Press Release Details

Specifically, the shareholder group elected current directors Thomas B. Simone and Gordon D. Barker to three-year terms. Additionally, the appointment of KPMG LLP, an independent accounting firm, to examine the company's financial statements for fiscal year 2002 was ratified.

Thomas B. Simone, 59, has served as the Chairman of the Board of Directors since December 1999 and as a member of the Board of Directors since October 1996. Mr. Simone is a member of the Audit Committee, the Nominating Committee and the Compensation Committee. Mr. Simone has served as President and Chief Executive Officer of Simone and Associates, a healthcare and natural products investment and consulting company, since April 1994. From February 1991 until April 1994, Mr. Simone was President of McKesson Drug Company.

Gordon D. Barker, 55, a director since September 1999 serves as the Chairman of the Compensation Committee and as a member of the Audit Committee. Mr. Barker has served as Chief Executive Officer of Snyder's Drug Stores, Inc. since October 1999. From March 1968 to December 1996, Mr. Baker was employed at PayLess Drug Stores, Inc. (subsequently renamed ThriftyPayLess Drug Stores, Inc.) where he rose from Pharmacist, through several levels of management and ultimately become Chief Executive Officer and President.

The record date for shareholders to vote at the Annual Meeting was October 17, 2001. A formal meeting notice, agenda and proxy card were mailed along with United Natural Foods proxy statement and annual report on November 1, 2001.

About United Natural Foods

United Natural Foods, Inc. carries and distributes over 30,000 products to more than 7,000 customers nationwide. The Company serves a wide variety of retail formats including conventional supermarket chains, natural product superstores and independent retail operators.

"Safe Harbor" Statement under the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995: Statements in this press release regarding United Natural's business which are not historical facts are "forward-looking statements" that involve risks and uncertainties. For a discussion of such risks and uncertainties, which could cause actual results to differ from those contained in the forward-looking statements, including but not limited to general business conditions, the impact of competition and our dependence on principal customers, see "Risk Factors" in the Company's annual report on Form 10-K filed with the Commission on October 23, 2001, and its other filings under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 as amended. Any forward-looking statements are made pursuant to the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995 and, as such, speak only as of the date made. United Natural is not undertaking to update any information in the foregoing reports until the effective date of its future reports required by applicable laws.

SOURCE United Natural Foods, Inc.

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