial margin of 1.50%.  All other borrowings on  the
Canadian portion of the amended and restated credit facility, prior to and after  giving effect  to  the
Amendment,  must exclusively accrue interest under the  CDOR rate plus the  applicable margin. An
annual commitment fee in the amount  of 0.30% if the average daily balance of amounts actually used
(other than swing-line loans) is less than  40% of  the aggregate commitments, or 0.25% if such average
daily balance is 40% or more of the  aggregate commitments.

As of August 1, 2015, the Company’s  borrowing base, based  on eligible accounts  receivable and
inventory levels, was $581.4 million. As  of  August  1, 2015, the  Company had $363.0 million outstanding
under the Company’s credit facility, $35.2 million in letter of credit commitments  and $2.6 million  in
reserves which generally reduces the  Company’s  available  borrowing capacity under its  revolving credit
facility on a dollar for dollar basis. The Company’s resulting remaining availability was $180.6 million  as
of August 1, 2015.

The amended and restated revolving  credit facility subjects the  Company to a springing minimum
fixed charge coverage ratio (as defined  in  the underlying credit  agreement)  of  1.0 to 1.0 calculated at
the end of each of its fiscal quarters on  a  rolling four  quarter  basis when aggregate availability (as
defined in the underlying credit agreement) is less than the greater of (i) $35.0  million (or $50.0  million
after giving effect to the Amendment)  and (ii) 10% of  the aggregate borrowing base. Because of  the
amount of aggregate availability under  the amended and  restated revolving credit  facility, the  Company
was not subject to the fixed charge coverage ratio covenants under the  amended and restated revolving
credit facility during the fiscal year ended  August 1, 2015.

The credit facility also allows for the lenders  thereunder  to  syndicate the credit facility to other

banks and lending institutions. The Company has pledged the majority of its and  its subsidiaries’
accounts receivable and inventory for  its  obligations under the amended and  restated credit  facility.

76

7. LONG-TERM DEBT

On August 14, 2014, the Company entered  into a real-estate backed Term Loan Agreement  (the

‘‘Term Loan Agreement’’) by and among the  Company, its wholly-owned subsidiary Albert’s
Organics, Inc. (together with the Company, the  ‘‘Borrowers’’),  the financial institutions  that  are parties
thereto as lenders  (collectively, the ‘‘Lenders’’),  Bank of America, N.A.  as administrative agent for the
Lenders (the ‘‘Administrative Agent’’)  and  the other parties  thereto. The  total initial borrowings under
the Term Loan Agreement were $150.0 million. Borrowings  under the Term Loan Agreement are
guaranteed by most of the Company’s  wholly-owned subsidiaries. The Borrowers have been  required to
make $2.5 million principal payments  quarterly since November  1, 2014. The Term Loan Agreement
will terminate on the earlier of (a) August 14, 2022 and (b) the  date that is ninety  days prior to the
termination date of the Company’s amended and  restated revolving credit  agreement, as amended.
Under the Term Loan Agreement, the  Borrowers  at their option may request the  establishment of  one
or more new term loan commitments  in increments of at least $10.0 million, but not to exceed
$50.0 million in total, subject to the approval  of the Lenders  electing to participate in such  incremental
loans and the satisfaction of the conditions required by the Term Loan Agreement.  The Borrowers will
be required to make quarterly principal payments on these  incremental borrowings in accordance  with
the terms of the Term Loan Agreement.

Borrowings under the Term Loan Agreement bear  interest at rates that, at the Company’s  option,
can be either: (1) a base rate generally  defined as the  sum of  (i) the highest of (x)  the Administrative
Agent’s prime rate, (y) the average overnight federal funds effective  rate plus 0.50% and (z) one-month
LIBOR plus one percent (1%) per annum and (ii)  a margin  of 1.50%; or, (2) a  LIBOR rate generally
defined as the sum of (i) LIBOR (as  published by Reuters or other  commercially available sources) for
one, two, three or six months or, if approved by  all affected lenders, nine  months (all as selected by the
Company), and (ii) a margin of 2.50%.  Interest accrued on borrowings under the Term Loan
Agreement is payable in arrears. Interest  accrued on  any  LIBOR  loan is payable on  the last day  of the
interest period applicable to the loan  and,  with respect to any LIBOR loan of  more than three
(3) months, on the last day of every three (3) months of such  interest period. Interest  accrued on base
rate loans is payable on the first day of  every  month. The Company is also  required to pay  certain
customary fees to the Administrative Agent. The Borrowers’ obligations under the  Term Loan
Agreement are secured by certain parcels of the Borrowers’ real property.

The Term Loan Agreement includes  financial covenants that require  (i) the  ratio of the Company’s

consolidated EBITDA (as defined in the  Term Loan Agreement) minus the unfinanced portion of
Capital Expenditures (as defined in the Term Loan  Agreement)  to  the Company’s consolidated Fixed
Charges (as defined in the Term Loan  Agreement) to be at least 1.20  to  1.00 as of the  end of any
period of four fiscal quarters, (ii) the ratio of the  Company’s Consolidated Funded Debt (as defined in
the Term Loan Agreement) to the Company’s  EBITDA for  the four fiscal  quarters  most recently ended
to be not more than 3.00 to 1.00 as of  the end  of any  fiscal quarter and  (iii)  the ratio, expressed as  a
percentage, of the Company’s outstanding principal balance under  the Loans (as defined in the  Term
Loan Agreement), divided by the Mortgaged Property Value (as defined in  the Term Loan Agreement)
to be not more than 75% at any time.

During  the fiscal year ended August 1, 2015, the Company entered into an amendment to an
existing lease agreement for the office space utilized as the  Company’s corporate headquarters in
Providence, Rhode Island. The amendment  provides for  additional  office space to be utilized  by  the
Company and extends the lease term for  an additional 10 years.  The  lease qualifies  for capital  lease
treatment pursuant to ASC 840, Leases,  and the estimated fair  value of the building  is recorded on the
balance sheet with the capital lease obligation included  in long-term debt. A  portion of each lease
payment reduces the amount of the lease obligation, and a portion  is recorded as  interest  expense at an
effective rate of approximately 12.38%.

77

During  the fiscal year ended July 28, 2012,  the Company entered into a lease agreement  for a  new
distribution facility in Aurora, Colorado. As  of the fiscal year ended  August 3, 2013, actual  construction
costs exceeded the construction allowance as defined by the lease  agreement, and  therefore, the
Company determined it met the criteria  for continuing involvement pursuant to ASC 840, Leases, and
applied  the financing method to account  for this  transaction. Under the financing method, the book
value of the distribution facility and  related  accumulated  depreciation remains on the balance sheet.
The construction allowance is recorded  as a financing obligation  in long-term debt. A  portion of each
lease payment will reduce the amount  of  the  financing obligation, and a portion  will  be  recorded as
interest expense at an effective rate of approximately 7.32%.

As of August 1, 2015 and August 2, 2014, the  Company’s long-term debt  consisted  of the

following:

August 1,
2015

August  2,
2014

(In thousands)

$ 32,510

$33,439

13,883
140,000

—
—

61

Financing obligation, due monthly, and  maturing  in October 2028 at  an effective

interest rate of 7.32% . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Capital lease, Providence, Rhode Island corporate  headquarters,  due monthly,  and
maturing in April 2025 at an effective interest  rate of 12.38% . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Real-estate backed Term Loan Agreement, due quarterly . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Term loan for employee stock ownership plan, secured by  common  stock of the

Company, due monthly and maturing  in May 2015, at an  interest  rate of 1.33%

—

Less: current installments . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

$186,393
11,613

$33,500
990

Long-term debt, excluding current installments . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

$174,780

$32,510

Aggregate maturities of long-term debt for the next  five  years and thereafter are as follows at

August 1, 2015:

Year

2016 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
2017 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
2018 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
2019 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
2020 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
2021 and thereafter

(In thousands)

$ 11,613
11,835
12,079
112,386
2,757
35,723

$186,393

8.

FAIR VALUE MEASUREMENTS

The Company utilizes ASC 820, Fair  Value  Measurements and  Disclosures (‘‘ASC  820’’),  for financial

assets and liabilities and for non-financial  assets and liabilities that are recognized or  disclosed at fair
value on  at least an annual basis. ASC  820 defines fair  value  as the price  that  would be received from
selling an asset or paid to transfer a  liability in an orderly transaction between  market participants at
the measurement date. When determining the  fair value measurements for assets and  liabilities
required or permitted to be recorded  at  fair value, the Company  considers  the principal or most
advantageous market in which it would  transact and considers assumptions that market participants
would use when pricing the asset or liability, such  as inherent risk, transfer restrictions, and risk  of
nonperformance. ASC 820 establishes a fair  value hierarchy that requires an entity to maximize the use

78

of observable inputs and minimize the  use of unobservable  inputs  when measuring fair value. ASC 820
establishes three levels of inputs that may be used to measure fair value:

(cid:129) Level 1 Inputs—Unadjusted quoted prices in active markets for  identical assets  or liabilities.

(cid:129) Level 2 Inputs—Inputs other than  quoted prices  included in  Level 1 that  are either directly or
indirectly observable through correlation with market data. These include quoted  prices for
similar assets or liabilities in active markets; quoted prices for identical or similar assets or
liabilities in markets that are not active; and inputs to valuation models or other pricing
methodologies that do not require significant judgment because  the inputs used in the  model,
such as interest rates and volatility, can be corroborated by readily observable market data.

(cid:129) Level 3 Inputs—One or more significant  inputs  that are unobservable and  supported by little or
no market activity, and that reflect the use of significant  management judgment. Level 3 assets
and liabilities include those whose fair value measurements  are  determined using pricing models,
discounted cash flow methodologies or  similar valuation techniques,  and  significant management
judgment or estimation.

