Companies Actively Collaborating on Definitive Long-Term Agreement
DAYVILLE, Conn., July 28 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- United Natural Foods,
Inc., (Nasdaq: UNFI) today announced the extension of their current primary
distribution agreement with Whole Foods Market, Inc. (Nasdaq: WFMI) through
December 31, 2004. The extension is consistent with the terms and conditions
of their existing agreement, which was set to expire August 31, 2004, and was
entered into to allow Whole Foods Market and United Natural Foods to finalize
negotiations concerning a definitive long-term primary distribution agreement.
Steven Townsend, United Natural Foods Chairman and Chief Executive Officer
commented. "We're proud of our strong track record of service to Whole Foods
Market and are committed to completing a contract which will reflect the
relationship we have developed over the last ten years. We believe this
extension of our distribution agreement will provide us with enough time to
complete the negotiations."
Walter Robb, Whole Foods Market Chief Operating Officer, said, "Whole
Foods Market is looking forward to continuing our long and successful
relationship with UNFI."
About United Natural Foods
United Natural Foods, Inc. carries and distributes over 35,000 products to
more than 18,000 customers nationwide. The Company serves a wide variety of
retail formats including conventional supermarket chains, natural product
superstores and independent retail operators. For more information on United
Natural Foods, Inc., visit the Company's web site at www.unfi.com.
About Whole Foods Market(R)
Founded in 1980 in Austin, Texas, Whole Foods Market
(www.wholefoodsmarket.com) is the world's largest natural and organic foods
supermarket and America's first national certified organic grocer. In fiscal
year 2003, the company had sales of $3.1 billion and currently has 160 stores
in the United States, Canada, and the United Kingdom. The Whole Foods Market
motto, "Whole Foods, Whole People, Whole Planet"(TM) captures the company's
mission to find success in customer satisfaction and wellness, employee
excellence and happiness, enhanced shareholder value, community support and
environmental improvement. Whole Foods Market, Harry's Farmers Market(R), and
Fresh & Wild(R) are trademarks owned by Whole Foods Market IP, LP. Whole Foods
Market employs more than 30,000 team members and has been ranked for seven
consecutive years as one of the "100 Best Companies to Work for" in America by
Fortune magazine.
"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 quarterly report on Form 10-Q
filed with the Commission on June 14, 2004, 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. The Company is not undertaking to
update any information in the foregoing reports until the effective date of
its future reports required by applicable laws. Any projections of future
results of operations should not be construed in any manner as a guarantee
that such results will in fact occur. These projections are subject to change
and could differ materially from final reported results. The Company may from
time to time update these publicly announced projections, but it is not
obligated to do so.
SOURCE United Natural Foods, Inc.
-0- 07/28/2004
/CONTACT: Rick D. Puckett, Vice President, CFO and Treasurer of United
Natural Foods, +1-860-779-2800, or Joseph Calabrese, General Information,
Financial Relations Board, +1-212-445-8434/
/Web site: http://www.wholefoodsmarket.com
http://www.unfi.com /
(UNFI WFMI)