8-K

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                       SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
                             Washington, D.C. 20549

                                    FORM 8-K

                                 CURRENT REPORT

                     Pursuant to Section 13 or 15(d) of the
                         Securities Exchange Act of 1934

         Date of report (Date of earliest event reported): July 15, 2002

                           UNITED NATURAL FOODS, INC.
             (Exact Name of Registrant as Specified in Its Charter)

           Delaware                     000-21531                05-0376157
 (State or Other Jurisdiction    (Commission File Number)      (IRS Employer
      of Incorporation)                                      Identification No.)

                                  260 Lake Road
                               Dayville, CT 06241
               (Address of Principal Executive Offices) (Zip Code)

                                 (860) 779-2800
              (Registrant's Telephone Number, Including Area Code)

                                 Not Applicable
          (Former Name or Former Address, if Changed Since Last Report)

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Item 5. Other Events

      On July 15, 2002 the Company issued a press release announcing its
projected financial results for the fiscal year ending December 31, 2003. A copy
of this press release is attached as an exhibit to this Form 8-K.

Item 7. Financial Statements and Exhibits

      (a)   Financial Statements of businesses acquired: Not Applicable

      (b)   Pro Forma Financial Information: Not Applicable

      (c)   Exhibits.

            Exhibit No.     Description
            -----------     -----------

               99.1         Press Release, dated July 15, 2002, announcing the
                            Company's projected financial results for the fiscal
                            year ending December 31, 2003.


                                   SIGNATURES

      Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, the
registrant has duly caused this report to be signed on its behalf by the
undersigned hereunto duly authorized.

                                 United Natural Foods, Inc.


                                 By: /s/ Todd Weintraub
                                     --------------------------
                                     Todd Weintraub
                                     Vice President, Treasurer and Chief
                                     Financial Officer

                                 Date: July 19, 2002


                                  EXHIBIT INDEX

Exhibit No.     Description
- -----------     -----------

   99.1         Press Release, dated July 15, 2002, announcing the Company's
                projected financial results for the fiscal year ending
                December 31, 2003.

EX-99.1

                   [LETTERHEAD OF UNITED NATURAL FOODS, INC.]

IMMEDIATE RELEASE
July 15, 2002

                   United Natural Foods, Inc. PROVIDES OUTLOOK FOR 2003

Dayville, Connecticut - July 15, 2002 -- United Natural Foods, Inc., (Nasdaq:
UNFI) announced today that it anticipates revenues, for the fiscal year ending
July 31, 2003, in the range of $1.15 billion to $1.17 billion with net income,
excluding special items, in the range of $1.18 - $1.20 per diluted share. The
Company also noted that gross margin is expected to be slightly above 20.0%
while operating margin is expected to be slightly below 4%. Operating expenses
as a percentage of sales are expected to be in the mid-16% range, and interest
expense is expected to be approximately 50 basis points of sales. United Natural
Foods' fiscal 2003 financial guidance reflects the anticipated impact of not
renewing, as previously announced, the primary distribution agreement with Wild
Oats past its current expiration date of August 31, 2002.

Michael Funk, the Company's Chief Executive Officer, commented, "With our
operating divisions continuing to turn in strong performances and industry
fundamentals remaining positive, we remain well positioned to capitalize on the
growing market for natural products. The Company remains focused on executing
its business plan and market strategy and, looking forward into fiscal 2003, we
will continue to pursue a broad range of internal and external growth
strategies. Central to this focus is an emphasis on maximizing profitability,
expanding our customer base and increasing our penetration with existing
accounts. Furthermore, our improved balance sheet along with our line of credit
provides us with ample flexibility to pursue other strategic opportunities that
may arise. We are particularly interested in utilizing the capital available
resulting from the non-renewal of the Wild Oats contract to expand
geographically into the Midwest and Texas markets."

With respect to results for the fourth quarter of fiscal 2002, Mr. Funk added,
"Although we will not be announcing actual fourth quarter 2002 results until
September, we are confident that our sales growth for the fourth quarter of
fiscal 2002 will continue in the 12% - 14% range, and are maintaining our
previous guidance of $0.28 - $0.30 per diluted share."

About United Natural Foods

United Natural Foods, Inc. carries and distributes over 30,000 products to more
than 7,000 customers nationwide. The Company serves a wide variety of retail
formats including conventional supermarket chains, natural product superstores
and independent retail operators.

For more information on United Natural Foods, Inc., visit the Company's web-site
at www.unfi.com.

AT THE COMPANY:                 AT FRB/WEBER SHANDWICK:
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Todd Weintraub                  Joseph Calabrese         Vanessa Schwartz
Chief Financial Officer         General Information      Analyst Information
(860) 779-2800                  (212) 445-8434           (212) 445-8433

                                Judith Sylk-Siegel
                                Media Information
                                (212) 445-8431

"Safe Harbor" Statement under the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of
1995: Statements in this press release regarding United Natural's business which
are not historical facts are "forward-looking statements" that involve risks and
uncertainties. For a discussion of such risks and uncertainties, which could
cause actual results to differ from those contained in the forward-looking
statements, including but not limited to general business conditions, the impact
of competition and our dependence on principal customers, see "Risk Factors" in
the Company's quarterly report on Form 10-Q filed with the Securities and
Commission on June 13, 2002, and its other filings under the Securities Exchange
Act of 1934, as amended. Any forward-looking statements are made pursuant to the
Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995 and, as such, speak only as of
the date made. United Natural Foods, Inc. is not undertaking to update any
information in the foregoing reports until the effective date of its future
reports required by applicable laws.