Item 9A. Controls and Procedures
ITEM 9A. CONTROLS AND PROCEDURES
Evaluation of Disclosure Controls and Procedures .
We carried out an evaluation, under the supervision and with the participation of our Chief Executive Officer and President and Chief Financial Officer, of the effectiveness of the design and operation of our disclosure controls and procedures (as defined in Rules 13a-15(e) and 15d-15(e) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended) as of the end of the period covered by this Annual Report (the “Evaluation Date”). Based on this evaluation, our Chief Executive Officer and President and Chief Financial Officer concluded that, as of the Evaluation Date, our disclosure controls and procedures were effective.
Management’s Annual Report on Internal Control Over Financial Reporting.
Our management is responsible for establishing and maintaining adequate internal control over financial reporting. Internal control over financial reporting is defined in Rules 13a-15(f) or 15d-15(f) promulgated under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, as a process designed by, or under the supervision of, our principal executive and principal financial officers and effected by our Board of Directors, management and other personnel, to provide reasonable assurance regarding the reliability of financial reporting and the preparation of financial statements for external purposes in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles and includes those policies and procedures that:
• Pertain to the maintenance of records that in reasonable detail accurately and fairly reflect the transactions and dispositions of our assets;
• Provide reasonable assurance that transactions are recorded as necessary to permit preparation of financial statements in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles, and that receipts and expenditures are being made only in accordance with authorizations of our management and directors; and
• Provide reasonable assurance regarding prevention or timely detection of unauthorized acquisition, use or disposition of our assets that could have a material effect on the financial statements.
Because of its inherent limitations, internal control over financial reporting may not prevent or detect misstatements. Projections of any evaluation of effectiveness to future periods are subject to the risk that controls may become inadequate because of changes in conditions, or that the degree of compliance with the policies or procedures may deteriorate.
Our management, including our Chief Executive Officer and President and Chief Financial Officer, assessed the effectiveness of our internal control over financial reporting as of August 3, 2024. In making this assessment, our management used the criteria set forth by the Committee of Sponsoring Organizations of the Treadway Commission (COSO) in the Internal Control-Integrated Framework (2013 framework). Based on its assessment, our management concluded that, as of August 3, 2024, our internal control over financial reporting was effective based on those criteria at the reasonable assurance level.
Report of the Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm.
The effectiveness of our internal control over financial reporting as of August 3, 2024 has been audited by KPMG LLP, an independent registered public accounting firm, as stated in its attestation report which is included in Financial Statements and Supplementary Data in Part II, Item 8 of this Annual Report.
Changes in Internal Controls Over Financial Reporting
No change in our internal control over financial reporting (as such term is defined in Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended Rule 13a-15(f) or 15d-15(f)) occurred during the fiscal quarter ended August 3, 2024 that materially affected, or is reasonably likely to materially affect, our internal control over financial reporting.
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ITEM 9B. OTHER INFORMATION
On June 7, 2024 , Danielle Benedict , our Chief Human Resources Officer , entered into a 10b5-1 sales plan intended to satisfy the affirmative defense conditions of Rule 10b5-1(c) under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended. The plan provides for the potential sale, on the dates and at the prices set forth in the plan, of up to 24,202 shares of our common stock from October 4, 2024 through the plan’s end date of June 6, 2025.
ITEM 9C. DISCLOSURE REGARDING FOREIGN JURISDICTIONS THAT PREVENT INSPECTIONS
Not applicable.
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PART III.
ITEM 10. DIRECTORS, EXECUTIVE OFFICERS AND CORPORATE GOVERNANCE
The information required by this item will be contained, in part, in our Definitive Proxy Statement on Schedule 14A for our Annual Meeting of Stockholders to be held on December 17, 2024 (the “Proxy Statement”) under the captions “Directors and Nominees for Director,” “Executive Officers of the Company,” “Delinquent Section 16(a) Reports,” if applicable, “Anti-Hedging and Insider Trading Policies,” “Committees of the Board of Directors,” “Nomination of Directors” and “Stockholder Director Recommendations and Proxy Access” and is incorporated herein by this reference.
