Food Recovery Initiative

Origins:

United Natural Foods, Inc. (UNFI) is a leader in food recovery, leveraging our extensive distribution network and the UNFI Foundation to address food waste and food insecurity nationwide, while improving operating efficiency and minimizing waste disposal costs. Through our Better for All strategy, UNFI connects producers, suppliers, retailers, and communities to create a more sustainable food system. In fiscal year 2024, UNFI donated over 20 million pounds of food, partnering with organizations like Feeding America to ensure surplus food reaches those in need rather than ending up in landfills. The UNFI Foundation bolsters an ecosystem of food recovery by awarding grants to nonprofits in the food recovery space, which amplifies the impact of our operations. This approach not only diverts food waste, but also strengthens local food systems, community-based food organizations, and advances climate-smart food practices.

Contribution:

• In FY2024, UNFI donated more than 20 million pounds of food to communities across North America.

• In FY2025, UNFI launched our food recovery initiative at our four UNFI selling shows. At our January selling show, we facilitated the donation of more than 28,000 pounds of food to Feeding San Diego which was then donated to communities in need. At our February show, we facilitated more than 18,000 pounds to Second Harvest Foodbank of Central Florida.

• In FY2023, the UNFI Foundation honed our focus to have a principal strategy on food recovery. Since then, we’ve built a portfolio of powerful food recovery organizations such as Foodrecovery.org, Food Forward, and RePlate. In FY2024, the UNFI Foundation awarded $1.5 million in grants to 61 nonprofits, supporting food recovery and access initiatives.

• Our first cohort of food recovery grantees reported recovering over 40 million pounds of food and rerouting to those in need.

Objectives:

• Reduce food waste by 50% from distribution centers by 2025 and achieve zero landfill waste by 2030.

• Donate 250 million pounds of food by 2030.

• Increase food access for vulnerable and low-income populations by recovering and redistributing surplus food.

• Support and scale community-based food recovery solutions through strategic grants and partnerships.

• Distribute $1.6M in grants to community-based food solutions.

Impact:

Our food recovery initiatives have demonstrated measurable impact:

• UNFI foundation grantees report their impact on an annual basis. Grants have enabled partners like FoodRecovery.org to reroute more than 240,000 pounds of surplus food to those in need and supported over 60 nonprofits working on food access initiatives. In FY24, one third of our grantees reported on food recovery efforts.

• UNFI’s technology-driven inventory management and reverse logistics systems have increased efficiency in food waste diversion, with 84% of food waste from distribution centers being recovered through donation, composting, or animal feed operations.

• Community participation is robust, with associates contributing volunteer hours and local teams guiding grantmaking to ensure alignment with community needs.

Quote:

“Our Better for All strategy is about connecting the dots in the food system, linking farmers, suppliers, manufacturers, retailers, and consumers, in a way that benefits everyone. We are committed to creating a sustainable business, and our food recovery efforts are central to that mission.”

- Matt Echols, Chief Corporate Affairs Officer, UNFI and Board Chair, UNFI Foundation

Support Statement:

"As the CEO of RePlate, I have seen first-hand the transformative impact of UNFI's commitment to food recovery. The support of the UNFI Foundation has enabled us to expand our reach, recover more surplus food, and deliver nutritious meals to communities facing food insecurity."

- Maen Mahfoud, CEO RePlate