CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF OPERATIONS (unaudited) - USD ($) shares in Thousands, $ in Thousands	3 Months Ended		9 Months Ended
	May 01, 2021	May 02, 2020	May 01, 2021	May 02, 2020
Income Statement [Abstract]
Net sales	$ 6,619,842	$ 7,031,718	$ 20,180,582	$ 19,759,712
Cost of sales	5,653,043	5,981,486	17,256,925	16,884,944
Gross profit	966,799	1,050,232	2,923,657	2,874,768
Operating expenses	866,463	911,007	2,634,305	2,657,427
Goodwill and asset impairment charges	0	0	0	425,405
Restructuring, acquisition and integration related expenses	9,867	14,557	44,078	65,751
(Gain) loss on sale of assets	(25)	351	144	785
Operating income (loss)	90,494	124,317	245,130	(274,600)
Other expense (income):
Net periodic benefit income, excluding service cost	(17,128)	(12,758)	(51,288)	(27,419)
Interest expense, net	43,500	47,269	163,577	145,814
Other, net	(989)	(1,842)	(3,461)	(3,462)
Total other expense, net	25,383	32,669	108,828	114,933
Income (loss) from continuing operations before income taxes	65,111	91,648	136,302	(389,533)
Provision (benefit) for income taxes	16,812	(2,799)	32,213	(82,562)
Net income (loss) from continuing operations	48,299	94,447	104,089	(306,971)
Income (loss) from discontinued operations, net of tax	1,653	(4,078)	6,752	(16,128)
Net income (loss) including noncontrolling interests	49,952	90,369	110,841	(323,099)
Less net income attributable to noncontrolling interests	(1,394)	(2,238)	(4,366)	(3,407)
Net income (loss) attributable to United Natural Foods, Inc.	$ 48,558	$ 88,131	$ 106,475	$ (326,506)
Basic earnings (loss) per share:
Continuing operations (in dollars per share)	$ 0.83	$ 1.72	$ 1.78	$ (5.80)
Discontinued operations (in dollars per share)	0.03	(0.08)	0.12	(0.30)
Basic earnings (loss) per share (in dollars per share)	0.86	1.64	1.90	(6.10)
Diluted earnings (loss) per share:
Continuing operations (in dollars per share)	0.77	1.67	1.67	(5.80)
Discontinued operations (in dollars per share)	0.03	(0.08)	0.11	(0.30)
Diluted earnings (loss) per share (in dollars per share)	$ 0.80	$ 1.60	$ 1.78	$ (6.10)
Weighted average shares outstanding:
Basic (in shares)	56,458	53,718	56,028	53,485
Diluted (in shares)	60,539	55,217	59,676	53,485