We have adopted a code of conduct and ethics that applies to all employees, including our Chief Executive Officer, Chief Financial Officer and Chief Accounting Officer. Our code of conduct and ethics is publicly available on our website at www.unfi.com and is available free of charge by writing to United Natural Foods, Inc., 313 Iron Horse Way, Providence, RI 02908, Attn: Investor Relations. We intend to make any legally required disclosures regarding amendments to, or waivers of, the provisions of the code of conduct and ethics on our website at www.unfi.com. Please note that our website address is provided as an inactive textual reference only.
ITEM 11. EXECUTIVE COMPENSATION
The information required by this item will be contained in the Proxy Statement under the captions “Director Compensation,” “Executive Compensation,” “Compensation Discussion and Analysis,” “Executive Compensation Tables,” “Potential Payments Upon Termination or Change-in-Control,” “CEO Pay Ratio,” “Compensation Risk Assessment,” “Compensation Committee Interlocks and Insider Participation,” if applicable, and “Report of the Compensation Committee” and is incorporated herein by this reference.
ITEM 12. SECURITY OWNERSHIP OF CERTAIN BENEFICIAL OWNERS AND MANAGEMENT AND RELATED STOCKHOLDER MATTERS
The information required by this item will be contained in the Proxy Statement under the caption “Stock Ownership of Certain Beneficial Owners and Management” and “Securities Authorized for Issuance Under Equity Compensation Plans” and is incorporated herein by this reference.
ITEM 13. CERTAIN RELATIONSHIPS AND RELATED TRANSACTIONS, AND DIRECTOR INDEPENDENCE
The information required by this item will be contained in the Proxy Statement under the captions “Certain Relationships and Related Transactions” and “Director Independence” and is incorporated herein by this reference.
ITEM 14. PRINCIPAL ACCOUNTING FEES AND SERVICES
The information required by this item will be contained in the Proxy Statement under the captions “Fees Paid to KPMG LLP” and “Policy on Audit Committee Pre-Approval of Audit and Permissible Non-Audit Services,” and is incorporated herein by this reference.
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PART IV.
ITEM 15. EXHIBIT AND FINANCIAL STATEMENT SCHEDULES
(a)1. Financial Statements:
Report of Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm
Consolidated Balance Sheets
Consolidated Statements of Operations
Consolidated Statements of Comprehensive (Loss) Income
Consolidated Statements of Stockholders’ Equity
Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows
Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements
(a)2. Financial Statement Schedules:
All schedules have been omitted because they are either not required or the information required is included in our consolidated financial statements or the notes thereto included in Item 8 hereof.
(a)3.&(b) Exhibits:
Exhibit No. Description
2.1 Agreement and Plan of Merger, dated July 25, 2018, by and among SUPERVALU INC., SUPERVALU Enterprises, Inc., the Registrant and Jedi Merger Sub, Inc. (incorporated by reference to the Registrant’s Current Report on Form 8-K, filed on July 26, 2018).
2.2 First Amendment to Agreement and Plan of Merger, dated as of October 10, 2018, by and among United Natural Foods, Inc., Jedi Merger Sub, Inc., SUPERVALU INC. and SUPERVALU Enterprises, Inc. (incorporated by reference to the Registrant’s Current Report on Form 8-K, filed on October 10, 2018).
3.1 Certificate of Incorporation of the Registrant, as amended (restated for SEC filing purposes only) (incorporated by reference to the Registrant’s Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the quarter ended January 31, 2015).
3.2 Fifth Amended and Restated Bylaws of the Registrant (incorporated by reference to the Registrant’s Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the quarter ended April 29, 2023).
4.1 Specimen Certificate for shares of Common Stock, $0.01 par value, of the Registrant (incorporated by reference to the Registrant’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended August 1, 2009).
4.2 Description of the Registrant’s Securities Registered Under Section 12 of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 (incorporated by reference to the Registrant ’ s An n ual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended July 29, 2023).
10.1+ Amended and Restated Agreement for the Distribution of Products, dated May 21, 2024, between Whole Foods Market Services, Inc. and the Registrant (incorporated by reference to the Registrant’s Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the quarter ended April 27, 2024).
