Told by Co-Founder Michael Funk
In the early 1970s, a growing awareness of environmental issues began to shape how food was grown and sourced. For Michael, supporting organic food meant helping customers meet changing expectations while encouraging more responsible farming practices.
Over time, UNFI has broadened its impact beyond farmland to include operations, energy use, transportation, and more.
A growing health and wellness movement began to reshape consumer expectations in the 1980s. With demand for organic products outpacing supply, Michael realized that retailers needed partners to help them respond with greater consistency and transparency. That shift set UNFI on a path to become North America’s first national distributor of natural products.
Since the beginning, we’ve grown our business by listening, learning, and adapting to customer needs. As surging demand for natural and organic foods brought new challenges in the 80s and 90s, our team built enduring partnerships through transparency, accountability, and a commitment to being better every day.
For 50 years, UNFI associates have worked to deliver better food to communities across North America. Michael reflects on the values that shaped the company’s first five decades – and the opportunity to continue building a better future with our customers, suppliers, associates, and communities in the years to come.
From humble beginnings to a movement that helped reshape the food industry, our story is rooted in purpose, passion, and progress.
Learn more about our journey
