-----BEGIN PRIVACY-ENHANCED MESSAGE-----
Proc-Type: 2001,MIC-CLEAR
Originator-Name: webmaster@www.sec.gov
Originator-Key-Asymmetric:
 MFgwCgYEVQgBAQICAf8DSgAwRwJAW2sNKK9AVtBzYZmr6aGjlWyK3XmZv3dTINen
 TWSM7vrzLADbmYQaionwg5sDW3P6oaM5D3tdezXMm7z1T+B+twIDAQAB
MIC-Info: RSA-MD5,RSA,
 IeNHYq7qzZ9FIYhHVwAB1a3wX+zzDIZ3mNDTZQ8c8j9T3hWfNZydH6CAeiVRZ3TV
 RoojhmrRQlm6T5DTBk29uw==

<SEC-DOCUMENT>0001420506-09-000002.txt : 20090107
<SEC-HEADER>0001420506-09-000002.hdr.sgml : 20090107
<ACCEPTANCE-DATETIME>20090107131857
ACCESSION NUMBER:		0001420506-09-000002
CONFORMED SUBMISSION TYPE:	4
PUBLIC DOCUMENT COUNT:		1
CONFORMED PERIOD OF REPORT:	20090106
FILED AS OF DATE:		20090107
DATE AS OF CHANGE:		20090107

REPORTING-OWNER:	

	OWNER DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			KOCH CARL FREDERICK III
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0001421831

	FILING VALUES:
		FORM TYPE:		4
		SEC ACT:		1934 Act
		SEC FILE NUMBER:	001-15723
		FILM NUMBER:		09512500

	BUSINESS ADDRESS:	
		BUSINESS PHONE:		203-284-9534

	MAIL ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		17 KILLEN ROAD
		CITY:			WALLINGFORD
		STATE:			CT
		ZIP:			06492

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:			0802

	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
</SEC-HEADER>
<DOCUMENT>
<TYPE>4
<SEQUENCE>1
<FILENAME>doc4_239.xml
<DESCRIPTION>PRIMARY DOCUMENT
<TEXT>
<XML>
<?xml version="1.0"?>
<ownershipDocument>

    <schemaVersion>X0303</schemaVersion>

    <documentType>4</documentType>

    <periodOfReport>2009-01-06</periodOfReport>

    <notSubjectToSection16>0</notSubjectToSection16>

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

    <reportingOwner>
        <reportingOwnerId>
            <rptOwnerCik>0001421831</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>KOCH CARL FREDERICK III</rptOwnerName>
        </reportingOwnerId>
        <reportingOwnerAddress>
            <rptOwnerStreet1>260 LAKE RD</rptOwnerStreet1>
            <rptOwnerStreet2></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, Human Resources</officerTitle>
            <otherText></otherText>
        </reportingOwnerRelationship>
    </reportingOwner>

    <nonDerivativeTable>
        <nonDerivativeTransaction>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Common Stock</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <transactionDate>
                <value>2009-01-06</value>
            </transactionDate>
            <transactionCoding>
                <transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
                <transactionCode>S</transactionCode>
                <equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
            </transactionCoding>
            <transactionAmounts>
                <transactionShares>
                    <value>1643</value>
                </transactionShares>
                <transactionPricePerShare>
                    <value>18.808</value>
                </transactionPricePerShare>
                <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
                    <value>D</value>
                </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
            </transactionAmounts>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>10561</value>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>D</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </nonDerivativeTransaction>
        <nonDerivativeHolding>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Common Stock</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>8379</value>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>I</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
                <natureOfOwnership>
                    <value>See footnote</value>
                    <footnoteId id="F1"/>
                </natureOfOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </nonDerivativeHolding>
    </nonDerivativeTable>

    <footnotes>
        <footnote id="F1">Includes 2,006 shares of common stock allocated to Mr. Koch under the United Natural Foods, Inc. Employee Stock Ownership Plan and 6,373 shares of common stock allocated to Mr. Koch under the United Natural Foods, Inc. 401(k) plan's United Natural Foods, Inc. Company Stock Fund as of January 6, 2009.</footnote>
    </footnotes>

    <remarks></remarks>

    <ownerSignature>
        <signatureName>Lisa N'Chonon (Power of Attorney, in fact)</signatureName>
        <signatureDate>2009-01-07</signatureDate>
    </ownerSignature>
</ownershipDocument>
</XML>
</TEXT>
</DOCUMENT>
</SEC-DOCUMENT>
-----END PRIVACY-ENHANCED MESSAGE-----