Interest Rate Swap Agreement

On January 23, 2015, the Company entered into a forward  starting interest rate swap agreement
with an effective date of August 3, 2015.  The agreement  provides for  the Company  to  pay interest for  a
seven-year period at a fixed rate of 1.795% on  an initial amortizing principal amount of  $140.0 million
while receiving interest for the same period at the one-month LIBOR on the same notional amount.
The interest rate swap has been entered  into  as a hedge against  LIBOR movements on the current
variable rate related to the Company’s  real-estate backed Term  Loan Agreement entered into on
August 14, 2014, explained in more detail  in Note  7 ‘‘Long-Term Debt,’’ to  protect against  rising
interest rates. We expect that the interest rate  swap will effectively fix the Company’s interest rate
payments on the $140.0 million of debt  under the Company’s Term  Loan Agreement. The swap
agreement qualifies as an ‘‘effective’’  hedge under ASC 815, Derivatives and Hedging (‘‘ASC  815’’).

Interest rate swap agreements are entered  into for  periods consistent with related underlying
exposures and do not constitute positions independent of  those exposures. The Company’s  interest rate
swap agreement is designated as a cash  flow hedge at  August  1, 2015 and is reflected  at its fair value of
$0.7 million in the consolidated balance  sheet.

The Company uses the ‘‘Hypothetical Derivative Method’’ described in ASC 815 for quarterly
prospective and retrospective assessments  of hedge effectiveness, as  well as for measurements of hedge
ineffectiveness. Under this method, the  Company assesses the  effectiveness  of each hedging relationship
by comparing the changes in cash flows of the derivative hedging  instrument with  the changes in  cash
flows of the designated hedged transactions. The  effective portion of changes in the  fair value  of the
derivative is initially reported in other comprehensive  income (outside of earnings) and subsequently
reclassified to earnings in interest income  when  the hedged transactions affect earnings.  Ineffectiveness
resulting from the hedge is recorded as  a  gain or loss in  the consolidated statement of income as part
of other income. The Company did not  have any hedge ineffectiveness recognized in earnings during
the fiscal year ended August 1, 2015. The Company also monitors the  risk of counterparty default on
an ongoing basis and noted that the counterparties are reputable financial institutions.

Fuel Supply Agreements

From time to time the Company is a  party to fixed price fuel supply agreements. During the  fiscal

years ended August 1, 2015 and August  2, 2014,  the Company entered into several agreements  which
required it to purchase a portion of its  diesel  fuel  each month at fixed prices  through December  2016
and December 2014, respectively. These  fixed price fuel agreements qualify  for the  ‘‘normal purchase’’

79

exception under ASC 815; therefore,  the fuel purchases  under these contracts are expensed as  incurred
and included within operating expenses.

Financial Instruments

There were no financial assets and liabilities measured on a  recurring basis as of August 2,  2014.
The following table provides the fair value hierarchy for financial assets and liabilities measured on  a
recurring basis as of August 1, 2015:

(In thousands)
Liabilities:
Interest Rate Swap . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

Fair Value at August 1,
2015

Level 1

Level 2

Level 3

— $(726)

—

The fair value of the Company’s other financial  instruments including cash  and cash equivalents,

accounts receivable, notes receivable, accounts  payable and certain accrued expenses  are derived using
Level 2 inputs and approximate carrying  amounts due to the short-term  nature of these instruments.
The fair value of notes payable approximate carrying amounts as  they are variable rate  instruments.

The following estimated fair value amounts have  been determined by the  Company using available

market information and appropriate  valuation methodologies  taking into account the instruments’
interest rate, terms, maturity date and  collateral,  if  any, in  comparison  to  the Company’s incremental
borrowing rate for similar financial instruments and are therefore  deemed  Level 2 inputs. However,
considerable judgment is required in  interpreting market data to develop the estimates of fair  value.
Accordingly, the estimates presented  herein are not necessarily indicative of the amounts that the
Company could realize in a current market exchange.

(In thousands)
Liabilities

Long term debt, including current

August 1, 2015

August 2, 2014

Carrying
Value

Fair Value

Carrying
Value

Fair Value

portion . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

$186,393

$192,679

$33,500

$36,386

9. COMMITMENTS AND CONTINGENCIES

The Company leases various facilities and equipment under operating lease  agreements with
varying terms. Most of the leases contain  renewal options and purchase options at several specific  dates
throughout the terms of the leases.

Rent and other lease expense for the fiscal years ended August 1, 2015, August 2, 2014 and
August 3, 2013 totaled approximately  $74.8 million, $65.1 million  and  $59.5 million, respectively.

80

Future minimum annual fixed payments required under  non-cancelable operating leases  having an

original term of more than one year  as of  August 1, 2015 are as follows:

Fiscal Year

2016 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
2017 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
2018 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
2019 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
2020 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
2021 and thereafter

(In thousands)

$ 51,341
45,731
39,213
31,786
21,237
37,904

$227,212

As of August 1, 2015, outstanding commitments for the purchase of inventory were  approximately

$17.5 million. The Company had outstanding letters  of  credit of  approximately  $35.2 million at
August 1, 2015.

As of August 1, 2015, outstanding commitments for the purchase of diesel fuel were approximately

$21.7 million.

The Company may from time to time be involved in various claims  and legal actions arising in the

ordinary course of business. In the opinion of management, amounts  accrued, as  well as the  total
amount of reasonably possible losses  with  respect to such matters, individually  and in the aggregate, are
not deemed to be material to the Company’s consolidated  financial  position  or results  of  operations.
Legal expenses incurred in connection with claims and  legal actions are expensed as  incurred.

10. RETIREMENT PLANS

Retirement Plan

The Company has a defined contribution retirement  plan under Section 401(k)  of  the Internal
Revenue Code, the United Natural Foods, Inc.  Retirement Plan (the ‘‘Retirement  Plan’’). In order to
become  a participant in the Retirement  Plan,  employees must meet certain eligibility requirements  as
described in the Retirement Plan document.  In  addition to amounts contributed  to  the Retirement Plan
by employees, the Company makes contributions to the  Retirement Plan on behalf of the employees.
The Company also has the Millbrook  Distribution  Services Union  Retirement Plan, which  was  assumed
as part of an acquisition during fiscal 2008. The Company’s  contributions to these plans were
approximately $6.4 million, $5.8 million, and $5.2 million for  the fiscal years ended August 1,  2015,
August 2, 2014 and August 3, 2013, respectively.

Deferred Compensation and Supplemental Retirement Plans

The Company’s non-employee directors and certain  of  its  employees are eligible  to  participate in

the United Natural Foods Deferred Compensation Plan and the United  Natural  Foods Deferred Stock
Plan (collectively the ‘‘Deferral Plans’’).  The  Deferral Plans are nonqualified deferred compensation
plans which are administered by the Company’s Compensation Committee of the Board  of Directors.
The Deferral Plans were established to provide participants  with the opportunity to defer the  receipt of
all or a portion of their compensation  to  a non-qualified  retirement plan in amounts greater than the
amount permitted to be deferred under  the Company’s 401(k)  Plan. The Company believes that this  is
an appropriate benefit because (i) it operates  to  place employees  and non-employee  directors in the
same position as other employees who are not affected by  Internal Revenue  Code  limits placed on
plans such as the Company’s 401(k) Plan; (ii) does not substantially increase the Company’s  financial
obligations to its employees and directors (there are  no employer  matching contributions,  only  a
crediting of deemed earnings); and (iii) provides additional incentives to the Company’s employees and

81

directors, since amounts set aside by the employees and directors are subject  to  the claims of the
Company’s creditors until paid. Under the  Deferral Plans, only the payment of the compensation
earned by the participant is deferred and there is no  deferral of the  expense in  the Company’s financial
statements related to the participants’  earnings;  the Company records the related  compensation  expense
in the year in which the compensation  is earned by  the participants.

Under the Deferred Stock Plan, which was  frozen  to  new deferrals  effective January 1, 2007, each

eligible participant could elect to defer  between 0% and 100% of restricted stock awards granted
during the election calendar year. Effective January  1, 2007, each participant may  elect  to  defer  up to
100% of their restricted share unit awards,  performance  shares and performance  units under the
Deferred Compensation Plan. Under the Deferred Compensation Plan, each participant may also elect
to defer  a minimum of $1,000 and a  maximum of 90% of base salary and 100%  of director fees,
employee bonuses and commissions,  as  applicable,  earned by the participants for the calendar year.
Participants’ cash-derived deferrals accrue  earnings and appreciation based  on the  performance of
mutual funds selected by the participant.  The value of equity-based awards  deferred under the
Deferred Compensation and Deferred  Stock Plans are based upon the performance  of  the Company’s
common stock.

The Millbrook Deferred Compensation  Plan  and the  Millbrook  Supplemental  Retirement Plan
were assumed by the Company as part of  an acquisition during fiscal 2008. Deferred compensation
relates to a compensation arrangement implemented  in 1984  by a predecessor  of the acquired company
in the form of a non-qualified defined  benefit  plan and a  supplemental retirement plan which
permitted former officers and certain  management employees,  at the  time, to defer portions  of their
compensation to earn specified maximum  benefits  upon retirement. The future  obligations, which are
fixed in accordance with the plans, have  been recorded at  a discount  rate of  5.7%. These  plans do  not
allow new participants, and there are  no  active employees subject  to  these plans.