10.2 Loan Agreement, dated June 3, 2022, by and among the Registrant, UNFI Canada, Inc., the financial institutions that are parties thereto as lenders, Wells Fargo Bank, National Association and the other parties thereto (incorporated by reference to the Registrant’s Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the quarter ended April 30, 2022).
10.3 Amendment No. 1 to Loan Agreement, dated May 1, 2024, by and among the Registrant, UNFI Canada, Inc., the financial institutions that are parties thereto as lenders, Wells Fargo Bank, National Association and the other parties thereto (incorporated by reference to the Registrant’s Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the quarter ended April 27, 2024).
10.4 Term Loan Agreement, dated October 22, 2018, by and among United Natural Foods, Inc., SUPERVALU INC., Goldman Sachs Bank USA, as administrative agent for the lenders, and the lenders party thereto (incorporated by reference to Registrant’s Current Report on Form 8-K filed on October 25, 2018).
10.5 Amendment No. 1 to Term Loan Agreement, dated as of February 11, 2021, by and among the Registrant and SUPERVALU INC., Credit Suisse AG, Cayman Islands Branch, Goldman Sachs Bank USA and the other lender parties thereto (incorporated by reference to the Registrant’s Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the quarter ended January 30, 2021).
10.6 Amendment No. 2 to Term Loan Agreement, dated as of November 10, 2021, by and among the Registrant and SUPERVALU INC., Credit Suisse AG, Cayman Islands Branch and the other lender parties thereto (incorporated by reference to the Registrant’s Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the quarter ended October 30, 2021).
10.7 Amendment No. 3 to Term Loan Agreement, dated June 3, 2022, by and among the Registrant and SUPERVALU INC., Credit Suisse AG, Cayman Islands Branch and the other lender parties thereto (incorporated by reference to the Registrant’s Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the quarter ended April 30, 2022).
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Exhibit No. Description
10.8 Amendment No. 4 to Term Loan Agreement, dated May 1, 2024, by and among the Registrant, UNFI Wholesale, Inc., UNFI Distribution Company, LLC and SUPERVALU INC., Credit Suisse AG, Cayman Islands Branch and other lender parties thereto (incorporated by reference to the Registrant’s Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the quarter ended April 27, 2024).
10.9** Form of Second Amended and Restated Change in Control Agreement (incorporated by reference to the Registrant’s Current Report on Form 8-K filed on November 8, 2018).
10.10** Amended and Restated Indemnification Agreement (incorporated by reference to the Registrant’s Current Report on Form 8-K filed on November 8, 2018).
10.11 Indenture, dated October 22, 2020, among the Registrant, its subsidiary guarantors named therein and U.S. Bank National Association, as trustee (incorporated by reference to the Registrant’s Current Report on Form 8-K, filed on October 26, 2020).
10.12** Amended and Restated CEO Severance Agreement, dated June 3, 2024, between the Registrant and J. Alexander Miller Douglas (incorporated by reference to the Registrant’s Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the quarter ended April 27, 2024).
10.13** CEO Change in Control Agreement, dated effective August 9, 2021, between the Registrant and J. Alexander Miller Douglas (incorporated by reference to the Registrant’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended July 31, 2021).
10.14** CEO Indemnification Agreement, dated effective August 9, 2021, between the Registrant and J. Alexander Miller Douglas (incorporated by reference to the Registrant’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended July 31, 2021).
10.15** Form of RSU Award Agreement (CEO) pursuant to the Registrant’s Amended and Restated 2020 Equity Incentive Plan (incorporated by reference to the Registrant’s Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the quarter ended October 30, 2021).
10.16** Form of PSU Award Agreement (CEO) pursuant to the Registrant’s Amended and Restated 2020 Equity Incentive Plan (incorporated by reference to the Registrant’s Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the quarter ended October 30, 2021).
10.17** Form of Inducement RSU Award Agreement (CEO) (incorporated by reference to the Registrant’s Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the quarter ended October 30, 2021).
