DAYVILLE, Conn., March 3 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- United Natural Foods,
Inc., (Nasdaq: UNFI) (the "Company") today announced that on February 29,
2008, Robert A. Sigel announced his retirement as President of Specialty
Distribution of the Company and President of Millbrook Distribution Services,
Inc. ("Millbrook"), effective March 14, 2008, to pursue other interests. Mr.
Sigel joined the Company following the acquisition of Millbrook in November
2007. He has held several management positions at Millbrook, most recently
serving as President and Chief Executive Officer, and played an important role
in building Millbrook into to a full-line distributor with a substantial
specialty food business and an extensive selection of health and beauty care
items. Mr. Sigel will remain with the Company until March 14, 2008 to assist
with the transition of his current responsibilities.
"We'd like to thank Bob for his contributions during the initial
integration of Millbrook into UNFI, and we wish him the best in his
retirement," said Michael Funk, President and Chief Executive Officer.
Mr. Sigel commented, "Millbrook could not have been purchased by a better
company. The UNFI team has been outstanding to work with and is dedicated to
growing its presence in the supermarket channel."
Casey Van Rysdam, currently the Company's Vice President of Business
Development, has been appointed President of Specialty Foods. He will report
directly to Richard Antonelli, the Company's Executive Vice President, Chief
Operating Officer and President of Distribution.
Mr. Van Rysdam joined the Company in December 2007, and has served as Vice
President of Business Development. He has over 30 years of experience in the
specialty/natural/organic food industry having previously served as a regional
president of both Tree of Life Southeast and Tree of Life Canada. Mr. Van
Rysdam's prior responsibilities have also included brand management and
international business development.
About United Natural Foods
United Natural Foods, Inc. carries and distributes more than 40,000
products to more than 17,000 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.
"Safe Harbor" Statement under the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act
of 1995: Statements in this press release regarding the Company's business
that 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 Securities and Exchange Commission on December 6, 2007, 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.
CONTACT: Mark Shamber, Chief Financial Officer of United Natural Foods,
Inc., 1-860-779-2800; General Information: Joseph Calabrese of the Financial
Relations Board, 1-212-827-3772, for United Natural Foods, Inc.
Web site: http://www.unfi.com
(UNFI)