-----BEGIN PRIVACY-ENHANCED MESSAGE-----
Proc-Type: 2001,MIC-CLEAR
Originator-Name: webmaster@www.sec.gov
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<SEC-DOCUMENT>0001420506-10-000253.txt : 20100914
<SEC-HEADER>0001420506-10-000253.hdr.sgml : 20100914
<ACCEPTANCE-DATETIME>20100914214929
ACCESSION NUMBER:		0001420506-10-000253
CONFORMED SUBMISSION TYPE:	4
PUBLIC DOCUMENT COUNT:		1
CONFORMED PERIOD OF REPORT:	20100910
FILED AS OF DATE:		20100914
DATE AS OF CHANGE:		20100914

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

REPORTING-OWNER:	

	OWNER DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			SPINNER STEVEN
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0001207897

	FILING VALUES:
		FORM TYPE:		4
		SEC ACT:		1934 Act
		SEC FILE NUMBER:	001-15723
		FILM NUMBER:		101072818

	MAIL ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		C/O UNITED NATURAL FOODS, INC.
		STREET 2:		260 LAKE ROAD
		CITY:			DAYVILLE
		STATE:			CT
		ZIP:			06241
</SEC-HEADER>
<DOCUMENT>
<TYPE>4
<SEQUENCE>1
<FILENAME>doc4_505.xml
<DESCRIPTION>PRIMARY DOCUMENT
<TEXT>
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    <schemaVersion>X0303</schemaVersion>

    <documentType>4</documentType>

    <periodOfReport>2010-09-10</periodOfReport>

    <notSubjectToSection16>0</notSubjectToSection16>

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

    <reportingOwner>
        <reportingOwnerId>
            <rptOwnerCik>0001207897</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>SPINNER STEVEN</rptOwnerName>
        </reportingOwnerId>
        <reportingOwnerAddress>
            <rptOwnerStreet1>313 IRON HORSE WAY</rptOwnerStreet1>
            <rptOwnerStreet2></rptOwnerStreet2>
            <rptOwnerCity>PROVIDENCE</rptOwnerCity>
            <rptOwnerState>RI</rptOwnerState>
            <rptOwnerZipCode>02908</rptOwnerZipCode>
            <rptOwnerStateDescription></rptOwnerStateDescription>
        </reportingOwnerAddress>
        <reportingOwnerRelationship>
            <isDirector>1</isDirector>
            <isOfficer>1</isOfficer>
            <isTenPercentOwner>0</isTenPercentOwner>
            <isOther>0</isOther>
            <officerTitle>President and CEO</officerTitle>
            <otherText></otherText>
        </reportingOwnerRelationship>
    </reportingOwner>

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                <value>Common Stock</value>
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            </transactionDate>
            <transactionCoding>
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                <transactionCode>M</transactionCode>
                <equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
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            <transactionAmounts>
                <transactionShares>
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                </transactionShares>
                <transactionPricePerShare>
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                <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
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                </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
            </transactionAmounts>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
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                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
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                    <value>D</value>
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            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
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                <value>Employee Stock Option (right to buy)</value>
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            <transactionDate>
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                <value>2020-09-10</value>
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                </underlyingSecurityTitle>
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                    <value>17760</value>
                </underlyingSecurityShares>
            </underlyingSecurity>
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                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>17760</value>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
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                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>D</value>
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        </derivativeTransaction>
        <derivativeTransaction>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Restricted Stock Unit</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <conversionOrExercisePrice>
                <footnoteId id="F2"/>
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            <transactionDate>
                <value>2010-09-11</value>
            </transactionDate>
            <transactionCoding>
                <transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
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            <transactionAmounts>
                <transactionShares>
                    <value>6094</value>
                </transactionShares>
                <transactionPricePerShare>
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                </transactionPricePerShare>
                <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
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            </underlyingSecurity>
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                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
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                <transactionCode>D</transactionCode>
                <equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
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                </transactionShares>
                <transactionPricePerShare>
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                <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
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                </underlyingSecurityShares>
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                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>24376</value>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
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            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>D</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </derivativeTransaction>
        <derivativeTransaction>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Phantom Stock</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <conversionOrExercisePrice>
                <footnoteId id="F7"/>
            </conversionOrExercisePrice>
            <transactionDate>
                <value>2010-09-11</value>
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                <transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
                <transactionCode>A</transactionCode>
                <equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
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            <transactionAmounts>
                <transactionShares>
                    <value>2031</value>
                </transactionShares>
                <transactionPricePerShare>
                    <value>0</value>
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                <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
                    <value>A</value>
                </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
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                    <value>2031</value>
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                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>2031</value>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
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                    <value>D</value>
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        </derivativeTransaction>
    </derivativeTable>

    <footnotes>
        <footnote id="F1">Includes 2,260 shares held by a daughter(1) of the reporting person, 1,500 shares held by a daughter(2) of the reporting person, and 1,500 shares held by the brother of the reporting person, as custodian for a daughter(3) of the reporting person.</footnote>
        <footnote id="F2">Each restricted stock unit represents the right to receive one share of United Natural Foods, Inc. common stock upon vesting in accordance with the terms of the reporting person's restricted stock unit agreement.</footnote>
        <footnote id="F3">The restricted stock units vest in four equal annual installments beginning on the first anniversary of the date of grant.</footnote>
        <footnote id="F4">United Natural Foods, Inc.'s closing price on the NASDAQ National Market on September 10, 2010.</footnote>
        <footnote id="F5">The stock options vest and becomes exercisable in four equal annual installments beginning on the first anniversary of the date of grant.</footnote>
        <footnote id="F6">On September 11, 2010, 8,125 shares of United Natural Foods, Inc. (the &quot;Company&quot;) restricted stock units vested, of which 2,031 were deferred to the United Natural Foods, Inc. Deferred Compensation Plan.  The Company retained 1,993 shares on September 11, 2010 to satisfy certain tax withholding obligations in connection with the vesting of such shares.</footnote>
        <footnote id="F7">The security converts to common stock on a one-for-one basis subject to the terms of the United Natural Foods, Inc. Deferred Compensation Plan.</footnote>
    </footnotes>

    <remarks></remarks>

    <ownerSignature>
        <signatureName>Lisa N'Chonon, Power-of-Attorney, in fact</signatureName>
        <signatureDate>2010-09-14</signatureDate>
    </ownerSignature>
</ownershipDocument>
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</TEXT>
</DOCUMENT>
</SEC-DOCUMENT>
-----END PRIVACY-ENHANCED MESSAGE-----