In an effort to provide for the benefits associated  with these plans, the acquired company’s

predecessor purchased whole-life insurance contracts on  the plan participants. The  cash surrender value
of these  policies included in Other Assets  in  the Consolidated Balance  Sheet was $11.5 million and
$10.9 million at August 1, 2015 and August  2, 2014, respectively. At August 1,  2015, total future
obligations including interest, assuming  commencement of payments at an  individual’s retirement age,
as defined under the deferred compensation arrangement, were as follows:

Fiscal Year

2016 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
2017 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
2018 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
2019 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
2020 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
2021 and thereafter

(In thousands)

$ 1,360
1,248
1,067
1,063
953
4,693

$10,384

11. EMPLOYEE STOCK OWNERSHIP  PLAN

The Company adopted the UNFI Employee  Stock Ownership Plan (the ‘‘ESOP’’) for the purpose

of acquiring outstanding shares of the Company for the  benefit of  eligible employees.  The  ESOP was
effective as of November 1, 1988 and  has received notice of qualification by the  Internal  Revenue
Service.

82

In connection with the adoption of the  ESOP, a  Trust was established  to hold the  shares acquired.

On November 1, 1988, the Trust purchased 40% of the then  outstanding common stock  of  the
Company at a price of $4.1 million. The  trustees funded  this  purchase by issuing  promissory  notes to
the initial stockholders, with the Trust shares  pledged as collateral. These notes bear interest at 1.33%
as of  August 2, 2014, and were payable through May 2015. As the debt was repaid,  the shares  were
released from collateral and allocated  to  active employees, based on the proportion of principal and
interest paid in the year.

All shares held by the ESOP were purchased  prior to December 31,  1992, except  that  9,393 shares
were purchased during the fourth quarter of  fiscal  2015 to fund the final allocation of  shares under the
ESOP.  As a result, prior to the final release of the  shares in the ESOP, the Company considered
unreleased shares of the ESOP to be outstanding for purposes of calculating  both basic  and diluted
earnings per share, whether or not the  shares had been  committed to be released. Prior to the
repayments, the debt of the ESOP was recorded as  debt and the shares pledged as collateral are
reported as unearned ESOP shares in the  consolidated balance sheets. During the fiscal years ended
August 1, 2015 and August 2, 2014, contributions totaling approximately $0.1  million and $0.2  million,
respectively, were made to the Trust.  Of  these  contributions, less than $0.1 million in each  fiscal  year
represented interest.

The ESOP shares  were classified as follows:

Total ESOP shares—beginning of year . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Shares distributed to employees . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

Total ESOP shares—end of year . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

Allocated shares . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Unreleased shares . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

Total ESOP shares . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

August 1,
2015

August 2,
2014

(In thousands)

1,595
(538)

1,057

1,057
—

1,057

1,833
(238)

1,595

1,580
15

1,595

During  the fiscal years ended August 1, 2015 and August 2, 2014, 24,512  and 41,089  shares were

released for allocation based on note  payments, respectively. All  shares  have  been released as of
August 1, 2015. The fair value of unreleased shares was approximately $0.9  million at August 2, 2014.

12. INCOME TAXES

For the fiscal year ended August 1, 2015, income before income  taxes consists of $227.4  million

from U.S. operations and $2.4 million  from foreign operations. For the  fiscal year  ended August 2,
2014, income before income taxes consists  of  $201.1 million from U.S. operations and $6.3 million from
foreign operations. For the fiscal year ended August 3, 2013, income before income taxes  consists of
$166.7 million from U.S. operations and $7.4  million from foreign  operations.

83

Total federal and state income tax (benefit) expense  consists of the  following:

Fiscal year ended August 1, 2015
U.S. Federal . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
State & Local . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Foreign . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

Fiscal year ended August 2, 2014
U.S. Federal . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
State & Local . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Foreign . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

Fiscal year ended August 3, 2013
U.S. Federal . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
State & Local . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Foreign . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

Current

Deferred

Total

(In thousands)

$60,848
14,119
729

$13,209
2,098
32

$74,057
$16,217
761
$

$75,696

$15,339

$91,035

$66,953
12,660
1,432

$ (894) $66,059
14,112
1,755

1,452
323

$81,045

$

881

$81,926

$44,095
13,366
2,021

$ 7,029
(364)
115

$51,124
13,002
2,136

$59,482

$ 6,780

$66,262

Total income tax expense (benefit) was different than the amounts computed using the  United

States statutory income tax rate of 35% applied to income  before  income taxes  as a result of the
following:

Computed ‘‘expected’’ tax expense . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
State and local income tax, net of Federal income tax

benefit

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Non-deductible expenses . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Tax  effect of share-based compensation . . . . . . . . . . .
General business credits . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Other, net . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

Fiscal year ended

August 1,
2015

August 2,
2014

August 3,
2013

$80,419

(In thousands)
$72,593

$60,940

10,547
1,551
165
(365)
(1,282)

9,135
1,333
160
(114)
(1,181)

7,501
1,516
134
(1,374)
(2,455)

Total income tax expense . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

$91,035

$81,926

$66,262

Total income tax expense (benefit) for the years ended  August 1,  2015, August 2, 2014 and

August 3, 2013 was allocated as follows:

Income tax expense . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Stockholders’ equity, difference between compensation
expense for tax purposes and amounts recognized
for financial statement purposes . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Other comprehensive income . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

August 1,
2015

August 2,
2014

August 3,
2013

$91,035

(In thousands)
$81,926

$66,262

(2,746)
(293)

(2,601)
—

(1,952)
—

$87,996

$79,325

$64,310

84

The tax effects of temporary differences  that give rise to significant  portions of the  net deferred

tax assets and deferred tax liabilities  at  August  1, 2015 and August 2, 2014  are presented below:

Deferred tax assets:
Inventories, principally due to additional  costs inventoried for

tax purposes . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Compensation and benefits related . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Accounts receivable, principally due to allowances for

uncollectible accounts . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Accrued expenses . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Net operating loss carryforwards . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Other deferred tax assets . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

Total gross deferred tax assets
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Less valuation allowance . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

2015

2014

(In thousands)

$ 9,034
23,651

$ 7,532
24,129

3,279
9,077
1,177
313

46,531
—

3,000
10,438
1,295
21

46,415
—

Net deferred tax assets . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

$ 46,531

$ 46,415

Deferred tax liabilities:
Plant and equipment, principally due to differences  in

depreciation . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Intangible assets . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Other . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

$ 47,872
31,955
15

$ 36,494
28,124
274

Total deferred tax liabilities . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

79,842

64,892

Net deferred tax liabilities . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

$(33,311) $(18,477)

Current deferred income tax assets . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Non-current deferred income tax liabilities . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

$ 32,333
(65,644)

$ 32,518
(50,995)

$(33,311) $(18,477)

In assessing the need to establish a valuation reserve for  the recoverability of deferred tax  assets,
the Company considers whether it is  more likely than not that some portion  or all of the deferred tax
assets will not be realized. The Company  considers relevant evidence, both  positive and negative, to
determine the need for a valuation allowance. Information evaluated includes  the Company’s financial
position and results of operations for the  current and preceding years, the availability of  deferred tax
liabilities and tax carrybacks, as well  as an evaluation of  currently available information about future
years. As of August 1, 2015, the Company has  sufficient taxable income in the federal carryback  period
and anticipates sufficient future taxable  income over the periods  in which  the deferred tax assets  are
deductible. The Company also has the  availability of future  reversals of taxable temporary differences
that are expected to generate taxable income in  the future. Therefore, the ultimate realization  of
deferred tax assets for federal and state tax purposes appears more likely than not at  August 1, 2015
and correspondingly no valuation allowance has been  established.

At August 1, 2015, the Company had net  operating loss carryforwards of approximately
$3.3 million for federal income tax purposes. The federal carryforwards are subject  to  an annual
limitation of approximately $0.3 million  under  Internal Revenue Code  Section  382. The carryforwards
expire at various times between fiscal  years 2017 and 2027.

The Company and its subsidiaries file  income  tax returns in  the United  States federal jurisdiction

and in various state jurisdictions. UNFI  Canada files income tax  returns  in Canada and certain of its
provinces. U.S. federal income tax examination years prior to 2012 have  either statutorily or
administratively been closed with the Internal  Revenue  Service, and with limited exception, the fiscal

85

tax years that remain subject to examination by state  jurisdictions range from  the Company’s fiscal  2011
to fiscal 2014.

The Company records interest and penalties related to unrecognized tax benefits as a  component

of income tax expense. For the fiscal  year  ended August  1, 2015, the Company recognized net tax
benefits of approximately $0.5 million in its consolidated  statement  of income. For the fiscal year ended
August 2, 2014, the Company recognized  net tax  benefits of $0.3  million  in its consolidated statement
of income related to tax examinations closed during the  fiscal  year. For the fiscal year ended August  3,
2013, the Company recognized net tax  benefits of $4.4 million in its consolidated  statement  of income
related to tax examinations closed during  the fiscal year.

The undistributed earnings of the Company’s non-U.S.  subsidiaries approximated  $16.1 million at

August 1, 2015. We consider the undistributed earnings to be  indefinitely reinvested; therefore,  we have
not provided a deferred tax liability for  any  residual U.S. tax that  may be due upon repatriation of
these earnings. Because of the effect  of  U.S. foreign tax credits, it  is not practicable to estimate  the
amount of tax that might be payable on  these earnings in the event  they no longer  are indefinitely
reinvested.

13. BUSINESS SEGMENTS

The Company has several operating divisions  aggregated under the wholesale segment, which is the

Company’s only reportable segment. These  operating divisions have  similar products  and services,
customer channels, distribution methods and historical margins. The wholesale segment is engaged  in
the national distribution of natural, organic  and  specialty foods, produce and related products  in the
United States and Canada.

