United Natural Foods Presents Innovative Products, Programs and Services to Help Grocery Retailers Grow During the Winter and Holiday Selling Season

PROVIDENCE, R.I.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Aug 8, 2024--

United Natural Foods, Inc. (NYSE: UNFI) (the “Company” or “UNFI”) just concluded its second successful 2024 Winter and Holiday Selling Show, where it highlighted a wide range of innovative products, programs and services aimed at helping food retailers drive profitable growth during the upcoming holiday season.

This press release features multimedia. View the full release here: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20240808683407/en/

UNFI's recently launched UNFI Media Network (UMN), powered by Swiftly was featured prominently. Retail media networks have shown to be highly precise and effective advertising platforms for both suppliers and retailers, and consumers have shown willingness to embrace these new platforms. (Photo: Business Wire)

Nearly 2,100 customers visited more than 800 exhibitors, featuring 1,500 brands, during the two-day event. Customers experienced UNFI’s portfolio of differentiated and competitively priced products, and value-added services, designed to help them create compelling shopping experiences and grow their businesses. The show also featured 50 suppliers from the Company’s New Product and Diverse Supplier showcases, as well as more than 70 suppliers offering show-exclusive “Monster Buys” on over 1,700 products.

“Our annual shows bring together our connected community of retailers and suppliers to experience a full range of opportunities to grow their businesses,” said UNFI Chief Customer Officer, Steve Dietz. “The deals offered cross all categories, our Monster Buys, which are exclusive to customers who attend the show, and our new UNFI Media Network, are great examples of how UNFI is helping both our retailers and suppliers win in their markets.”

UNFI Retail Media Network

The show’s mainstage opening included a presentation on the Company’s recently launched UNFI Media Network (UMN), powered by Swiftly. Attendance was strong, as retail media networks have shown to be highly precise and effective advertising platforms for both suppliers and retailers, and consumers have shown willingness to embrace these new platforms. Delivered by Matt Eckhouse, UNFI President of Professional Services, and Sean Turner, Swiftly Co-founder & Chief Innovation Officer, the presentation centered on how retailers can best take advantage of UMN to benefit their customers.

UNFI Pitch Slam Contest

One of the most anticipated sessions at every UNFI show is the Company’s unique Pitch Slam competition, where emerging brands pitch their innovative new products to a live audience. Five contestants competed in the Minneapolis Pitch Slam competition and the winner was Like Air, a family-run business that makes better-for-you snacks that do not compromise taste. For winning the Pitch Slam, Like Air will receive a complimentary campaign on UMN later this year.

UNFI will next host its 2025 Spring and Summer show in San Diego, CA, from January 21 – 23, 2025. For information on UNFI Shows, customers or suppliers can visit: https://www.unfi.com/shows-events or email events@unfi.com.

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 how UNFI is delivering better food and creating a better future, visit www.unfi.com.

Nearly 2,100 customers visited more than 800 exhibitors, featuring 1,500 brands, during the two-day event. Customers experienced UNFI’s portfolio of differentiated and competitively priced products, and value-added services, designed to help them create compelling shopping experiences and grow their businesses. (Photo: Business Wire)

LEWISTON, Maine (AP) — Lawyers representing 100 survivors and family members of victims of the deadliest shooting in Maine history have begun the formal process of suing the Army and an Army hospital for failing to act to stop the reservist responsible for the tragedy, attorneys announced Tuesday.

The individual notices of claim say the Army was aware of the reservist's mental health decline that left him paranoid, delusional and expressing homicidal ideations, producing a “hit list” of those he wanted to attack.

“It is difficult to conceive of a case in which Army personnel could have more warning signs and opportunities to intervene to prevent a service member from committing a mass shooting than what happened in the case of Army Reservist Robert Card,” lawyers wrote in their notices mailed Friday.

The notices of claim by four law firms are a required step in suing the federal government. The Army will have six months to determine whether to respond, after which a lawsuit may be filed.

Eighteen people were killed when the 40-year-old Card opened fire at two locations he'd frequented — a bowling alley and a cornhole league hosted by a bar and grill — on Oct. 25, 2023. Another 13 people were injured. Card was found dead two days later from a self-inflicted gunshot wound.

An independent commission appointed by Maine's governor concluded that there were ample opportunities to intervene by both civilian law enforcement and the Army. For now, lawyers for victims and family and friends who suffered loss are focusing on the Army, and not a private hospital that treated Card or civilian law enforcement.

The Department of Defense, U.S. Army and Army Keller Hospital “broke its promises, failed to act reasonably, violated its own polices and procedures and disregarded directives and orders,” the claim said.

In September 2023, when Card threatened to “shoot up” an armory and his friend warned of "a mass shooting,” the Army failed to provide critical background about two doctors recommending that Card not have access to weapons when it requested that local law enforcement officers check on his well being. Card's commanding officer even downplayed the threat by undercutting the credibility of the soldier who issued the warning, and by declining to share all information at his disposal, the claims said.

Cynthia Young, whose husband William and 14-year-old son Aaron were killed at the bowling alley, said in a statement that pain and trauma never goes away. “As terrible as the shooting was it’s even more tragic that there were many opportunities to prevent this and they were not taken,” she added.

The filings said there may have been a time when mass shootings were so rare that they couldn’t be predicted but “that has not been true in America for decades.”

“Mass shootings, like what happened in Lewiston, are an epidemic in America. Consequently, those in positions of responsibility and authority are required to appreciate the warning signs and behaviors that telegraph the risk of mass violence, take them seriously, and act to prevent their occurrence," the claims said.

FILE - A man photographs a make-shift memorial at the base of the Lewiston sign at Veteran's Memorial Park, Oct. 29, 2023, in Lewiston, Maine. (AP Photo/Matt York, File)

FILE - A woman visits a makeshift memorial outside Sparetime Bowling Alley, the site of a mass shooting, Oct. 28, 2023, in Lewiston, Maine. (AP Photo/Robert F. Bukaty, File)

FILE - Rain-soaked memorials for those who died in a mass shooting sit along the roadside by Schemengees Bar & Grille, Oct. 30, 2023, in Lewiston, Maine. (AP Photo/Matt York, File)

FILE - Law enforcement personnel are staged in a school parking lot during a manhunt for Robert Card in the aftermath of a mass shooting in Lewiston, Maine, Oct. 27, 2023. (AP Photo/Matt Rourke, File)

FILE — In this image taken from New York State Police body camera video that was obtained by WMTW-TV 8 in Portland, Maine, New York State Police interview Army reservist Robert Card, the man responsible for Maine's deadliest mass shooting, at Camp Smith, in Cortlandt, N.Y., July 16, 2023. (WMTW-TV 8/New York State Police via AP, File)

FILE - Law enforcement gather outside Schemengee's Bar and Grille, Thursday, Oct. 26, 2023, in Lewiston, Maine. (AP Photo/Robert F. Bukaty, File)