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Proc-Type: 2001,MIC-CLEAR
Originator-Name: webmaster@www.sec.gov
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MIC-Info: RSA-MD5,RSA,
 VMwjj24yJobck0XgN8he6Q6uZMdxruQFF1u76SMLjkMs20q6LcXcn86FBNUnrNdd
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<SEC-DOCUMENT>0001171520-06-000504.txt : 20061211
<SEC-HEADER>0001171520-06-000504.hdr.sgml : 20061211
<ACCEPTANCE-DATETIME>20061211175841
ACCESSION NUMBER:		0001171520-06-000504
CONFORMED SUBMISSION TYPE:	4
PUBLIC DOCUMENT COUNT:		1
CONFORMED PERIOD OF REPORT:	20061207
FILED AS OF DATE:		20061211
DATE AS OF CHANGE:		20061211

ISSUER:		

	COMPANY DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			UNITED NATURAL FOODS INC
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0001020859
		STANDARD INDUSTRIAL CLASSIFICATION:	WHOLESALE-GROCERIES & GENERAL LINE [5141]
		IRS NUMBER:				050376157
		STATE OF INCORPORATION:			DE
		FISCAL YEAR END:			0729

	BUSINESS ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		PO BOX 999
		STREET 2:		260 LAKE RD
		CITY:			DAYVILLE
		STATE:			CT
		ZIP:			06241
		BUSINESS PHONE:		8607792800

	MAIL ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		PO BOX 999
		STREET 2:		260 LAKE RD
		CITY:			DAYVILLE
		STATE:			CT
		ZIP:			06241

REPORTING-OWNER:	

	OWNER DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			Shamber Mark
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0001334739

	FILING VALUES:
		FORM TYPE:		4
		SEC ACT:		1934 Act
		SEC FILE NUMBER:	001-15723
		FILM NUMBER:		061269740

	BUSINESS ADDRESS:	
		BUSINESS PHONE:		860-779-2800

	MAIL ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		260 LAKE ROAD
		STREET 2:		P.O. BOX 999
		CITY:			DAYVILLE
		STATE:			CT
		ZIP:			06241
</SEC-HEADER>
<DOCUMENT>
<TYPE>4
<SEQUENCE>1
<FILENAME>eps2332_ex.xml
<DESCRIPTION>MARK SHAMBER
<TEXT>
<XML>
<?xml version="1.0"?>
<ownershipDocument>

    <schemaVersion>X0202</schemaVersion>

    <documentType>4</documentType>

    <periodOfReport>2006-12-07</periodOfReport>

    <notSubjectToSection16>0</notSubjectToSection16>

    <issuer>
        <issuerCik>0001020859</issuerCik>
        <issuerName>UNITED NATURAL FOODS INC</issuerName>
        <issuerTradingSymbol>UNFI</issuerTradingSymbol>
    </issuer>

    <reportingOwner>
        <reportingOwnerId>
            <rptOwnerCik>0001334739</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>Shamber Mark</rptOwnerName>
        </reportingOwnerId>
        <reportingOwnerAddress>
            <rptOwnerStreet1>260 LAKE ROAD</rptOwnerStreet1>
            <rptOwnerStreet2>P.O. BOX 999</rptOwnerStreet2>
            <rptOwnerCity>DAYVILLE</rptOwnerCity>
            <rptOwnerState>CT</rptOwnerState>
            <rptOwnerZipCode>06241</rptOwnerZipCode>
            <rptOwnerStateDescription></rptOwnerStateDescription>
        </reportingOwnerAddress>
        <reportingOwnerRelationship>
            <isDirector>0</isDirector>
            <isOfficer>1</isOfficer>
            <isTenPercentOwner>0</isTenPercentOwner>
            <isOther>0</isOther>
            <officerTitle>VP and Chief Financial Officer</officerTitle>
        </reportingOwnerRelationship>
    </reportingOwner>

    <nonDerivativeTable>
        <nonDerivativeTransaction>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Restricted Common Stock</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <transactionDate>
                <value>2006-12-07</value>
            </transactionDate>
            <transactionCoding>
                <transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
                <transactionCode>A</transactionCode>
                <equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
            </transactionCoding>
            <transactionAmounts>
                <transactionShares>
                    <value>7200</value>
                    <footnoteId id="F1"/>
                </transactionShares>
                <transactionPricePerShare>
                    <value>36.6</value>
                </transactionPricePerShare>
                <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
                    <value>A</value>
                </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
            </transactionAmounts>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>14400</value>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>D</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </nonDerivativeTransaction>
        <nonDerivativeHolding>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Common Stock</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>1185</value>
                    <footnoteId id="F2"/>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>I</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
                <natureOfOwnership>
                    <value>See Footnote</value>
                </natureOfOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </nonDerivativeHolding>
    </nonDerivativeTable>

    <derivativeTable>
        <derivativeTransaction>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Employee Stock Option (right to buy)</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <conversionOrExercisePrice>
                <value>36.60</value>
            </conversionOrExercisePrice>
            <transactionDate>
                <value>2006-12-07</value>
            </transactionDate>
            <transactionCoding>
                <transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
                <transactionCode>A</transactionCode>
                <equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
            </transactionCoding>
            <transactionAmounts>
                <transactionShares>
                    <value>6000</value>
                </transactionShares>
                <transactionPricePerShare>
                    <value>36.60</value>
                    <footnoteId id="F4"/>
                </transactionPricePerShare>
                <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
                    <value>A</value>
                </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
            </transactionAmounts>
            <exerciseDate>
                <footnoteId id="F3"/>
            </exerciseDate>
            <expirationDate>
                <value>2016-12-07</value>
            </expirationDate>
            <underlyingSecurity>
                <underlyingSecurityTitle>
                    <value>Common Stock</value>
                </underlyingSecurityTitle>
                <underlyingSecurityShares>
                    <value>6000</value>
                </underlyingSecurityShares>
            </underlyingSecurity>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>6000</value>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>D</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </derivativeTransaction>
    </derivativeTable>

    <footnotes>
        <footnote id="F1">The shares vest in four equal annual installments beginning on the first anniversary of the date of grant.</footnote>
        <footnote id="F2">Includes (i) 765 shares of common stock allocated to Mr. Shamber under the United Natural Foods, Inc. Employee Stock
 Ownership Plan as of December 11, 2006 and (ii) the equivalent of 420 shares of common stock allocated to Mr. Shamber under
 the United Natural Foods, Inc. 401(k) plan's UNFI Company Stock Fund. The number of equivalent shares is calculated based on
 the closing price of UNFI common stock on The NASDAQ National Market on December 8, 2006.</footnote>
        <footnote id="F3">The stock option vests and becomes exercisable in four equal annual installments beginning on the first anniversary of the
 date of grant.</footnote>
        <footnote id="F4">The closing price of United Natural Foods, Inc.'s common stock on the NASDAQ National Market on December 7, 2006.</footnote>
    </footnotes>

    <ownerSignature>
        <signatureName>Mark E. Shamber</signatureName>
        <signatureDate>2006-12-11</signatureDate>
    </ownerSignature>
</ownershipDocument>
</XML>
</TEXT>
</DOCUMENT>
</SEC-DOCUMENT>
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