The Company has additional operating divisions that  do not meet the quantitative thresholds for
reportable segments and are therefore aggregated under the caption of ‘‘Other’’. ‘‘Other’’ includes a
retail division, which engages in the sale of natural foods  and  related products to the general public
through retail storefronts on the east  coast of the United States,  a manufacturing division,  which
engages in importing, roasting and packaging of  nuts, seeds, dried  fruit and snack items, and the
Company’s branded product lines. ‘‘Other’’ also  includes certain corporate operating expenses that are
not allocated to operating divisions, which  consist of depreciation, salaries, retainers, and  other  related
expenses of officers, directors, corporate finance (including professional  services),  information
technology, governance, legal, human  resources and internal audit that  are necessary to operate the
Company’s headquarters located in Providence, Rhode Island.  As the Company  continues to expand its
business and serve its customers through a new national platform, these corporate expense amounts
have increased, which is the primary driver  behind the increasing operating losses within the ‘‘Other’’
category below. Non-operating expenses  that  are not allocated to the  operating divisions are under the
caption of ‘‘Unallocated Expenses’’. The  Company does  not record its revenues for  financial reporting
purposes  by product group, and it is  therefore  impracticable for the Company  to  report them
accordingly.

86

Following is business segment information for the  periods indicated:

Wholesale

Other

Eliminations

Unallocated
Expenses

Consolidated

(In thousands)

Fiscal year ended August 1, 2015
Net sales
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Operating income (loss) . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Interest expense . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Interest income . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Other, net . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Income before income taxes . . . . . . . . . .
Depreciation and amortization . . . . . . . .
Capital expenditures . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Goodwill . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Total assets . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Fiscal year ended  August 2, 2014
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Net sales
Operating income (loss) . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Interest expense . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Interest income . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Other, net . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Income before income taxes . . . . . . . . . .
Depreciation and amortization . . . . . . . .
Capital expenditures . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Goodwill . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Total assets . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Fiscal year ended  August 3, 2013
Net sales
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Operating income (loss) . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Interest expense . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Interest income . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Other, net . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Income before income taxes . . . . . . . . . .
Depreciation and amortization . . . . . . . .
Capital expenditures . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Goodwill . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Total assets . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

$8,099,818
259,214

$225,520
(16,295)

$(140,360)
(962)

64,452
125,217
248,909
2,378,686

(652)
3,917
17,731
189,149

(17,645)

$6,709,119
236,062

$206,618
(24,542)

$(121,290)
(732)

46,516
145,875
256,817
2,146,114

2,242
1,428
17,731
156,053

(13,276)

$5,997,235
225,895

$186,505
(38,836)

$(119,385)
(1,565)

40,148
64,969
184,143
1,596,131

2,250
1,585
17,731
145,770

(11,993)

$14,498
(356)
(1,954)

$ 7,753
(508)
(3,865)

$ 5,897
(632)
6,113

$8,184,978
241,957
14,498
(356)
(1,954)
229,769
63,800
129,134
266,640
2,550,190

$6,794,447
210,788
7,753
(508)
(3,865)
207,408
48,758
147,303
274,548
2,288,891

$6,064,355
185,494
5,897
(632)
6,113
174,116
42,398
66,554
201,874
1,729,908

87

14. QUARTERLY FINANCIAL DATA  (UNAUDITED)

The following table sets forth certain key interim financial information for the  fiscal  years  ended

August 1, 2015 and August 2, 2014:

2015
Net sales . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Gross profit . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Income before income taxes . . . . . . . .
Net income . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Per common share income
Basic: . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Diluted:
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Weighted average basic

First
Quarter

Second
Quarter

Third
Quarter

Fourth
Quarter

Full Year

(In thousands except per share data)

$1,992,476
318,996
54,615
33,042

$2,016,546
299,199
46,023
27,844

$2,114,643
325,914
69,571
41,750

$2,061,313
316,406
59,560
36,098

$8,184,978
1,260,515
229,769
138,734

$
$

0.66
0.66

$
$

0.56
0.55

$
$

0.83
0.83

$
$

0.72
0.72

$
$

2.77
2.76

Shares outstanding . . . . . . . . . . . . .

49,889

50,025

50,079

50,091

50,021

Weighted average diluted

Shares outstanding . . . . . . . . . . . . .

50,113

50,277

50,348

50,330

50,267

Market Price

High . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Low . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

$
$

69.51
58.48

$
$

80.77
67.71

$
$

83.91
66.34

$
$

69.26
45.26

$
$

83.91
45.26

2014
Net sales . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Gross profit . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Income before income taxes . . . . . . . .
Net income . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Per common share income
Basic: . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Diluted:
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Weighted average basic

First
Quarter

Second
Quarter

Third
Quarter

Fourth
Quarter

Full Year

(In thousands except per share data)

$1,602,011
271,176
46,273
27,764

$1,646,041
268,167
46,586
27,951

$1,781,729
298,129
60,653
36,392

$1,764,666
290,173
53,896
33,375

$6,794,447
1,127,645
207,408
125,482

$
$

0.56
0.56

$
$

0.56
0.56

$
$

0.73
0.73

$
$

0.67
0.67

$
$

2.53*
2.52

Shares outstanding . . . . . . . . . . . . .

49,439

49,615

49,635

49,675

49,602

Weighted average diluted

Shares outstanding . . . . . . . . . . . . .

49,735

49,873

49,931

49,972

49,888

Market Price

High . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Low . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

$
$

75.85
58.29

$
$

76.85
66.74

$
$

79.64
64.12

$
$

69.85
58.04

$
$

79.64
58.04

*

Total reflects rounding

ITEM 9. CHANGES IN AND DISAGREEMENTS WITH ACCOUNTANTS  ON ACCOUNTING AND

FINANCIAL DISCLOSURE

Not applicable.

88

ITEM 9A. CONTROLS AND PROCEDURES

In the first half of fiscal year 2015, management identified immaterial errors related  to  the
understatement of contractual obligations  due to a  customer that occurred during fiscal years 2009
through 2014. The immaterial errors  were  a result of a lack of effective controls over  the completeness
and accuracy of the recognition and measurement of amounts  due to a customer, including the
underlying data and assumptions used in  the calculation of amounts owed.  The  internal controls  in
place during this time were not responsive to changes in circumstances.

While the control deficiency did not  result  in a material misstatement to the Company’s

consolidated financial statements for  any periods through  and  including the fiscal  year ended August 2,
2014, or unaudited condensed consolidated financial  statements for the first and second quarters of
fiscal year 2015, it did represent a material  weakness  as of August 2, 2014, since there  existed a
reasonable possibility that a material misstatement of the Company’s annual  or interim financial
statements would not be prevented or detected  on a timely basis. The correction of these immaterial
errors were recognized as out-of-period  adjustments to the  interim financial information as of and for
the period ended January 31, 2015.

Evaluation of Disclosure Controls and  Procedures.

We  carried out an evaluation, under  the supervision and  with the  participation  of our  Chief
Executive Officer and Chief Financial  Officer, of the effectiveness of the  design and operation  of  our
disclosure controls and procedures (as defined  in Rules 13a-15(e) and 15d-15(e) of  the Exchange Act
as of  the end of the period covered by  this  Annual  Report  on  Form 10-K (the ‘‘Evaluation Date’’).
Based on this evaluation, our Chief Executive Officer and Chief Financial  Officer  concluded that, as  of
the Evaluation Date, our disclosure controls and  procedures  were  effective.

Remediation

The Company believes it has fully remediated the underlying causes of the material weakness in  its

internal control over financial reporting noted above. Following the identification  of  the foregoing
material weakness in the first half of fiscal  2015, management implemented a  remediation plan.
Management believes that the implementation of this plan and the performance of the components of
the plan remediated the material weakness described above.

The following steps of the remediation plan were completed  as of August 1,  2015:

(cid:129) implementation of management’s review  and analysis of the calculation including the cross-

functional confirmation of the accuracy and  completeness  of the underlying data and
assumptions; and

(cid:129) implementation of the review and analysis  on a  quarterly basis.

Because the Company was able to demonstrate  that the new controls implemented as part of the

remediation plan were operating effectively, management concluded  that the material weakness
described above does not exist as of  August  1, 2015. The Company  and its  Board of Directors  are
committed to maintaining a strong internal  control  environment,  and  believe that the remediation
efforts performed represent significant  improvements in our control environment.

Management’s Annual Report on Internal  Control  Over  Financial Reporting.

Our management is responsible for establishing and maintaining adequate internal  control over

financial reporting. Internal control over financial reporting is defined in Rules 13a-15(f) or 15d-15(f)
promulgated under the Exchange Act as  a process designed by, or  under the supervision of, our
principal executive and principal financial officers and  effected by  our Board of Directors, management

89

and other personnel, to provide reasonable assurance  regarding the reliability  of financial  reporting and
the preparation of financial statements for  external purposes  in accordance with  generally accepted
accounting principles and includes those policies and procedures that:

(cid:129) Pertain to the maintenance of records that in reasonable detail accurately and fairly  reflect the

transactions and dispositions of our assets;

(cid:129) Provide reasonable assurance that transactions  are recorded as  necessary to permit  preparation
of financial statements in accordance with generally accepted  accounting principles, and  that
receipts  and expenditures are being made  only  in accordance with authorizations of our
management and directors; and

(cid:129) Provide reasonable assurance regarding prevention  or timely  detection of unauthorized

acquisition, use or  disposition of our assets  that could  have a material  effect  on the financial
statements.

