DAYVILLE, Conn., Aug. 8 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- United Natural Foods,
Inc. (Nasdaq: UNFI) (the "Company") today announced the retirement of Richard
Antonelli as Executive Vice President, Chief Operating Officer and President
of Distribution, effective August 12, 2008. Mr. Antonelli also resigned from
his position as a member of the company's Board of Directors.
Following Mr. Antonelli's departure and as part of a realignment of
responsibilities, his duties will be assumed by the Company's other executive
officers, including the Company's CEO.
Michael Funk, President and CEO, commented, "On behalf of the Board and
senior management team, we are grateful to Rick for his important
contributions to the Company's growth and development and wish him success in
his future endeavors."
Richard Antonelli, age 51, has served as a member of the Board of
Directors since December 2003 and as Executive Vice President, Chief Operating
Officer and President of Distribution since December 2005. Previously, Mr.
Antonelli served as Director of Sales for United Natural Foods, and its
predecessor company, from 1985 until July 2001.
Mr. Antonelli commented, "It has been a great pleasure helping to grow
UNFI and I have enjoyed a wonderful relationship with the many great people
who have contributed to our success. I wish continued success to all of the
many friends I have at the Company."
About United Natural Foods
United Natural Foods, Inc. carries and distributes more than 60,000
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 June 5, 2008, 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.
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