You know you’re doing something right when Fortune Magazine ranks you as one of their “Most Admired Companies” for the past two years. That honor continues to inspire United Natural Foods Inc. (UNFI) to better performance for their customers and shareholders alike. Headquartered in Dayville, Connecticut, United is the largest, publicly traded wholesale distributor to the natural and organic foods industry.
Trading on NASDAQ as part of the Food Wholesale business sector, they carry and distribute over 40,000 products to more than 17,000 customers in the United States. They serve traditional supermarket chains, natural products superstores, independent health food retailers, and the food service industry. In 2003, the company became the first and largest certified organic distributor in North America. Quality Assurance International, the industry’s underwriter of organic quality, certified all of their distribution centers.
United Natural Foods Inc.’s product lines include natural and organic groceries, nutritional supplements, personal care items, and organic produce. They operate four distribution units in their business: United Natural Foods, Eastern Region; United Natural Foods, Western Region; Albert’s Organics; and Select Nutrition. United Natural Foods’ Eastern and Western Regions serve customers from 10 distribution centers located across the U.S.
Albert’s Organics is a distributor of quality, organically grown produce and perishable items. This division also delivers into Canada. Select Nutrition distributes more than 14,000 health and beauty aids, vitamins, minerals and supplements. They distribute from centers located in California and Pennsylvania.
In 1993, the company started Natural Retail Group (NRG), a chain of independently operated retail stores. They have 13 stores from Cape Cod to Key West, with the majority of them in the state of Florida. The company also acquired the Hershey Import Co. in 1998. Hershey Import is an importer, processor, packager, and wholesaler of nuts, dried fruit, seeds, trail mixes, natural and organic products, and confections.
With their huge selection of products, United Natural Foods Inc. continues as a leading supplier to the organic and natural foods industry. They see the value in offering quality products to today’s health-conscious consumer. Their goal is to deliver healthy food and profits to their customers and shareholders respectively.
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