CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENT OF STOCKHOLDERS' EQUITY - USD ($) shares in Thousands, $ in Thousands	Total	Common Stock	Treasury Stock	Additional Paid-in Capital	Accumulated Other Comprehensive Loss	Retained Earnings	Total United Natural Foods, Inc. Stockholders’ Equity	Noncontrolling Interests
Beginning Balance at Jul. 28, 2018	$ 1,845,955	$ 510	$ (24,231)	$ 483,623	$ (14,179)	$ 1,400,232	$ 1,845,955	$ 0
Beginning Balance (shares) at Jul. 28, 2018		51,025	615
Increase (Decrease) in Stockholders' Equity [Roll Forward]
Cumulative effect of change in accounting principle | Accounting Standards Update 2014-09	277					277	277
Restricted stock vestings and stock option exercises (shares)		408
Restricted stock vestings and stock option exercises	(3,019)	$ 4		(3,023)			(3,019)
Share-based compensation	14,511			14,511			14,511
Other/share-based compensation	403			403			403
Other comprehensive income (loss)	(11,684)				(11,684)		(11,684)
Distributions to noncontrolling interests	(1,888)							(1,888)
Net (loss) income	(361,187)					(361,019)	(361,019)	(168)
Ending Balance at Jan. 26, 2019	1,483,368	$ 514	$ (24,231)	495,514	(25,863)	1,039,490	1,485,424	(2,056)
Ending Balance (shares) at Jan. 26, 2019		51,433	615
Beginning Balance at Oct. 27, 2018	1,830,316	$ 514	$ (24,231)	489,103	(14,655)	1,381,215	1,831,946	(1,630)
Beginning Balance (shares) at Oct. 27, 2018		51,426	615
Increase (Decrease) in Stockholders' Equity [Roll Forward]
Restricted stock vestings and stock option exercises (shares)		7
Restricted stock vestings and stock option exercises	(11)			(11)			(11)
Share-based compensation	6,422			6,422			6,422
Other comprehensive income (loss)	(11,208)				(11,208)		(11,208)
Distributions to noncontrolling interests	(255)							(255)
Net (loss) income	(341,896)					(341,725)	(341,725)	(171)
Ending Balance at Jan. 26, 2019	1,483,368	$ 514	$ (24,231)	495,514	(25,863)	1,039,490	1,485,424	(2,056)
Ending Balance (shares) at Jan. 26, 2019		51,433	615
Beginning Balance at Aug. 03, 2019	$ 1,510,934	$ 535	$ (24,231)	530,801	(108,953)	1,115,519	1,513,671	(2,737)
Beginning Balance (shares) at Aug. 03, 2019	52,886	53,501	615
Increase (Decrease) in Stockholders' Equity [Roll Forward]
Cumulative effect of change in accounting principle | Accounting Standards Update 2016-02	$ (2,613)					(2,613)	(2,613)
Restricted stock vestings and stock option exercises (shares)		443
Restricted stock vestings and stock option exercises	(872)	$ 5		(877)			(872)
Share-based compensation	3,951			3,951			3,951
Other comprehensive income (loss)	533				533		533
Distributions to noncontrolling interests	(1,398)							(1,398)
Proceeds from issuance of common stock, net		231
Proceeds from issuance of common stock, net	2,027	$ 2		2,025			2,027
Net (loss) income	(413,468)					(414,637)	(414,637)	1,169
Ending Balance at Feb. 01, 2020	$ 1,099,094	$ 542	$ (24,231)	535,900	(108,420)	698,269	1,102,060	(2,966)
Ending Balance (shares) at Feb. 01, 2020	53,560	54,175	615
Beginning Balance at Nov. 02, 2019	$ 1,123,240	$ 541	$ (24,231)	532,958	(111,691)	728,979	1,126,556	(3,316)
Beginning Balance (shares) at Nov. 02, 2019		54,121	615
Increase (Decrease) in Stockholders' Equity [Roll Forward]
Restricted stock vestings and stock option exercises (shares)		19
Restricted stock vestings and stock option exercises	(53)	$ 1		(54)			(53)
Share-based compensation	2,704			2,704			2,704
Other comprehensive income (loss)	3,271				3,271		3,271
Distributions to noncontrolling interests	(300)							(300)
Proceeds from issuance of common stock, net		35
Proceeds from issuance of common stock, net	292			292			292
Net (loss) income	(30,060)					(30,710)	(30,710)	650
Ending Balance at Feb. 01, 2020	$ 1,099,094	$ 542	$ (24,231)	$ 535,900	$ (108,420)	$ 698,269	$ 1,102,060	$ (2,966)
Ending Balance (shares) at Feb. 01, 2020	53,560	54,175	615