10.18** Form of Inducement PSU Award Agreement (CEO) (incorporated by reference to the Registrant’s Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the quarter ended October 30, 2021).
10.19** Waiver and Release Agreement, by and between the Registrant and Jill E. Sutton (incorporated by reference to the Registrant’s Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the quarter ended January 29, 2022).
10.20** Amended and Restated 2020 Equity Incentive Plan, as amended on June 3, 2021 (incorporated by reference to the Registrant’s Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the quarter ended May 1, 2021).
10.21** Form of RSU Award Agreement pursuant to the Registrant’s Amended and Restated 2020 Equity Incentive Plan (incorporated by reference to the Registrant’s Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the quarter ended May 1, 2021).
10.22** Form of PSU Award Agreement pursuant to the Registrant’s Amended and Restated 2020 Equity Incentive Plan (incorporated by reference to the Registrant’s Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the quarter ended May 1, 2021).
10.23** Form of Inducement RSU Award Agreement (incorporated by reference to the Registrant’s Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the quarter ended January 30, 2021).
10.24** Form of Amended and Restated Severance Agreement, effective as of October 23, 2022 (incorporated by reference to the Registrant ’ s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended July 30, 2022).
10.25** Second Amended and Restated United Natural Foods, Inc. 2020 Equity Incentive Plan, effective as of March 3, 2023 (incorporated by reference to the Registrant’s Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the quarter ended January 28, 2023).
10.26** Form of RSU Award Agreement pursuant to Registrant’s Second Amended and Restated 2020 Equity Incentive Plan (incorporated by reference to the Registrant’s Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the quarter ended January 28, 2023).
10.27** Form of PSU Award Agreement pursuant to the Registrant’s Second Amended and Restated 2020 Equity Incentive Plan (incorporated by reference to the Registrant’s Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the quarter ended January 28, 2023).
10.28** Form of RSU Award Agreement (CEO) (for grants made after September 21, 2023) pursuant to the Registrant’s Second Amended and Restated 2020 Equity Incentive Plan (incorporated by reference to the Registrant ’ s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended July 29, 2023).
10.29** Form of PSU Award Agreement (CEO) (for grants made after September 21, 2023) pursuant to the Registrant’s Second Amended and Restated 2020 Equity Incentive Plan (incorporated by reference to the Registrant ’ s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended July 29, 2023).
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Exhibit No. Description
10.30** Form of RSU Award Agreement (for grants made after September 21, 2023) pursuant to the Registrant’s Second Amended and Restated 2020 Equity Incentive Plan (incorporated by reference to the Registrant ’ s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended July 29, 2023).
10.31** Form of PSU Award Agreement (for grants made after September 21, 2023) pursuant to the Registrant’s Second Amended and Restated 2020 Equity Incentive Plan (incorporated by reference to the Registrant ’ s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended July 29, 2023).
10.32** Form of RSU Award Agreement (Director) (for grants made after September 21, 2023) pursuant to the Registrant’s Second Amended and Restated 2020 Equity Incentive Plan (incorporated by reference to the Registrant ’ s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended July 29, 2023).
10.33** Form of Indemnification Agreement (incorporated by reference to the Registrant ’ s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended July 29, 2023).
10.34** United Natural Foods, Inc. Annual Incentive Plan, as further amended, effective as of September 21, 2023 (incorporated by reference to the Registrant’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended July 29, 2023).
10.35 Cooperation Agreement, dated as of September 25, 2023, by and among JCP Investment Partnership, LP, a Texas limited partnership, JCP Investment Partners, LP, a Texas limited partnership, JCP Investment Holdings, LLC, a Texas limited liability company, JCP Investment Management, LLC, a Texas limited liability company, and James C. Pappas, and United Natural Foods, Inc., a Delaware corporation (incorporated by reference to the Registrant’s Current Report on Form 8-K filed on September 26, 2023).
10.36** Third Amended and Restated United Natural Foods, Inc. 2020 Equity Plan Incentive (Filed as Annex A to the Registrant’s Proxy Statement on FORM DEF14A filed on November 8, 2023).
