---
schema_version: "secwatch.filing_event.v1"
accession: "0001020859-23-000037"
form_type: "8-K"
ticker: "UNFI"
cik: "0001020859"
company_name: "UNITED NATURAL FOODS INC"
filed_at: "2023-09-26T23:59:59+00:00"
generated_at: "2026-06-10T08:30:07.388279+00:00"
event_type: "other_material"
sentiment: "neutral"
materiality_score: 0.7
calibrated_materiality_score: 0.7
confidence: "high"
source: SEC EDGAR
---

# UNFI adds three directors, enters cooperation with JCP; Board to lead financial review

## Summary
- Board expands to 14 by adding Lynn Blake, James Loree, and James C. Pappas (JCP founder) effective Sept 28, 2023.
- Cooperation agreement with JCP includes standstill, voting commitments, and director replacement rights; standstill until before 2025 annual meeting.
- Board to oversee financial review aiming to optimize capital structure and enhance shareholder value creation.
- After 2024 annual meeting, board to reduce to 11; three new directors will be nominated for election.

## SEC filing metadata
- accession: 0001020859-23-000037
- form_type: 8-K
- ticker: UNFI
- cik: 0001020859
- company_name: UNITED NATURAL FOODS INC
- filed_at: 2023-09-26T23:59:59+00:00
- event_type: other_material
- sentiment: neutral
- materiality_score: 0.7
- calibrated_materiality_score: 0.7
- confidence: high
- sec_items: 1.01, 5.02, 7.01, 9.01
- EDGAR index: https://www.sec.gov/Archives/edgar/data/1020859/000102085923000037/0001020859-23-000037-index.htm
- EDGAR primary document: https://www.sec.gov/Archives/edgar/data/1020859/000102085923000037/unfi-20230925.htm

## Machine-readable alternates
- HTML: https://secwatch.observer/filing/0001020859-23-000037
- JSON: https://secwatch.observer/filing/0001020859-23-000037.json
- Plain text: https://secwatch.observer/filing/0001020859-23-000037.txt

## Key facts
- Executive change
  James C. Pappas was appointed as Director at UNITED NATURAL FOODS INC.
  - Action: appointed
  - Role: Director
  source text: The New Directors were appointed to the Board, effective September 28, 2023.
  evidence_url: https://www.sec.gov/Archives/edgar/data/1020859/000102085923000037/0001020859-23-000037-index.htm
- Executive change
  James Loree was appointed as Director at UNITED NATURAL FOODS INC.
  - Action: appointed
  - Role: Director
  source text: The New Directors were appointed to the Board, effective September 28, 2023.
  evidence_url: https://www.sec.gov/Archives/edgar/data/1020859/000102085923000037/0001020859-23-000037-index.htm
- Executive change
  Lynn Blake was appointed as Director at UNITED NATURAL FOODS INC.
  - Action: appointed
  - Role: Director
  source text: The New Directors were appointed to the Board, effective September 28, 2023.
  evidence_url: https://www.sec.gov/Archives/edgar/data/1020859/000102085923000037/0001020859-23-000037-index.htm
- Material Agreements
  UNITED NATURAL FOODS INC entered into Cooperation Agreement with JCP Investment Partnership, LP, JCP Investment Partners, LP, JCP Investment Holdings, LLC, JCP Investment Management, LLC, and James C. Pappas (effective 2023-09-25).
  - Action: entry
  - Counterparty: JCP Investment Partnership, LP, JCP Investment Partners, LP, JCP Investment Holdings, LLC, JCP Investment Management, LLC, and James C. Pappas
  - Effective: 2023-09-25
  source text: On September 25, 2023, United Natural Foods, Inc., a Delaware corporation (the “ Company ”), entered into a cooperation agreement (the “ Cooperation Agreement ”) with JCP Investment Partnership, LP, a Texas limited partnership, JCP Investment Partners, LP, a Texas limited partnership, JCP Investment Holdings, LLC, a Texas limited liability company, JCP Investment Management, LLC, a Texas limited liability company, and James C. Pappas (collectively, “ JCP ”).
  evidence_url: https://www.sec.gov/Archives/edgar/data/1020859/000102085923000037/0001020859-23-000037-index.htm

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