Because of its inherent limitations, internal control over  financial  reporting may not prevent or
detect misstatements. Projections of any  evaluation  of effectiveness to future  periods are subject to the
risk that controls may become inadequate because of changes  in conditions, or that the  degree  of
compliance with the policies or procedures may deteriorate.

Our management, including our Chief  Executive Officer and  Chief  Financial Officer, assessed  the

effectiveness of our internal control over  financial reporting  as of August 1, 2015. In  making this
assessment, our management used the criteria set forth by  the  Committee of  Sponsoring Organizations
of the Treadway Commission (COSO)  in  the Internal  Control-Integrated Framework (2013 framework).
Based on its assessment, our management concluded  that, as of August 1, 2015,  our  internal control
over financial reporting was effective based on those  criteria at the reasonable  assurance level.

Report of the Independent Registered Public  Accounting Firm.

The effectiveness of our internal control over financial  reporting as of  August 1,  2015 has been
audited by KPMG LLP, an independent registered public accounting  firm,  as stated in  its attestation
report which is included in ‘‘Item 8.  Financial Statements  and Supplementary  Data’’ of this Annual
Report on Form 10-K.

Changes in Internal Controls Over Financial Reporting

No change in our internal control over financial  reporting (as  such term  is defined in Exchange
Act Rule 13a-15(f)or 15d-15(f)) occurred  during  the fiscal quarter ended  August 1, 2015 that materially
affected, or is reasonably likely to materially affect, our internal  control over financial reporting.

As discussed above, subsequent to the issuance of our  consolidated financial  statements  as of and
for the fiscal year ended August 2, 2014,  immaterial errors related to prior  periods were identified that
indicated certain deficiencies existed in the Company’s  internal controls over financial reporting. The
Company concluded that these deficiencies when  aggregated could  have resulted in  a material
misstatement of the consolidated financial  statements  that would not have  been prevented  or detected
on a timely basis, and as such, these  control deficiencies  resulted in  a  material weakness  in our internal
control over financial reporting as of  August 2, 2014.  This material weakness  did not result  in any
material misstatement of the Company’s  financial statements  and disclosures for the fiscal  years  ended
July 28, 2012, August 3, 2013 and August 2,  2014. As discussed  above, the Company completed  actions
to remediate the material weakness related to our internal controls over the calculations of the
contractual obligations owing to a customer  pursuant  to  the Company’s distribution agreement with  the
customer, including implementing new  controls around the  preparation and review of  the calculation of
amounts due to the customer. As a result  of the  completion  of this remediation plan,  and as more fully
described above, the material weakness  in internal control over  financial reporting has  been fully

90

addressed and our management has concluded that as  of  August 1,  2015, the  Company’s internal
control over financial reporting was effective based  on the criteria  used  by management to evaluate the
effectiveness of the Company’s internal control over financial reporting.

ITEM 9B. OTHER INFORMATION

None.

91

PART III.

ITEM 10. DIRECTORS, EXECUTIVE  OFFICERS AND CORPORATE GOVERNANCE

The information required by this item will  be  contained, in part, in our Definitive Proxy Statement
on Schedule 14A for our Annual Meeting of Stockholders to be held on December 16, 2015 (the ‘‘2015
Proxy Statement’’) under the captions ‘‘Directors  and  Nominees for Director,’’ ‘‘Section 16(a)
Beneficial Ownership Reporting Compliance,’’  and ‘‘Committees of  the Board of Directors—Audit
Committee’’ and is incorporated herein  by  this reference.  Pursuant to Item 401(b) of Regulation S-K,
our  executive officers are reported under  the caption  ‘‘Executive Officers of the Registrant’’ in Part I,
Item I of this Annual Report on Form 10-K.

We  have adopted a code of conduct and ethics that applies to our Chief Executive Officer, Chief

Financial Officer, and employees within  our  finance, operations, and sales departments.  Our code of
conduct and ethics is publicly available  on  our website at  www.unfi.com and is available free of charge
by writing to United Natural Foods, Inc., 313  Iron Horse Way, Providence, Rhode  Island 02908, Attn:
Investor Relations. We intend to make  any  legally required disclosures regarding amendments to, or
waivers of, the provisions of the code of  conduct and ethics on  our website at www.unfi.com. Please
note that our website address is provided  as an inactive  textual reference only.

ITEM 11. EXECUTIVE COMPENSATION

The information required by this item will  be  contained in the 2015 Proxy Statement under the

captions ‘‘Non-employee Director Compensation,’’  ‘‘Executive Compensation’’, ‘‘Compensation
Discussion and Analysis’’, ‘‘Compensation  Committee Interlocks and Insider Participation’’ and ‘‘Report
of the Compensation Committee’’ and is incorporated herein by this reference.

ITEM 12. SECURITY OWNERSHIP OF  CERTAIN BENEFICIAL OWNERS AND MANAGEMENT

AND RELATED STOCKHOLDER MATTERS

The information required by this item will  be  contained, in part, in the 2015  Proxy  Statement

under the caption ‘‘Stock Ownership of  Certain Beneficial Owners and Management’’, and  is
incorporated herein by this reference.

The following table provides certain information with respect  to  equity awards under our equity

compensation plans as of August 1, 2015.

Plan Category

Number of securities to
be issued upon exercise
of outstanding options,
warrants and rights

Weighted-average
exercise price  of
outstanding options,
warrants  and  rights

Number of securities remaining
available for  future issuance
under equity compensation
plans (excluding securities
reflected in the  second  column)

Plans  approved by  stockholders . . .
Plans not  approved by stockholders

1,065,748(1)
80,978(3)

Total . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

1,146,726

$46.97(1)
—(3)

$46.97

761,493(2)
—

761,493

(1) Includes 218,781 restricted stock  units under the  2012 Plan, 38,101 performance-based restricted

stock units under the 2012 Plan and 134,959  stock options under the  2012 Plan, 364,350 restricted
stock units under the 2004 Plan, 95,775 stock options under  the 2004 Plan, 207,782  stock  options
under the 2002 Plan and 6,000 stock options under  the 1996 Plan. Restricted  stock units and
performance stock units do not have  an exercise price because their  value  is dependent upon
continued employment over a period  of time or the achievement of certain performance goals, and
are to be settled for shares of common  stock. Accordingly, they  have been disregarded for
purposes  of computing the weighted-average exercise  price.

92

(2) All shares were available for issuance under the 2012 Plan. The  2012 Plan authorizes grants  in the
form of stock options, stock appreciation  rights, restricted stock, restricted stock units, performance
shares, performance units or a combination thereof  but includes limits  on the number of awards
that may be issued in the form of restricted  shares or  units. The number of shares remaining
available for future issuances assumes that, with respect to outstanding performance-based
restricted stock units, the vesting criteria will be achieved  at the  target level.

(3) Consists of phantom stock units  outstanding  under the  United Natural Foods Inc. Deferred

Compensation Plan. Phantom stock units do  not  have an exercise  price because the  units may be
settled only for shares of common stock on a one-for-one basis  at  a  future  date as  outlined in the
plan.

ITEM 13. CERTAIN RELATIONSHIPS AND  RELATED  TRANSACTIONS,  AND DIRECTOR

INDEPENDENCE

The information required by this item  will be contained in the 2015 Proxy Statement under the

caption ‘‘Certain Relationships and Related Transactions’’ and ‘‘Director  Independence’’ and is
incorporated herein by this reference.

ITEM 14. PRINCIPAL ACCOUNTANT  FEES AND  SERVICES

The information required by this item  will be contained in the 2015 Proxy Statement under the

caption ‘‘Fees Paid to KPMG LLP’’ and is  incorporated herein  by this  reference.

93

ITEM 15. EXHIBITS AND FINANCIAL  STATEMENT  SCHEDULES

(a) Documents filed as a part of this Annual  Report on Form 10-K.

PART IV.

1.

2.

Financial Statements. The Financial  Statements listed  in  the Index  to  Financial Statements in
Item 8 hereof are filed as part of this  Annual Report on  Form 10-K.

Financial Statement Schedules. All schedules have been  omitted because they  are either not
required or the information required is included in our  consolidated financial statements or
the notes thereto included in Item 8 hereof.

3. Exhibits. The Exhibits listed in the Exhibit Index  immediately preceding such Exhibits are

filed as part of this Annual Report on  Form  10-K.

94

Pursuant to the requirements of Section  13  or 15 (d) of the Securities Exchange  Act of 1934, the

registrant has duly caused this report to be signed on its  behalf  by the undersigned  thereunto duly
authorized.

SIGNATURES

UNITED NATURAL FOODS, INC.

/s/ MARK E. SHAMBER

Mark E. Shamber
Senior Vice President, Chief Financial Officer and
Treasurer
(Principal Financial and Accounting Officer)

Dated: September 30, 2015

Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, this report has  been signed

below by the following persons on behalf of  the registrant and in the capacities  and on the dates
indicated.

Name

Title

Date

/s/ STEVEN L. SPINNER

Steven L. Spinner

/s/ MICHAEL S. FUNK

Michael S. Funk

/s/ MARK E. SHAMBER

Mark E. Shamber

/s/ ANN TORRE BATES

Ann Torre Bates

/s/ DENISE M. CLARK

Denise M. Clark

/s/ GAIL A. GRAHAM

Gail A. Graham

/s/ JAMES P. HEFFERNAN

James P. Heffernan

/s/ PETER ROY

Peter Roy

/s/ RICHARD J. SCHNIEDERS

Richard J. Schnieders

President, Chief Executive Officer and
Director (Principal Executive Officer)

September 30, 2015

Chair of the Board

September 30, 2015

Senior Vice President, Chief Financial
Officer and Treasurer (Principal
Financial and Accounting Officer)

September 30, 2015

September 30, 2015

September 30, 2015

September 30, 2015

September 30, 2015

September 30, 2015

September 30, 2015

Director

Director

Director

Director

Director

Director

95

Exhibit No.

