UNFI Empowers Associates to Give Back to Communities, Improve Access to Quality Food

January 28, 2025           5 minute read

At UNFI, we strive to be better every day and make meaningful impact in our communities. As one of the largest wholesale distributors in North America, we recognize the important role we play in improving access to quality food, empowering associates to give back, and protecting the planet we share. We actively seek opportunities to engage with and support our community, strengthening our relationships with community stakeholders.

This year, we introduced a new volunteerism program that extends our support beyond the dollar by tapping into our associates’ expertise. Our new Partnering for Impact: Skills-based Volunteering Program connects skilled UNFI associates with UNFI Foundation grantees seeking support, unlocking access to resources that are often unavailable to grassroots organizations. Through 1:1 technical assistance and group trainings, we can help strengthen the capabilities of nonprofit organizations in a number of areas including social media and marketing, logistics and distribution support, and employee training and development. UNFI associates donated more than $5,000 of in-kind technical expertise during the pilot round of this program.

One of our volunteers, Scott Naylor, UNFI Senior Director of Region Transportation Operations, partnered with Providence-based UNFI Foundation grantee, Southside Community Land Trust (SSCLT), to refine a supply chain process for a program that buys crops from small farmers and then sells them to local organizations. When asked about his experience, Scott said, “We worked together for about eight months to improve their tracking, ordering and invoicing process to make their operations more efficient. I liked being involved with an organization that engages with the community in such a unique and impactful way. In the end, we were able to save several hours of work per week which gives SSCLT a little more time to help their team on other projects and programs.”

In addition to volunteerism, another way UNFI creates shared value for our communities is by improving access to quality food across North America. Through UNFI-owned brands, from Essential Everyday to Woodstock Foods, we continue to serve the diverse needs and food preferences of customers and consumers by providing a wide selection of items including more than 1,700 kosher items and more than 800 Women, Infants, and Children (WIC) eligible items across the United States.

During the last year, we partnered with industry trade associations and grocery retailers to urge lawmakers to maintain Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) and WIC funding levels to protect SNAP participants, ensuring shoppers continue to have access to affordable and quality food items. This is significant for our retail customers, and essential for shoppers temporarily relying on federal nutrition assistance programs to help feed their families.

This story is part of an ongoing series celebrating UNFI’s progress on our sustainability and impact goals. To learn more about our efforts, we invite you to explore our recently published Impact Report.