CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF STOCKHOLDERS' EQUITY (unaudited) - USD ($) shares in Thousands, $ 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	615
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)			464
Restricted stock vestings	(1,015)		$ (5)		(1,020)				(1,015)
Share-based compensation	15,088				15,088				15,088
Other comprehensive (loss) income	(42,692)					(42,692)			(42,692)
Distributions to noncontrolling interests	(2,525)										(2,525)
Proceeds from issuance of common stock, net (in shares)			1,327
Proceeds from issuance of common stock, net	13,882		$ 13		13,869				13,882
Net income	(323,099)						(326,506)		(326,506)		3,407
Ending balance (in shares) at May. 02, 2020			55,292	615
Ending balance at May. 02, 2020	1,161,331		$ 553	$ (24,231)	558,738	(151,645)	779,771		1,163,186		(1,855)
Beginning balance (in shares) at Feb. 01, 2020			54,175	615
Beginning balance at Feb. 01, 2020	1,092,465		$ 542	$ (24,231)	535,900	(108,420)	691,640		1,095,431		(2,966)
Increase (Decrease) in Stockholders' Equity [Roll Forward]
Restricted stock vestings and stock option exercises (in shares)			21
Restricted stock vestings	(143)				(143)				(143)
Share-based compensation	11,137				11,137				11,137
Other comprehensive (loss) income	(43,225)					(43,225)			(43,225)
Distributions to noncontrolling interests	(1,127)										(1,127)
Proceeds from issuance of common stock, net (in shares)			1,096
Proceeds from issuance of common stock, net	11,855		$ 11		11,844				11,855
Net income	90,369						88,131		88,131		2,238
Ending balance (in shares) at May. 02, 2020			55,292	615
Ending balance at May. 02, 2020	$ 1,161,331		$ 553	$ (24,231)	558,738	(151,645)	779,771		1,163,186		(1,855)
Beginning balance (in shares) at Aug. 01, 2020	54,691		55,306	615
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)			1,606
Restricted stock vestings	(13,449)		$ (17)		(13,466)				(13,449)
Share-based compensation	32,847				32,847				32,847
Other comprehensive (loss) income	40,854					40,854			40,854
Distributions to noncontrolling interests	(3,082)										(3,082)
Proceeds from issuance of common stock, net (in shares)			44
Proceeds from issuance of common stock, net	721				721				721
Acquisition of noncontrolling interests	(691)				(514)				(514)		(177)
Net income	$ 110,841						106,475		106,475		4,366
Ending balance (in shares) at May. 01, 2021	56,341		56,956	615
Ending balance at May. 01, 2021	$ 1,301,062		$ 570	$ (24,231)	588,324	(197,092)	934,871		1,302,442		(1,380)
Beginning balance (in shares) at Jan. 30, 2021			56,763	615
Beginning balance at Jan. 30, 2021	1,229,066		$ 568	$ (24,231)	581,096	(213,529)	886,313		1,230,217		(1,151)
Increase (Decrease) in Stockholders' Equity [Roll Forward]
Restricted stock vestings and stock option exercises (in shares)			163
Restricted stock vestings	(3,052)		$ (2)		(3,054)				(3,052)
Share-based compensation	9,918				9,918				9,918
Other comprehensive (loss) income	16,437					16,437			16,437
Distributions to noncontrolling interests	(1,622)										(1,622)
Proceeds from issuance of common stock, net (in shares)			30
Proceeds from issuance of common stock, net	514				514				514
Acquisition of noncontrolling interests	(151)				(150)				(150)		(1)
Net income	$ 49,952						48,558		48,558		1,394
Ending balance (in shares) at May. 01, 2021	56,341		56,956	615
Ending balance at May. 01, 2021	$ 1,301,062		$ 570	$ (24,231)	$ 588,324	$ (197,092)	$ 934,871		$ 1,302,442		$ (1,380)