2.1

2.2

3.1

3.2

4.1

10.1**

10.2**

10.3

10.4

10.5

10.6

EXHIBIT INDEX

Description

Asset Purchase Agreement,  dated May 10, 2010,  by and  among UNFI Canada, Inc.,  a
subsidiary of the Registrant, with SunOpta  Inc. and its  wholly  owned subsidiary,  Drive
Organics Corp. (incorporated by reference to the Registrant’s  Current Report  on
Form 8-K, filed on May 11, 2010 (File No. 1-15723)). (Pursuant to Item 601(b)(2) of
Regulation S-K, the schedules and exhibits  have been omitted from this  filing.)

Amendment No 1., dated June 4, 2010, to the Asset  Purchase Agreement dated  May 10,
2010, by and among UNFI Canada, Inc., a subsidiary of the  Registrant,  with SunOpta Inc.
and its wholly owned subsidiary, Drive Organics Corp. (incorporated by reference  to  the
Registrant’s Current Report on Form 8-K, filed on  June  10, 2010 (File No.  1-15723)).

Certificate of Incorporation of  the Registrant, as amended (restated for  SEC filing
purposes  only) (incorporated by reference to the  Registrant’s  Quarterly Report on
Form 10-Q for the quarter ended January 1,  2015 (File No. 1-15723)).

Amended and Restated Bylaws of the Registrant  (restated for  SEC  filing purposes only)
(incorporated by reference to the Registrant’s  Quarterly Report  on Form 10-Q for  the
quarter ended January 1, 2015 (File No. 1-15723)).

Specimen Certificate for shares  of  Common Stock, $0.01 par value, of the Registrant
(incorporated by reference to the Registrant’s  Annual  Report on Form 10-K for the year
ended August 1, 2009 (File No. 1-15723)).

Amended and Restated Employee Stock Ownership  Plan, effective March 1,  2004
(incorporated by reference to the Registrant’s  Annual  Report on Form 10-K for the year
ended July 31, 2004 (File No. 1-15723)).

Amendments No. 1 through  8 to Amended and Restated Employee Stock Ownership Plan
(incorporated by reference to the Registrant’s  Annual  Report on Form 10-K for the year
ended August 3, 2013 (File No. 1-15723)).

Employee Stock Ownership Trust  Loan Agreement among Norman Cloutier, Steven
Townsend, Daniel Atwood, Theodore Cloutier and the Employee Stock  Ownership  Plan
and Trust, dated November 1,  1988 (incorporated by reference to the Registrant’s
Registration Statement on Form S-1 (File  No. 333-11349)).

Stock Pledge Agreement  between the  Employee  Stock Ownership Trust  and Steven
Townsend, Trustee for Norman Cloutier, Steven Townsend, Daniel Atwood and Theodore
Cloutier, dated November 1, 1988 (incorporated by reference to the Registrant’s
Registration Statement on Form S-1 (File  No. 333-11349)).

Trust Agreement among Norman  Cloutier, Steven  Townsend,  Daniel  Atwood,  Theodore
Cloutier and Steven Townsend as Trustee, dated November 1,  1988 (incorporated  by
reference to the Registrant’s Registration Statement on Form S-1 (File  No. 333-11349)).

Guaranty Agreement between the Registrant and Steven Townsend as Trustee for  Norman
Cloutier, Steven Townsend, Daniel Atwood and Theodore  Cloutier,  dated November 1,
1988 (incorporated by reference to the Registrant’s Registration Statement on Form S-1
(File No. 333-11349)).

10.7**

Amended and Restated 1996 Stock Option Plan (incorporated by reference  to  the
Registrant’s Definitive Proxy Statement for the year ended  July 31, 2000 (File
No. 1-15723)).

96

Exhibit No.

10.8**

10.9**

10.10**

10.11**

10.12**

10.13**

10.14**

10.15**

10.16**

10.17**

10.18**

10.19**

10.20**

10.21**

Description

Amendment No. 1 to Amended and Restated 1996  Stock Option  Plan (incorporated by
reference to the Registrant’s Definitive Proxy Statement for the year  ended  July 31, 2000
(File No. 1-15723)).

Amendment No. 2 to Amended and Restated 1996  Stock Option  Plan (incorporated by
reference to the Registrant’s Definitive Proxy Statement for the year  ended  July 31, 2000
(File No. 1-15723)).

2002 Stock Incentive Plan (incorporated by reference  to  the Registrant’s Annual Report on
Form 10-K for the year ended July 31, 2003 (File  No. 1-15723)).

United Natural Foods, Inc.  Amended  and Restated  2004 Equity Incentive Plan
(incorporated by reference to the Registrant’s  Current  Report on  Form 8-K, filed on
December 21, 2010 (File No. 1-15723)).

Form of Restricted Stock Agreement, pursuant to the Amended and Restated 2004 Equity
Incentive Plan (incorporated by reference to the  Registrant’s Registration Statement on
Form S-8 POS (File No. 333-123462)).

Form of Restricted Unit  Award Agreement, pursuant to the Amended and Restated 2004
Equity Incentive Plan (incorporated by  reference to the Registrant’s Annual  Report on
Form 10-K for the year ended July 31, 2010 (File  No. 1-15723)).

Form of Non-Statutory Stock  Option  Award Agreement, pursuant to the Amended and
Restated 2004 Equity Incentive Plan (incorporated by reference to the Registrant’s Annual
Report on Form 10-K for the year ended July  31, 2010 (File No.  1-15723)).

Form of Performance Share  Agreement,  pursuant to the Amended and  Restated 2004
Equity Incentive Plan (incorporated by  reference to the Registrant’s Current Report  on
Form 8-K, filed on March 18, 2011 (File No. 1-15723)).

Form of Performance Share  Award Agreement, pursuant  to  the Amended and  Restated
2004 Equity Incentive Plan (incorporated by reference  to  the Registrant’s Annual Report
on Form 10-K for the year ended July 30,  2011 (File No. 1-15723)).

Form of Performance Unit Award  Agreement, pursuant to the Amended and Restated
2004 Equity Incentive Plan (incorporated by reference  to  the Registrant’s Annual Report
on Form 10-K for the year ended July 30,  2011(File No.  1-15723)).

Form of Restricted Stock Unit Award  Agreement, pursuant to the  Amended  and Restated
2004 Equity Incentive Plan (Employee) (incorporated by reference to the Registrant’s
Annual  Report on Form 10-K for the  year  ended July  28, 2012 (File No. 1-15723)).

Form of Restricted Stock Unit Award  Agreement, pursuant to the  Amended  and Restated
2004 Equity Incentive Plan (Director) (incorporated by reference  to  the Registrant’s
Annual  Report on Form 10-K for the  year  ended July  28, 2012 (File No. 1-15723)).

Form of Non-Statutory Stock  Option  Award Agreement, pursuant to the 2002  Stock
Incentive Plan (Employee) (incorporated by reference  to  the Registrant’s Annual Report
on Form 10-K for the year ended July 28,  2012 (File No. 1-15723)).

Form of Non-Statutory Stock  Option  Award Agreement, pursuant to the Amended and
Restated 2004 Equity Incentive Plan (Director) (incorporated by reference to the
Registrant’s Annual Report on Form 10-K  for the  year ended July 28, 2012 (File
No. 1-15723)).

97

Exhibit No.

10.22**

10.23**

10.24**

10.25**

10.26**

10.27**

10.28**

10.29**

10.30**

10.31**

Description

Form of Non-Statutory Stock  Option  Award Agreement, pursuant to the Amended and
Restated 2004 Equity Incentive Plan (Employee)  (incorporated by reference to the
Registrant’s Annual Report on Form 10-K  for the  year ended July 28, 2012 (File
No. 1-15723)).

United Natural Foods, Inc.  2012 Equity Incentive Plan (incorporated by reference  to  the
Registrant’s Current Report on Form 8-K filed on  December 18,  2012 (File No.  1-15723))
(the ‘‘2012 Equity Plan’’).

Form of Terms and Conditions of  Grant of Non-Statutory Stock Options to Employee,
pursuant to the 2012 Equity Plan (incorporated by reference to the Registrant’s Quarterly
Report on Form 10-Q for the quarter ended January 26,  2013 (File No.  1-15723)).

Form of Terms and Conditions of  Grant of Non-Statutory Stock Options to Director,
pursuant to the 2012 Equity Plan (incorporated by reference to the Registrant’s Quarterly
Report on Form 10-Q for the quarter ended January 26,  2013 (File No.  1-15723)).

Form of Terms and Conditions of  Grant of Restricted  Share  Units to Employee, pursuant
to the 2012 Equity Plan (incorporated by reference  to  the Registrant’s Quarterly  Report on
Form 10-Q for the quarter ended January 26,  2013)  (File No. 1-15723).

Form of Terms and Conditions of  Grant of Restricted  Share  Units to Director, pursuant  to
the 2012 Equity Plan (incorporated by reference  to  the Registrant’s Quarterly  Report on
Form 10-Q for the quarter ended January 26,  2013)  (File No. 1-15723).

Form of Performance-Based  Vesting Restricted Share  Unit Award Agreement, pursuant to
the 2012 Equity Plan (incorporated by reference  to  the Registrant’s Quarterly  Report on
Form 10-Q for the quarter ended January 26,  2013)  (File No. 1-15723).

