DAYVILLE, Conn., March 21 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- United Natural Foods,
Inc. (Nasdaq: UNFI) has formed a joint-venture partnership with Vitamin Angels
to assure that chewable multi-vitamins and anti-parasitic medicines will get
into the mouths of 55,000 Dominican Republic school-aged children between the
ages of 2 and 10 years old. The Batey Relief Alliance, through their regional
branch, BRA Dominica, will monitor the distribution to those children who are
undernourished, malnourished or deprived of micro nutrients.
United Natural Foods is pleased to have had the opportunity to partner
with Vitamin Angels, a non-profit, non-sectarian organization created in 1994
to fight malnutrition and childhood blindness around the world, and recently
participated in the initial distributions. Company representatives Rick
Antonelli, Chief Operating Officer and Executive Vice President, and Margaret
Loew, Vice President of Special Projects, traveled with Howard Schiffer,
Founder and Chief Executive Officer of Vitamin Angels, into the Bateyes of the
Dominican Republic to assist with the initial distributions. A Batey is
defined as home to former sugar cane workers displaced when the industry was
privatized and are characterized by substandard living conditions. In each
Batey, a volunteer health promoter will assist in the distribution and
monitoring of the program which will be on-going with the assistance of the
BRA.
"We admire the charitable work of Vitamin Angels, and are delighted to be
able to participate. It was an incredibly eye opening experience traveling to
the Bateyes and seeing first hand the difference we can make in these
children's quality of life. Each and every one of them deserves the chance at
a long and healthy life and we are grateful for the opportunity to provide
assistance," Mr. Antonelli noted.
"Seeing children in poor living conditions, without access to potable
water is heartbreaking and only reinforces how important this program is to
the future of the next generation. Every little bit can make a difference and
children's multiple vitamins can help the children from the early stages of
life," Ms. Loew added.
Mr. Antonelli concluded, "It is United Natural Food's vision that our
supplier and customer partners will see the value that Vitamin Angels brings
to the planet and join us in supporting their efforts. A single $1.00
donation will prevent four children from going blind due to Vitamin A
deficiency for twelve months. It's that simple."
About Vitamin Angels
Vitamin Angels, (www.VitaminAngels.org) is a 501(c)3 nonprofit
organization providing vital nutrition to children and families in need since
1994. Vitamin Angels responds to the most pressing health concerns identified
by the communities requesting its assistance. Nutritional products are
contributed by an ever-enlarging association of Vitamin Angels -- a consortium
of nutritional supplement manufacturers, distributors and retailers. These
goods are then donated to charitable health care facilities and programs
located in countries across the globe, including the United States. Last year
Vitamin Angels donated over 100 million supplements to people in need in 42
countries around the world. To learn more, visit www.VitaminAngels.org.
About United Natural Foods
United Natural Foods, Inc. carries and distributes more than 40,000
products to more than 18,000 customers nationwide. The Company serves a wide
variety of retail formats including conventional supermarket chains, natural
product superstores, independent retail operators and the food service
channel. United Natural Foods, Inc. was ranked by Forbes in 2005 as one of the
"Best Managed Companies in America," ranked by Fortune in 2006 and 2007 as one
of its "Most Admired Companies," and ranked by Business Ethics as one of its
"100 Best Corporate Citizens for 2006." For more information on United Natural
Foods, Inc., visit the Company's website at www.unfi.com.
SOURCE United Natural Foods, Inc.
CONTACT: Rick Antonelli, 1-860-779-2800, rantonelli@unfi.com; Joseph
Calabrese, Financial Relations Board, General Information, 1-212-827-3772
Web site: http://www.unfi.com
http://www.VitaminAngels.org
(UNFI)