---
schema_version: "secwatch.filing_event.v1"
accession: "0001020859-21-000062"
form_type: "8-K"
ticker: "UNFI"
cik: "0001020859"
company_name: "UNITED NATURAL FOODS INC"
filed_at: "2021-07-28T23:59:59+00:00"
generated_at: "2026-06-30T01:24:14.966190+00:00"
event_type: "leadership"
sentiment: "neutral"
materiality_score: 0.65
calibrated_materiality_score: 0.65
confidence: "high"
source: SEC EDGAR
---

# UNFI appoints Sandy Douglas as CEO, Jack Stahl as Board Chair effective Aug 9, 2021

## Summary
- Steven Spinner retires as CEO and Board member effective Aug 9, 2021; will serve as consultant for one year.
- Sandy Douglas (ex-Staples CEO, ex-Coca-Cola president) appointed CEO and Board member, effective Aug 9, 2021.
- Jack Stahl elected Independent Chair of Board; Peter Roy steps down as Lead Director.
- Douglas receives base salary $1.05M, cash bonus target 150% of salary, annual equity target $3.9M, plus $2M inducement equity award.

## SEC filing metadata
- accession: 0001020859-21-000062
- form_type: 8-K
- ticker: UNFI
- cik: 0001020859
- company_name: UNITED NATURAL FOODS INC
- filed_at: 2021-07-28T23:59:59+00:00
- event_type: leadership
- sentiment: neutral
- materiality_score: 0.65
- calibrated_materiality_score: 0.65
- confidence: high
- sec_items: 5.02, 7.01, 9.01
- EDGAR index: https://www.sec.gov/Archives/edgar/data/1020859/000102085921000062/0001020859-21-000062-index.htm
- EDGAR primary document: https://www.sec.gov/Archives/edgar/data/1020859/000102085921000062/unfi-20210722.htm

## Machine-readable alternates
- HTML: https://secwatch.observer/filing/0001020859-21-000062
- JSON: https://secwatch.observer/filing/0001020859-21-000062.json
- Plain text: https://secwatch.observer/filing/0001020859-21-000062.txt

## Key facts
- Executive change
  Steven L. Spinner resigned as Chief Executive Officer at UNITED NATURAL FOODS INC.
  - Action: resigned
  - Role: Chief Executive Officer
  source text: Mr. Spinner’s resignation as CEO will be effective, and he will resign as Chair and a member of the Board.
  evidence_url: https://www.sec.gov/Archives/edgar/data/1020859/000102085921000062/0001020859-21-000062-index.htm
- Executive change
  J. Alexander Miller Douglas was appointed as Chief Executive Officer at UNITED NATURAL FOODS INC.
  - Action: appointed
  - Role: Chief Executive Officer
  source text: the Board appointed J. Alexander Miller Douglas, 60, to the role of Chief Executive Officer and a member of the Board, effective August 9, 2021.
  evidence_url: https://www.sec.gov/Archives/edgar/data/1020859/000102085921000062/0001020859-21-000062-index.htm

This AI-assisted summary is a reading aid. Review the linked SEC EDGAR filing before relying on any specific claim.