Form of Performance-Based  Vesting Restricted Share  Award Agreement, pursuant to the
2012 Equity Plan (incorporated by reference to the  Registrant’s Quarterly Report  on
Form 10-Q for the quarter ended January 26,  2013)  (File No. 1-15723).

Fiscal 2014 Senior Management Cash Incentive Plan (incorporated by reference  to  the
Registrant’s Annual Report on Form 10-K  for the  year ended August 3, 2013  (File
No. 1-15723)).

Fiscal 2015 Senior Management Cash Incentive Plan (incorporated by reference  to  the
Registrant’s Annual Report on Form 10-K  for the  year ended August 2, 2014  (File
No. 1-15723)).

10.32* ** Fiscal 2016 Senior Management Cash Incentive Plan.

10.33**

10.34**

10.35**

United Natural Foods, Inc.  Deferred Compensation Plan (incorporated by reference to the
Registrant’s Annual Report on Form 10-K  for the  year ended July 30, 2011 (File
No. 1-15723)).

United Natural Foods, Inc.  Deferred Stock  Plan  (incorporated by reference to the
Registrant’s Annual Report on Form 10-K  for the  year ended July 30, 2011(File
No. 1-15723)).

Offer Letter between Steven  L. Spinner,  President  and  CEO, and the Registrant, dated
August  27, 2008 (incorporated by reference to the Registrant’s Quarterly Report on
Form 10-Q for the quarter ended November 1,  2008 (File  No. 1-15723)).

98

Exhibit No.

10.36**

10.37**

10.38

10.39

10.40

10.41**

10.42**

10.43**

10.44

10.45+

10.46+

10.47+

Description

Amendment to Offer Letter  between Steven L. Spinner, President and CEO,  and the
Registrant, dated August 27, 2008 to include application  of  Incentive Compensation
Recoupment Policy of UNFI (incorporated by reference to the Registrant’s Quarterly
Report on Form 10-Q for the quarter ended October  31, 2009 (File No.  1-15723)).

Severance Agreement between Steven L. Spinner,  President and  CEO,  and the  Registrant,
effective as of September 16, 2008 (included within  Exhibit  10.36, which  is incorporated by
reference to the Registrant’s Quarterly Report on Form  10-Q for the quarter ended
November 1, 2008 (File No. 1-15723)).

Form Indemnification Agreement  for  Directors and Officers (incorporated by reference  to
the Registrant’s Quarterly Report on  Form 10-Q for the quarter ended  May 2, 2009 (File
No. 1-15723)).

Form of Modification of Indemnification Agreement  (incorporated  by  reference to the
Registrant’s Annual Report on Form 10-K  for the  year ended August 3, 2013  (File
No. 1-15723)).

Revised Form Indemnification Agreement for  Directors and Officers (incorporated by
reference to the Registrant’s Annual Report on  Form 10-K for the  year ended August  3,
2013 (File No. 1-15723)).

Form of Change in Control Agreement between the  Registrant  and each  of  Mark Shamber
and Joseph J. Traficanti (incorporated  by reference to the  Registrant’s Annual  Report on
Form 10-K for the year ended July 31, 2010 (File  No. 1-15723)).

Form of Change in Control Agreement between the  Registrant  and each  of  Eric Dorne,
Thomas Dziki, Sean Griffin, Craig Smith,  Christopher Testa and Donald McIntyre
(incorporated by reference to the Registrant’s  Annual  Report on Form 10-K for the year
ended July 31, 2010 (File No. 1-15723)).

Severance Agreement between the  Registrant  and each  of  Eric Dorne, Michael Funk,
Thomas Dziki, Sean Griffin, Craig Smith,  Christopher Testa, Donald  McIntyre, Mark
Shamber and Joseph J. Traficanti (incorporated by reference to the Registrant’s Current
Report on Form 8-K, filed on April 7,  2008 (File No. 1-15723)).

Real Estate Term Notes between the  Registrant and City National Bank, dated April  28,
2000 (incorporated by reference to the Registrant’s Annual Report on Form  10-K for  the
year ended July 31, 2000 (File No. 1-15723)).

Distribution Agreement between  the Registrant and  Whole Foods Market
Distribution, Inc., effective September  26, 2006  (incorporated by reference to the
Registrant’s Quarterly Report on Form  10-Q for the quarter ended October 28, 2006 (File
No. 1-15723)).

Amendment to Distribution  Agreement  between the Registrant and Whole Foods Market
Distribution, Inc., effective June 2, 2010 (incorporated by reference to the Registrant’s
Annual  Report on Form 10-K for the  year  ended July  31, 2010 (File No. 1-15723)).

Amendment to Distribution  Agreement  between the Registrant and Whole Foods
Distribution effective October 11, 2010 (incorporated by  reference to the  Registrant’s
Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for  the quarter ended October 30, 2010 (File
No. 1-15723)).

99

Exhibit No.

10.48

10.49+

10.50

10.51+

Description

Third Amendment to the Agreement  for  Distribution of Products between Whole  Foods
Market Distribution, Inc. and the Registrant, effective February 20,  2014 (incorporated by
reference to the Registrant’s Quarterly Report on Form  10-Q for the quarter ended May 3,
2014 (File No. 1-15723)).

Second Amended and Restated Loan and Security Agreement dated  May 24,  2012, by and
among United Natural Foods, Inc., United Natural Foods West, Inc., United Natural
Trading Co. and UNFI Canada, Inc. as Borrowers, the Lenders party  thereto, Bank  of
America, N.A. as Administrative Agent  for the  Lenders, Bank of America, N.A. (acting
through its Canada branch), as Canadian  Agent for the Lenders and the other parties
thereto (incorporated by reference to the  Registrant’s Current  Report on  Form 8-K, filed
on May  31, 2012 (File No. 1-15723)).

First Amendment Agreement  dated May 21, 2014,  by and  among United Natural
Foods, Inc., United Natural Foods West,  Inc. and UNFI  Canada, Inc., as Borrowers, the
Lenders party thereto, Bank of America,  N.A. as  Administrative Agent for the Lenders,
Bank of America, N.A. (acting through  its  Canada branch),  as Canadian Agent for  the
Lenders and the other parties thereto  (incorporated  by reference to the Registrant’s
Current Report on Form 8-K, filed on  May 28,  2014 (File No.  1-15723)).

Term Loan Agreement dated  August 14, 2014, by and among  United Natural Foods, Inc.
and Albert’s Organics, Inc., as Borrowers, the Lenders party thereto, Bank of  America,
N.A., as Administrative Agent for the Lenders,  and the  other parties thereto (incorporated
by reference to the Registrant’s Current Report on Form 8-K, filed on  August 20, 2014
(File No. 1-15723)).

10.52**

Form of Performance-Based  Vesting Restricted Share  Unit Award Agreement, pursuant to
the 2012 Equity Plan (incorporated by reference  to  the Registrant’s Annual Report on
Form 10-K for the year ended August  2, 2014 (File  No.  1-15723)).

10.53* ** Form of Two-Year Performance-Based  Vesting Restricted Share Unit Award  Agreement,

pursuant to the 2012 Equity Plan.

10.54* ** Form of One-Year Performance-Based Vesting Restricted Share  Unit Award Agreement,

pursuant to the 2012 Equity Plan.

10.55

10.56

10.57

10.58

10.59

Lease between ALCO Cityside Federal LLC, and the Registrant, dated October 14, 2008
(incorporated by reference to the Registrant’s  Quarterly Report  on Form 10-Q for  the
quarter ended May 1, 2010 (File No. 1-15723)).

Amendment to Lease between ALCO Cityside  Federal  LLC,  and the  Registrant,  dated
May 12, 2009 (incorporated by reference to the Registrant’s Quarterly Report on
Form 10-Q for the quarter ended May  1, 2010 (File No.  1-15723)).

Second Amendment to Lease  between  ALCO  Cityside  Federal LLC and  the Registrant,
dated May 10, 2011 (incorporated by reference to the Registrant’s Quarterly Report on
Form 10-Q for the quarter ended January 31,  2015 (File No. 1-15723)).

Third Amendment to Lease between ALCO Cityside Federal  LLC and the Registrant,
dated August 7, 2013 (incorporated by reference to the Registrant’s  Quarterly Report on
Form 10-Q for the quarter ended January 31,  2015 (File No. 1-15723)).

Fourth Amendment to Lease  between ALCO Cityside Federal LLC  and the  Registrant,
dated October 20, 2014 (incorporated by reference to the Registrant’s Quarterly  Report on
Form 10-Q for the quarter ended January 31,  2015 (File No. 1-15723)).

100

Exhibit No.

Description

21*

23.1*

31.1*

31.2*

32.1*

32.2*

101*

Subsidiaries of the Registrant.

Consent of Independent  Registered Public  Accounting Firm.

Certification of CEO pursuant to Section 302 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002.

Certification of CFO pursuant to Section 302 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002.

Certification of CEO pursuant to 18 U.S.C. Section 1350, as  adopted  pursuant  to
Section  906 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002.

Certification of CFO pursuant to 18 U.S.C. Section 1350, as  adopted  pursuant  to
Section  906 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002.

The following materials from the  United Natural Foods, Inc.’s  Annual  Report on
Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended August  1, 2015,  formatted in XBRL (eXtensible
Business Reporting Language): (i) Consolidated Balance Sheets, (ii)  Consolidated
Statements of Income, (iii) Consolidated  Statements of Comprehensive Income,
(iv) Consolidated Statement of Stockholders’ Equity,  (v) Consolidated Statements  of  Cash
Flows, and (vi) Notes to Consolidated Financial  Statements.

*

Filed herewith.

