United Natural Foods, Inc. Reshapes Leadership and Organizational Structure to Drive Further Growth; Sandy Douglas Shares

United Natural Foods, Inc. (UNFI) is approaching change in a different light. The distributor is focusing on growth with a constructive twist on its leadership team, announcing a new organizational structure to focus on key operational priorities.

“We are on an aggressive path to drive shareholder value by helping to create sustainable, profitable growth with and for our customers and suppliers,” said Chief Executive Officer Sandy Douglas. “With positive momentum and a $140 billion addressable market with significant opportunities for selling more to existing and new customers, we are well-positioned to attain these objectives. Our high-performing, diverse leadership team, new organizational structure, and value-based approach will ensure we are devoting maximum managerial talent and focus toward achieving these growth plans.”

With this mindset, UNFI revealed its leadership team will now be prioritizing four growth platforms: services, wholesale, retail, and corporate and business transformation, according to a release.

The services platform will be led by Chris Testa, who is responsible for the company’s supplier services, professional services, e-commerce, and private and owned brands portfolio.

Steve Dietz will be taking up UNFI’s wholesale platform unit, leading the wholesale customer growth work; Mark Bushway will be a part of the wholesale platform, overseeing supply chain, transportation, and safety; and Jack Clare will take on information technology.

CUB CEO Mike Stigers will continue to lead UNFI’s owned retail division as part of the retail platform, while the corporate and business transformation platform will continue to be led by John Howard, Mahrukh Hussain, Matt Echols, Danielle Benedict, Louis Martin, and Brandan Walsh.

In addition to its senior leadership team, UNFI has recruited leaders to accelerate growth in high-priority areas of the business and support its strategy. They include:

• Kristyn Farahmand, formerly SVP Investor Relations and Strategic Finance at CBRE Group, will lead UNFI’s investor relations and finance transformation teams
• Tehzin Chadwick, formerly Global Senior Director of Environmental Health and Safety Compliance at SYSCO, will lead workplace safety and food safety initiatives across the U.S. and Canada
• Usman Waheed, formerly Chief Information Officer at Knoll, will lead the Company’s digital strategy focused on customers, suppliers, and associates
• Angie Balian, formerly VP and General Manager at Weston Foods, will partner with the brands and services team with a focus on initiatives to accelerate growth, drive efficiencies, and help customers succeed
• Autumn Price, formerly VP of Government and Industry Relations at Land O’Lakes, will lead the newly created government and public affairs team

To read more about these changes, click here.

How will UNFI’s latest restructuring change the company’s dynamics for more growth ahead? Stay tuned as Deli Market News keeps an eye on the wire.