10.37** Form of Indemnification Agreement (for agreements entered into after February 29, 2024) (incorporated by reference to the Registrant’s Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the quarter ended January 27, 2024).
10.38** Offer Letter, dated February 29, 2024, between the Company and Giorgio Matteo Tarditi (incorporated by reference to the Registrant’s Current Report on Form 8-K filed on March 6, 2024).
10.39* ** United Natural Foods, Inc. Annual Incentive Plan, as further amended, effective as of September 26, 2024.
10.40* ** Form of RSU Award Agreement (CEO, Retail).
10.41* ** Form of PSU Award Agreement (CEO, Retail).
19* UNFI Amended and Restated Policy Regarding Trading in Company Securities.
21* Subsidiaries of the Registrant.
23.1* Consent of Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm.
31.1* Certification of CEO pursuant to Section 302 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002.
31.2* Certification of CFO pursuant to Section 302 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002.
32.1* Certification of CEO pursuant to 18 U.S.C. Section 1350, as adopted pursuant to Section 906 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002.
32.2* Certification of CFO pursuant to 18 U.S.C. Section 1350, as adopted pursuant to Section 906 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002.
97.1 Erroneously Awarded Incentive-Based Compensation Clawback Policy, effective October 2, 2023 (incorporated by reference to the Registrant ’ s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended July 29, 2023).
101* The following materials from the United Natural Foods, Inc.’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended August 3, 2024, formatted in Inline XBRL (eXtensible Business Reporting Language): (i) Consolidated Balance Sheets, (ii) Consolidated Statements of Operations, (iii) Consolidated Statements of Comprehensive (Loss) Income, (iv) Consolidated Statements of Stockholders' Equity, (v) Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows, and (vi) Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements.
104 The cover page from the Registrant’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended August 3, 2024, filed with the SEC on October 1, 2024, formatted in Inline XBRL (included in Exhibit 101).
* Filed herewith.
** Denotes a management contract or compensatory plan or arrangement.
+ Portions of this exhibit have been omitted in compliance with Regulation S-K Item 601(b)(10)(iv) because the Company has determined that the information is not material and is the type that the Company treats as private or confidential.
ITEM 16. FORM 10-K SUMMARY
None.
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SIGNATURES
Pursuant to the requirements of Section 13 or 15 (d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, the registrant has duly caused this report to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned, thereunto duly authorized.
UNITED NATURAL FOODS, INC.
/s/ GIORGIO MATTEO TARDITI
Giorgio Matteo Tarditi
President and Chief Financial Officer
(Principal Financial Officer)
Dated: October 1, 2024
Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, this report has been signed below by the following persons on behalf of the registrant and in the capacities and on the dates indicated.
Name Title Date
/s/ J. ALEXANDER MILLER DOUGLAS Chief Executive Officer (Principal Executive Officer) and Director October 1, 2024
J. Alexander Miller Douglas
/s/ GIORGIO MATTEO TARDITI President and Chief Financial Officer (Principal Financial Officer) October 1, 2024
Giorgio Matteo Tarditi
/s/ R. ERIC ESPER Chief Accounting Officer (Principal Accounting Officer) October 1, 2024
R. Eric Esper
/s/ JACK L. STAHL Chairman October 1, 2024
Jack L. Stahl
/s/ LYNN S. BLAKE Director October 1, 2024
Lynn S. Blake
/s/ GLORIA R. BOYLAND Director October 1, 2024
Gloria R. Boyland
/s/ DENISE M. CLARK Director October 1, 2024
Denise M. Clark
/s/ DAPHNE J. DUFRESNE Director October 1, 2024
Daphne J. Dufresne
/s/ MICHAEL S. FUNK Director October 1, 2024
Michael S. Funk
/s/ JAMES M. LOREE Director October 1, 2024
James M. Loree
/s/ JAMES L. MUEHLBAUER Director October 1, 2024
James L. Muehlbauer
/s/ JAMES C. PAPPAS Director October 1, 2024
James C. Pappas
/s/ MOHAMMAD SHAMIM Director October 1, 2024
Mohammad Shamim
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