CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF STOCKHOLDERS' EQUITY (unaudited) - 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		$ 535	$ (24,231)	$ 530,801	$ (108,953)	$ 1,108,890		$ 1,507,042		$ (2,737)
Beginning balance (Accounting Standards Update 2016-02) at Aug. 03, 2019		$ (2,613)						$ (2,613)		$ (2,613)
Increase (Decrease) in Stockholders' Equity [Roll Forward]
Restricted stock vestings and stock option exercises (in shares)			443,000
Restricted stock vestings	(872)		$ (5)		(877)				(872)
Share-based compensation	3,951				3,951				3,951
Other comprehensive (loss) income	533					533			533
Distributions to noncontrolling interests	(1,398)										(1,398)
Proceeds from issuance of common stock, net (in shares)			231,000
Proceeds from issuance of common stock, net	2,027		$ 2		2,025				2,027
Net income	(413,468)						(414,637)		(414,637)		1,169
Ending balance (in shares) at Feb. 01, 2020			54,175,000	615,000
Ending balance at Feb. 01, 2020	1,092,465		$ 542	$ (24,231)	535,900	(108,420)	691,640		1,095,431		(2,966)
Beginning balance (in shares) at Nov. 02, 2019			54,121,000	615,000
Beginning balance at Nov. 02, 2019	1,116,611		$ 541	$ (24,231)	532,958	(111,691)	722,350		1,119,927		(3,316)
Increase (Decrease) in Stockholders' Equity [Roll Forward]
Restricted stock vestings and stock option exercises (in shares)			19,000
Restricted stock vestings	(53)		$ 1		(54)				(53)
Share-based compensation	2,704				2,704				2,704
Other comprehensive (loss) income	3,271					3,271			3,271
Distributions to noncontrolling interests	(300)										(300)
Proceeds from issuance of common stock, net (in shares)			35,000
Proceeds from issuance of common stock, net	292				292				292
Net income	(30,060)						(30,710)		(30,710)		650
Ending balance (in shares) at Feb. 01, 2020			54,175,000	615,000
Ending balance at Feb. 01, 2020	$ 1,092,465		$ 542	$ (24,231)	535,900	(108,420)	691,640		1,095,431		(2,966)
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		$ 553	$ (24,231)	568,736	(237,946)	837,633		1,144,745		(2,487)
Beginning balance (Accounting Standards Update 2016-02) at Aug. 01, 2020		$ (9,237)						$ (9,237)		$ (9,237)
Increase (Decrease) in Stockholders' Equity [Roll Forward]
Restricted stock vestings and stock option exercises (in shares)			1,443,000
Restricted stock vestings	(10,397)		$ (15)		(10,412)				(10,397)
Share-based compensation	22,929				22,929				22,929
Other comprehensive (loss) income	24,417					24,417			24,417
Distributions to noncontrolling interests	(1,460)										(1,460)
Proceeds from issuance of common stock, net (in shares)			14,000
Proceeds from issuance of common stock, net	207				207				207
Acquisition of noncontrolling interests	(540)				(364)				(364)		(176)
Net income	$ 60,889						57,917		57,917		2,972
Ending balance (in shares) at Jan. 30, 2021	56,148,000		56,763,000	615,000
Ending balance at Jan. 30, 2021	$ 1,229,066		$ 568	$ (24,231)	581,096	(213,529)	886,313		1,230,217		(1,151)
Beginning balance (in shares) at Oct. 31, 2020			56,749,000	615,000
Beginning balance at Oct. 31, 2020	1,147,859		$ 568	$ (24,231)	572,170	(225,722)	827,353		1,150,138		(2,279)
Increase (Decrease) in Stockholders' Equity [Roll Forward]
Restricted stock vestings and stock option exercises (in shares)			5,000
Restricted stock vestings	(1,533)				(1,533)				(1,533)
Share-based compensation	10,687				10,687				10,687
Other comprehensive (loss) income	12,193					12,193			12,193
Distributions to noncontrolling interests	(301)										(301)
Proceeds from issuance of common stock, net (in shares)			9,000
Proceeds from issuance of common stock, net	136				136				136
Acquisition of noncontrolling interests	540				364				364		176
Net income	$ 60,565						58,960		58,960		1,605
Ending balance (in shares) at Jan. 30, 2021	56,148,000		56,763,000	615,000
Ending balance at Jan. 30, 2021	$ 1,229,066		$ 568	$ (24,231)	$ 581,096	$ (213,529)	$ 886,313		$ 1,230,217		$ (1,151)