CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF OPERATIONS - USD ($) shares in Thousands, $ in Thousands	12 Months Ended
	Aug. 03, 2019	Jul. 28, 2018	Jul. 29, 2017
Income Statement [Abstract]
Net sales	$ 21,387,068	$ 10,226,683	$ 9,274,471
Cost of sales	18,602,058	8,703,916	7,845,550
Gross profit	2,785,010	1,522,767	1,428,921
Operating expenses	2,629,713	1,274,562	1,196,032
Goodwill and asset impairment charges	292,770	11,242	0
Restructuring, acquisition and integration related expenses	153,539	9,738	6,864
Operating (loss) income	(291,012)	227,225	226,025
Other expense (income):
Net periodic benefit income, excluding service cost	(34,726)	0	0
Interest expense, net	179,963	16,025	16,754
Other, net	(957)	(1,545)	(5,152)
Total other expense, net	144,280	14,480	11,602
(Loss) income from continuing operations before income taxes	(435,292)	212,745	214,423
(Benefit) provision for income taxes	(84,609)	47,075	84,268
Net (loss) income from continuing operations	(350,683)	165,670	130,155
Income from discontinued operations, net of tax	65,800	0	0
Net (loss) income including noncontrolling interests	(284,883)	165,670	130,155
Less net (income) loss attributable to noncontrolling interests	(107)	0	0
Net (loss) income attributable to United Natural Foods, Inc.	$ (284,990)	$ 165,670	$ 130,155
Basic (loss) earnings per share:
Continuing operations (in dollars per share)	$ (6.84)	$ 3.28	$ 2.57
Discontinued operations (in dollars per share)	1.28	0.00	0.00
Basic (loss) income per share (in dollars per share)	(5.56)	3.28	2.57
Diluted (loss) earnings per share:
Continuing operations (in dollars per share)	(6.84)	3.26	2.56
Discontinued operations (in dollars per share)	1.27	0.00	0.00
Diluted (loss) income per share (in dollars per share)	$ (5.56)	$ 3.26	$ 2.56
Weighted average shares outstanding:
Basic (in shares)	51,245	50,530	50,570
Diluted (in shares)	51,537	50,837	50,775