PROVIDENCE, R.I. - United Natural Foods, Inc. (the 'Company' or 'UNFI') today announced that it received a top score of 100 on the Human Rights Campaign Foundation's 2023 Corporate Equality Index, the nation's foremost benchmarking survey and report measuring corporate policies and practices related to LGBTQ+ workplace equality. UNFI is the only North American grocery wholesaler to score 100 on both the Disability Equality Index and the Human Rights Campaign's Corporate Equality Index for three years in a row.

'We are proud to receive this recognition for the third consecutive year and recognize there is still work to be done as UNFI strives to be an inclusive place for all. In the face of a record number of anti-LGBTQ bills introduced in 2023 UNFI remains committed to supporting the LGBTQ+ community and to continuing to learn and adapt to better serve our associates and customers,' said Guillaume Bagal, vice president of diversity, equity, inclusion, and wellbeing at UNFI.

UNFI is building a diverse, high-performing, and agile workforce by advancing diversity, equity, and inclusion in its workplace. The Company is fostering a culture of inclusion and empathy with open dialogue, effective associate training, health care plans that include mental health coverage, and by honoring holidays and special events that speak to the company's associates' identities. During this past year, UNFI made significant progress on this mission, including:

Launching LGBTQ+ inclusive social media campaigns, including a National Coming Out Day video featuring associates who are members of our Pride group, and efforts to normalize adding pronouns next to our names in email signatures and on Teams.

Conducting LGBTQ+ cultural humility trainings, including training HR on our workplace gender transition policy and processes.

Enabling associates to volunteer more than 250 hours during Pride events in Rhode Island and Minnesota last June.

Supporting the release of a two-part Unfiltered podcast by Members of Pride BIG (Belonging & Innovation Group) on the experiences and needs of LGBTQ+ associates in the workplace.

Donating $10 thousand to Youth Pride RI, the only nonprofit in Rhode Island dedicated to meeting the needs of LGBTQ+ Youth, to support youth Pride RI's food pantry and personal care items donations.

Partnering with Stop & Shop to feature products from certified LGBTQ-owned business in endcaps throughout Pride Month.

'For well over two decades, businesses have played an important role in furthering LGBTQ+ equality by centering employee needs and voices when it comes to workplace inclusion. While there is much more work to be done, year-over-year growth in CEI participation is evidence of a business community that recognizes the responsibility and value in upholding equity and inclusion,' said RaShawn 'Shawnie' Hawkins, Human Rights Campaign Sr Director of Workplace Equality. 'Our goal at the Human Rights Campaign Foundation is to work in a spirit of partnership with companies, providing educational resources and leading benchmarking, and collaborating on ways for businesses to support the LGBTQ+ community at a time when we face unprecedented legislative attacks, heightened anti-LGBTQ+ rhetoric and physical violence. The CEI is an ever-evolving tool - a blueprint that companies can use to show up more effectively in supporting their LGBTQ+ employees and their families.'

The CEI rates companies on detailed criteria falling under four central pillars:

Non-discrimination policies across business entities.

Equitable benefits for LGBTQ+ workers and their families.

Supporting an inclusive culture.

Corporate social responsibility.

The full report is available online at www.hrc.org/cei.

About UNFI

UNFI is North America's premier grocery wholesaler delivering the widest variety of fresh, branded, and owned brand products to more than 30,000 locations throughout North America, including natural product superstores, independent retailers, conventional supermarket chains, ecommerce providers, and food service customers. UNFI also provides a broad range of value-added services and segmented marketing expertise, including proprietary technology, data, market insights, and shelf management to help customers and suppliers build their businesses and brands. As the largest full-service grocery partner in North America, UNFI is committed to building a food system that is better for all and is uniquely positioned to deliver great food, more choices, and fresh thinking to customers. To learn more about how UNFI is delivering value for its stakeholders, visit www.unfi.com.

Media Contact

Charles Davis

+1 (215) 539-1696

cdavis@unfi.com

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