PROVIDENCE, RI - For the last 13 years, United Natural Foods, Inc. (UNFI) has made sharing its social, environmental, and governance objectives and progress a major priority. Once again, the distributor is releasing its annual Better for All report detailing what it has achieved in the 2023 fiscal year, which ended July 29, 2023.
“UNFI is building a company that creates sustainable value for stakeholders and shareholders, and a better food system for all,” said Sandy Douglas, President and Chief Executive Officer of UNFI. “In FY2023, we issued new responsible sourcing policies and position statements, expanded supplier diversity efforts, reaffirmed our broader commitment to diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI), started work on our ninth and largest on-site solar array, completed LED lighting conversions across all of our distribution centers (DCs), and deployed a new system that helps us reduce food waste in our DCs.”
UNFI’s Better for All strategy centers on establishing the company as a key connector within the food system value chain, creating and growing critical linkages among farmers, suppliers, manufacturers, retailers, and consumers, a release detailed. The report demonstrates the success of UNFI’s enhanced focus on its most pressing impact areas: safety, well-being, waste, climate, sourcing, and community.
As a result of the distributor’s ongoing efforts, the report outlined several key milestones, including:
- Launched the Climate Action Partnership to encourage suppliers to make credible climate commitments and provide innovative and scalable resources specific to the food system
- Successfully completed an electric vehicle (EV) Blueprint that outlines how the Company plans to transition to zero-emission vehicles in the state of California. This reduces fuel and maintenance costs while also improving air quality
- Deployed a Reverse Logistics Disposition Reporting (RLDR) system at all UNFI distribution centers that increases inventory visibility, improves operating efficiency, reduces food waste, and minimizes waste disposal costs, contributing to lower shrink in distribution centers
“Our associates can be very proud of the solid progress on company sustainability and operational efficiency goals. I look forward to what we’ll accomplish together in 2024,” added Douglas.
To read about UNFI’s other accomplishments, click here.
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