Exhibit 23

ACCOUNTANTS'  CONSENT

The Board of Directors
United Natural Foods, Inc.:

We consent to incorporation by reference in the Registration Statements (Nos.
333-19945, 333-19947, 333-19949 and 333-56652 on Form S-8) of United Natural
Foods, Inc. of our reports dated September 4, 2001, relating to the consolidated
balance sheets of United Natural Foods, Inc. and Subsidiaries as of July 31,
2001 and 2000 and the related consolidated statements of operations,
stockholders' equity and cash flows for each of the years in the three-year
period ended July 31, 2001, and the related schedule, which reports appear in
the July 31, 2001 annual report on Form 10-K of United Natural Foods, Inc.

Providence, Rhode Island                             /s/ KPMG LLP
October 19, 2001                                     ------------
                                                     KPMG LLP