UNFI Announces New Leadership Structure to Drive Strategic Priorities and Accelerated Growth and Value Creation
United Natural Foods, Inc. (NYSE: UNFI) has announced a new leadership structure aimed at driving growth across four key platforms: Services, Wholesale, Retail, and Corporate and Business Transformation. CEO Sandy Douglas emphasized a focus on sustainable, profitable growth with a $140 billion addressable market. Chris Testa will lead the Services platform, while Steve Dietz will focus on Wholesale growth. This restructuring aligns with the company's 'Fuel the Future' strategy, which is now entering its second year, expecting to enhance capital allocation flexibility and shareholder value.
- Introduction of a new leadership structure focusing on four growth platforms.
- CEO states a positive momentum and a $140 billion addressable market.
- Expectation of increased capital allocation flexibility in alignment with the Fuel the Future strategy.
- None.
- High performing, diverse leadership team now structured around four growth platforms of Services, Wholesale, Retail, and Corporate and Business Transformation, linked to strategic priorities
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Chris Testa to focus on leading UNFI Services to accelerate growth initiatives
“We are on an aggressive path to drive shareholder value by helping to create sustainable, profitable growth with and for our customers and suppliers,” said UNFI CEO
Going forward, UNFI’s leadership team will be dedicated to four growth platforms: Services, Wholesale, Retail, and Corporate and Business Transformation, operating under the following leadership teams:
SERVICES PLATFORM
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To achieve significant sales and profit growth through UNFI’s emerging brands and services divisions,
Chris Testa will focus on leading the UNFI Services platform, responsible for the Company’s supplier services, professional services, e-commerce, and private and owned brands portfolio. -
Chris will also be responsible for working with
Sandy Douglas and the senior leadership team to introduce and lead enterprise-wide growth initiatives accelerating the Fuel the Future strategy. He will continue to report toSandy Douglas . - This platform is a key component of the Company’s goal to create compelling value for customers and suppliers by leveraging existing data and capabilities from its scaled and diversified operating business.
WHOLESALE PLATFORM
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Steve Dietz will lead UNFI Wholesale’s customer growth work, continuing to expand the Company’s customer base and enhance support to existing and new customers. He will report directly toSandy Douglas , effectiveAugust 1, 2022 . -
Mark Bushway will lead supply chain, transportation and safety, andJack Clare will lead information technology. Bushway and Clare will continue to focus on standardization of systems and customer execution. Both will report directly toSandy Douglas upon the retirement ofEric Dorne onOctober 29, 2022 .
RETAIL PLATFORM
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CUB CEO
Mike Stigers will continue to lead UNFI’s owned retail division made up of its CUB and Shoppers banners, reporting toSandy Douglas .
CORPORATE AND BUSINESS TRANSFORMATION PLATFORM
The leaders of UNFI’s corporate and transformation agenda will be focused on building capabilities for the future, value creation for our shareholders, and long-term sustainable growth for our customers and suppliers. Each of these leaders will continue to report to
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John Howard will lead finance, accounting, tax, shared services, risk, and investor relations. -
Mahrukh Hussain will lead legal, real estate, and cyber security. -
Matt Echols will lead communications, environmental, social and governance, government relations and industry relations, and theUNFI Foundation . -
Danielle Benedict will lead human resources, training, labor relations, diversity, equity and inclusion. - Louis Martin will lead strategy, transformation, data, and digital experience.
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Brendan Walsh will lead internal audit.
In addition to the above senior leadership team, UNFI has recruited talented leaders to accelerate growth in high priority areas of the business and support its strategy.
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Kristyn Farahmand , formerly SVP Investor Relations and Strategic Finance at CBRE Group, Inc., will report toJohn Howard and lead UNFI’s investor relations and finance transformation teams. -
Tehzin Chadwick, formerly Global Senior Director of
Environmental Health and Safety Compliance at SYSCO, will report toMark Bushway and lead workplace safety and food safety initiatives across theU.S. andCanada . -
Usman Waheed , formerly Chief Information Officer at Knoll, will report to Louis Martin and lead the Company’s digital strategy focused on customers, suppliers, and associates. -
Angie Balian , formerly VP and General Manager atWeston Foods , will report toChris Testa and will partner with the brands and services team with a focus on initiatives to accelerate growth, drive efficiencies, and help customers succeed. -
Autumn Price , formerly VP of Government and Industry Relations at Land O’Lakes, Inc., will report toMatt Echols and will lead the newly created government and public affairs team and will partner with UNFI’s leadership team, customers, and industry groups to work with national, state, and local governments, and civil society to advocate for competitive legal and regulatory environments that allow independent and family-owned retailers to invest, grow, and thrive.
“Over the past six months we’ve sped decision-making and flattened our organization, brought in outside leaders to fill new roles, and elevated and focused existing UNFI leaders to create a diverse team that is aligned and motivated to deliver on our Fuel the Future strategy,” said Douglas. “As a key part of the leadership plan, Chris will now be able to give his full attention to our most critical growth areas, our services and brands portfolios. I’m confident our customers and suppliers will benefit with greater value and offerings to their businesses.”
UNFI announced its three-year Fuel the Future strategy to investors in
About
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Forward-Looking Statement
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 for the year ended
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For Investors:
401-213-2160
kristyn.farahmand@unfi.com
-or-
952-828-4144
steve.j.bloomquist@unfi.com
For Media:
952-903-1645
jeffrey.s.swanson@unfi.com
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