CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENT OF STOCKHOLDERS' EQUITY - USD ($) $ in Thousands	Total	Cumulative effect of change in accounting principle	Common Stock	Treasury Stock	Additional Paid-in Capital	Accumulated Other Comprehensive Loss	Retained Earnings	Retained Earnings Cumulative effect of change in accounting principle	Total United Natural Foods, Inc. Stockholders’ Equity	Total United Natural Foods, Inc. Stockholders’ Equity Cumulative effect of change in accounting principle	Noncontrolling Interests
Beginning balance (in shares) at Aug. 03, 2019			53,501,000	615,000
Beginning balance at Aug. 03, 2019	$ 1,504,305	$ (2,613)	$ 535	$ (24,231)	$ 530,801	$ (108,953)	$ 1,108,890	$ (2,613)	$ 1,507,042	$ (2,613)	$ (2,737)
Increase (Decrease) in Stockholders' Equity [Roll Forward]
Restricted stock vestings and stock option exercises (in shares)			424,000
Restricted stock vestings and stock option exercises	(819)		$ 4		(823)				(819)
Share-based compensation	1,247				1,247				1,247
Other comprehensive (loss) income	(2,738)					(2,738)			(2,738)
Distributions to noncontrolling interests	(1,098)										(1,098)
Proceeds from issuance of common stock, net (in shares)			196,000
Proceeds from issuance of common stock, net	1,735		$ 2		1,733				1,735
Net (loss) income	(383,408)						(383,927)		(383,927)		519
Ending balance (in shares) at Nov. 02, 2019			54,121,000	615,000
Ending balance at Nov. 02, 2019	$ 1,116,611		$ 541	$ (24,231)	532,958	(111,691)	722,350		1,119,927		(3,316)
Beginning balance (in shares) at Aug. 01, 2020	54,691,000		55,306,000	615,000
Beginning balance at Aug. 01, 2020	$ 1,142,258	$ (9,237)	$ 553	$ (24,231)	568,736	(237,946)	837,633	$ (9,237)	1,144,745	$ (9,237)	(2,487)
Increase (Decrease) in Stockholders' Equity [Roll Forward]
Restricted stock vestings and stock option exercises (in shares)			1,438,000
Restricted stock vestings and stock option exercises	(8,864)		$ 15		(8,879)				(8,864)
Share-based compensation	12,242				12,242				12,242
Other comprehensive (loss) income	12,224					12,224			12,224
Distributions to noncontrolling interests	(1,159)										(1,159)
Proceeds from issuance of common stock, net (in shares)			5,000
Proceeds from issuance of common stock, net	71				71				71
Net (loss) income	$ 324						(1,043)		(1,043)		1,367
Ending balance (in shares) at Oct. 31, 2020	56,135,000		56,749,000	615,000
Ending balance at Oct. 31, 2020	$ 1,147,859		$ 568	$ (24,231)	$ 572,170	$ (225,722)	$ 827,353		$ 1,150,138		$ (2,279)