** Denotes a management contract or compensatory plan  or arrangement.

+ Confidential treatment has been  requested  and granted with respect to  certain  portions of this

exhibit pursuant to Rule 24b-2 of the  Securities Exchange Act of 1934,  as amended.  Omitted
portions have been filed separately with the  United States Securities and Exchange Commission.

101

SUBSIDIARIES OF THE REGISTRANT

NAME

Albert’s Organics, Inc.
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Blue Marble Brands, LLC . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Fromages de France, Inc . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Natural Retail Group, Inc. (d/b/a Earth Origins Market) . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Select Nutrition, LLC . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Springfield Development Corp LLC . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Tony’s Fine Foods . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Tutto Pronte . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
UNFI Canada, Inc.
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
United Natural Foods West, Inc. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
United Natural Trading, LLC (d/b/a  Woodstock Farms Manufacturing) . .

Exhibit 21

JURISDICTION OF
INCORPORATION/FORMATION

California
Delaware
California
Delaware
Delaware
Delaware
California
California
Canada
California
Delaware

Exhibit 23.1

Consent of Independent Registered Public Accounting  Firm

The Board of Directors
United Natural Foods, Inc.:

We consent to the  incorporation by reference in the registration  statement  (No. 333-197511) on

Form S-3 of United Natural Foods, Inc. and (No. 333-161845, 333-161884, 333-19947, 333-19949,
333-71673, 333-56652, 333-106217, 333-123462, and  333-185637)  on Form  S-8 of United Natural
Foods, Inc. of our report dated September 30,  2015, with respect to the consolidated balance sheets of
United Natural Foods, Inc. as of August 1,  2015 and August 2,  2014, and the related  consolidated
statements of income, comprehensive  income,  stockholders’ equity and cash  flows for each of the  years
in the  three-year period ended August  1, 2015, and  the  effectiveness  of internal control  over financial
reporting as of August 1, 2015, which report appears in the August 1,  2015 annual report  on Form 10-K
of United Natural Foods, Inc.

Providence, Rhode Island
September 30, 2015

Exhibit 31.1

CERTIFICATION PURSUANT TO SECTION 302  OF THE  SARBANES-OXLEY  ACT  OF 2002

I, Steven L. Spinner, certify that:

1.

I have reviewed this annual report  on Form 10-K of United Natural Foods, Inc.;

2. Based on my knowledge, this report does  not  contain any untrue statement  of  a material fact

or omit to state a material fact necessary  to  make the statements  made, in light of the
circumstances under which such statements were made, not misleading with respect to the
period covered by this report;

3. Based on my knowledge, the financial statements, and  other financial  information included in
this report, fairly present in all material respects  the financial condition, results of operations
and  cash flows of the registrant as of, and for,  the  periods presented in this report;

4. The registrant’s other certifying  officer  and I are responsible for establishing and  maintaining

disclosure controls and procedures (as defined  in Exchange  Act Rules 13a-15(e) and
15d-15(e)) and internal control over financial reporting (as  defined in  Exchange Act
Rules 13a-15(f) and 15d-15(f)) for the  registrant and have:

(a) Designed such disclosure controls and  procedures, or caused such disclosure  controls and
procedures to be designed under our  supervision, to ensure that material  information
relating to the registrant, including its consolidated subsidiaries, is  made known to us by
others within those entities, particularly during the period in which this  report is  being
prepared;

(b) Designed such internal control over financial reporting,  or caused such  internal control
over financial reporting to be designed  under our supervision, to provide reasonable
assurance regarding the reliability of  financial  reporting and the preparation  of  financial
statements for external purposes in accordance with generally accepted accounting
principles;

(c) Evaluated the effectiveness of the  registrant’s disclosure  controls and procedures and

presented in this report our conclusions  about the effectiveness of the disclosure controls
and procedures, as of the end of the  period  covered by this report  based on  such
evaluation; and

(d) Disclosed in this report any change in  the registrant’s internal control over financial

reporting that occurred during the registrant’s most recent fiscal  quarter (the registrant’s
fourth fiscal quarter in the case of an annual report) that has  materially affected,  or is
reasonably likely to materially affect,  the registrant’s internal control over financial
reporting; and

5. The registrant’s other certifying  officer  and  I have disclosed, based on our most recent

evaluation of internal control over financial reporting, to the registrant’s auditors and the
audit committee of the registrant’s board  of  directors (or persons  performing the equivalent
functions):

(a) All significant deficiencies and material weaknesses in the design or operation  of  internal

control over financial reporting which are  reasonably likely  to  adversely affect  the
registrant’s ability to record, process, summarize and report  financial  information; and

(b) Any fraud, whether or not material,  that involves management or other employees  who
have a significant role in the registrant’s  internal control over financial reporting.

/s/ STEVEN L. SPINNER

Steven L. Spinner
Chief Executive Officer

September 30, 2015

Note: A signed original of this written  statement  has been  provided to the  Company and will  be

retained by the Company and furnished  to  the Securities and Exchange  Commission or its staff
upon request.

Exhibit 31.2

CERTIFICATION PURSUANT TO SECTION 302  OF THE  SARBANES-OXLEY  ACT  OF 2002

I, Mark E. Shamber, certify that:

1.

I have reviewed this annual report  on Form 10-K of United Natural Foods, Inc.;

2. Based on my knowledge, this report does  not  contain any untrue statement  of  a material fact

or omit to state a material fact necessary  to  make the statements  made, in light of the
circumstances under which such statements were made, not misleading with respect to the
period covered by this report;

3. Based on my knowledge, the financial statements, and  other financial  information included in
this report, fairly present in all material respects  the financial condition, results of operations
and  cash flows of the registrant as of, and for,  the  periods presented in this report;

4. The registrant’s other certifying  officer  and I are responsible for establishing and  maintaining

disclosure controls and procedures (as defined  in Exchange  Act Rules 13a-15(e) and
15d-15(e)) and internal control over financial reporting (as  defined in  Exchange Act
Rules 13a-15(f) and 15d-15(f)) for the  registrant and have:

(a) Designed such disclosure controls and  procedures, or caused such disclosure  controls and
procedures to be designed under our  supervision, to ensure that material  information
relating to the registrant, including its consolidated subsidiaries, is  made known to us by
others within those entities, particularly during the period in which this  report is  being
prepared;

(b) Designed such internal control over financial reporting,  or caused such  internal control
over financial reporting to be designed  under our supervision, to provide reasonable
assurance regarding the reliability of  financial  reporting and the preparation  of  financial
statements for external purposes in accordance with generally accepted accounting
principles;

(c) Evaluated the effectiveness of the  registrant’s disclosure  controls and procedures and

presented in this report our conclusions  about the effectiveness of the disclosure controls
and procedures, as of the end of the  period  covered by this report  based on  such
evaluation; and

(d) Disclosed in this report any change in  the registrant’s internal control over financial

reporting that occurred during the registrant’s most recent fiscal  quarter (the registrant’s
fourth fiscal quarter in the case of an annual report) that has  materially affected,  or is
reasonably likely to materially affect,  the registrant’s internal control over financial
reporting; and

5. The registrant’s other certifying  officer  and  I have disclosed, based on our most recent

evaluation of internal control over financial reporting, to the registrant’s auditors and the
audit committee of the registrant’s board  of  directors (or persons  performing the equivalent
functions):

(a) All significant deficiencies and material weaknesses in the design or operation  of  internal

control over financial reporting which are  reasonably likely  to  adversely affect  the
registrant’s ability to record, process, summarize and report  financial  information; and

(b) Any fraud, whether or not material,  that involves management or other employees  who
have a significant role in the registrant’s  internal control over financial reporting.

/s/ MARK E. SHAMBER

Mark E. Shamber
Chief Financial Officer

September 30, 2015

Note: A signed original of this written  statement  has been  provided to the  Company and will  be

retained by the Company and furnished  to  the Securities and Exchange  Commission or its staff
upon request.

Exhibit 32.1

CERTIFICATION PURSUANT TO SECTION 906  OF THE  SARBANES-OXLEY  ACT  OF 2002

The undersigned, in his capacity as the Chief  Executive  Officer  of United  Natural Foods,  Inc., a
Delaware corporation (the ‘‘Company’’),  hereby certifies that the  Annual Report of the Company on
Form 10-K for the period ended August  1, 2015 fully  complies with  the requirements  of Section 13(a)
or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act  of  1934 and that the information contained in such Annual
Report on Form 10-K fairly presents in all  material respects the  financial  condition and  results of
operations of the Company.

/s/ STEVEN L. SPINNER
Steven L. Spinner
Chief Executive Officer

September 30, 2015

Note: A signed original of this written  statement  has been  provided to the  Company and will  be

retained by the Company and furnished  to  the Securities and Exchange  Commission or its staff
upon request.

Exhibit 32.2

CERTIFICATION PURSUANT TO SECTION 906  OF THE  SARBANES-OXLEY  ACT  OF 2002

The undersigned, in his capacity as the Chief  Financial Officer of United Natural  Foods, Inc., a
Delaware corporation (the ‘‘Company’’),  hereby certifies that the  Annual Report of the Company on
Form 10-K for the period ended August  1, 2015 fully  complies with  the requirements  of Section 13(a)
or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act  of  1934 and that the information contained in such Annual
Report on Form 10-K fairly presents in all  material respects the  financial  condition and  results of
operations of the Company.

/s/ MARK E. SHAMBER
Mark E. Shamber
Chief Financial Officer

September 30, 2015

Note: A signed original of this written  statement  has been  provided to the  Company and will  be

retained by the Company and furnished  to  the Securities and Exchange  Commission or its staff
upon request.