Press Release Details

PROVIDENCE, R.I., Dec. 8, 2010 /PRNewswire via COMTEX/ --

Highlights

• Diluted EPS of $0.39 for the first quarter of fiscal 2011, a 7.4% increase over diluted EPS for the first quarter of fiscal 2010
• Net income of $17.4 million for the first quarter of fiscal 2011, a 12.0% increase in net income from the comparable fiscal 2010 period
• Fiscal 2011 EPS guidance reaffirmed at $1.62 - $1.71 per diluted share

United Natural Foods, Inc. (Nasdaq: UNFI) today reported that net income for the first quarter of fiscal 2011 ended October 30, 2010 increased by $1.9 million, or 12.0%, to $17.4 million, or $0.39 per diluted share, from $15.5 million, or $0.36 per diluted share, for the first quarter of fiscal 2010. Net sales for the first quarter of fiscal 2011 totaled $1.053 billion, an increase of 19.0%, or $168.2 million, over net sales recorded in the first quarter of fiscal 2010 of $884.8 million. Excluding the impact of sales related to the Company's June 2010 Canadian acquisition and its October 2010 acquisition of certain inventory and distribution assets of Whole Foods Market, Inc. ("Whole Foods Market"), which generated combined net sales of approximately $59.4 million, first quarter fiscal 2011 net sales increased by 12.3%, or $108.8 million, to $993.6 million. This is the first time the Company has achieved over $1 billion in net sales during a quarter.

"The operating results for our fiscal 2011 first quarter reflect the sales strength we continue to achieve across our distribution channels. In addition, we closed on our previously announced transaction with Whole Foods Market in October and began to serve Whole Foods Market as their primary grocery distributor in both their Rocky Mountain and Southwest regions," said Steven Spinner, President and Chief Executive Officer.

Gross margin was 18.3% for the first quarter of fiscal 2011, which represents a 33 basis point decline from the gross margin of 18.6% for the first quarter of fiscal 2010. The lower gross margin compared to the prior year was largely due to start-up costs as well as unanticipated expenses associated with inventory issues and incremental freight and service costs incurred as the Company experienced operating challenges during the initial period of operations of its new distribution facility in Lancaster, Texas. The gross margin was also negatively affected by the continued shift in the mix of sales by channel.

Operating expenses as a percentage of net sales decreased to 15.4% for the first quarter of fiscal 2011, a decrease of approximately 0.1% compared to the fiscal 2010 first quarter ended October 31, 2009. Operating expenses increased by $25.3 million, or 18.4%, to $162.7 million, compared to the first quarter of fiscal 2010, which had operating expenses of $137.4 million. Operating income as a percentage of net sales decreased to 2.8% for the first quarter of fiscal 2011 from 3.1% for the first quarter of fiscal 2010. The estimated non-recurring costs related to the initial period of operations of our Lancaster, Texas facility, including both planned start-up expenses as well as additional unanticipated costs, aggregated approximately $3.8 million.

"During the quarter, we successfully on-boarded all of our previously announced new specialty and organic business. In addition, UNFI Canada is progressing positively against our anticipated results, and sales trends across all channels continue to improve. We also remain committed to the continued implementation of UNFI's supply chain technology, which began during the quarter in Lancaster, Texas," added Mr. Spinner.

Confirmation of Fiscal 2011 Guidance

Based on the Company's performance through the first three months of fiscal 2011 and the current outlook for the remainder of the year, the Company is confirming its net sales guidance for fiscal year 2011, ending July 30, 2011, in the range of $4.35 billion to $4.45 billion, which represents a 15.8% to 18.4% increase in total net sales over fiscal 2010.

In addition, the Company is confirming its earnings per share guidance for fiscal 2011 in the range of $1.62 to $1.71 per diluted share.

The Company is also confirming its capital expenditure guidance for fiscal 2011 in the range of $42 million to $45 million.

Conference Call & Webcast

The Company's first quarter 2011 conference call and audio webcast will be held at 10:00 a.m. EST on December 8, 2010. The audio webcast of the conference call will be available to the public, on a listen-only basis, via the Internet at www.fulldisclosure.com or at the Investors section of the Company's website at www.unfi.com. The online archive of the webcast will be available on the Company's website for 30 days.

About United Natural Foods

United Natural Foods, Inc. (http://www.unfi.com) carries and distributes more than 60,000 products to more than 23,000 customer locations throughout the United States and Canada. 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 - 2010 as one of its "Most Admired Companies," winner of the Supermarket News 2008 Sustainability Excellence Award, and recognized by the Nutrition Business Journal for its 2009 Environment and Sustainability Award.

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 and are based on current expectations and management estimates; actual results may differ materially. The risks and uncertainties which could impact these statements are described in the Company's filings under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, including its annual report on Form 10-K filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on September 27, 2010 and other filings the Company makes with the SEC, and include, but are not limited to, the Company's ability to successfully deploy its operational initiatives in the Canadian market; the Company's dependence on principal customers; the Company's sensitivity to general economic conditions, including the current economic environment, changes in disposable income levels and consumer spending trends; the Company's ability to timely and successfully deploy its new warehouse management system throughout its distribution facilities, including its Lancaster, Texas distribution facility; increased fuel costs; the Company's sensitivity to inflationary pressures; the relatively low margins and economic sensitivity of the Company's business; the ability to identify and successfully complete acquisitions of other natural, organic and specialty food and related product distributors; and management's allocation of capital and the timing of capital expenditures. 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 are based on a number of assumptions, many of which are outside the Company's control and 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