================================================================================

                       SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
                             Washington, D.C. 20549

                                    FORM 8-K

                                 CURRENT REPORT

                     Pursuant to Section 13 or 15(d) of the
                         Securities Exchange Act of 1934

         Date of report (Date of earliest event reported): April 3, 2001

                           UNITED NATURAL FOODS, INC.
             (Exact Name of Registrant as Specified in Its Charter)

          Delaware                     000-21531                 05-0376157
(State or Other Jurisdiction    (Commission File Number)        (IRS Employer
     of Incorporation)                                       Identification No.)

                                  260 Lake Road
                               Dayville, CT 06241
               (Address of Principal Executive Offices) (Zip Code)

                                 (860) 779-2800
              (Registrant's Telephone Number, Including Area Code)

                                 Not Applicable
          (Former Name or Former Address, if Changed Since Last Report)

================================================================================
<PAGE>

Item 5. Other Events

      On April 3, 2001, the Company issued a press release announcing a
realignment of management responsibilities. A copy of this press release is
attached as an exhibit to this Form 8-K.

Item 7. Financial Statements and Exhibits

      (a)   Financial Statements of businesses acquired: Not Applicable

      (b)   Pro Forma Financial Information: Not Applicable

      (c)   Exhibits.

               Exhibit No.      Description
               -----------      -----------
                  99.1          Press Release, dated April 3, 2001, announcing
                                a realignment of management responsibilities.

                                   SIGNATURES

      Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, the
registrant has duly caused this report to be signed on its behalf by the
undersigned hereunto duly authorized.

                                         UNITED NATURAL FOODS, INC.

                                         By: /s/ Todd Weintraub
                                             -----------------------------------
                                             Todd Weintraub
                                             Vice President, Treasurer and Chief
                                             Financial Officer

                                         Date:  April 6, 2001

                                  EXHIBIT INDEX

Exhibit No.             Description
-----------             -----------
   99.1                 Press Release, dated April 3, 2001, announcing a
                        realignment of management responsibilities.
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{"company-data": {"conformed-name": "UNITED NATURAL FOODS INC", "cik": "0001020859", "assigned-sic": "5141", "irs-number": "050376157", "state-of-incorporation": "DE", "fiscal-year-end": "0731"}, "filing-values": {"form-type": "8-K", "act": "34", "file-number": "001-15723", "film-number": "1596949"}, "business-address": {"street1": "PO BOX 999", "street2": "260 LAKE RD", "city": "DAYVILLE", "state": "CT", "zip": "06241", "phone": "8607792800"}, "mail-address": {"street1": "PO BOX 999", "street2": "260 LAKE RD", "city": "DAYVILLE", "state": "CT", "zip": "06241"}}
================================================================================

                       SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
                             Washington, D.C. 20549

                                    FORM 8-K

                                 CURRENT REPORT

                     Pursuant to Section 13 or 15(d) of the
                         Securities Exchange Act of 1934

         Date of report (Date of earliest event reported): April 3, 2001

                           UNITED NATURAL FOODS, INC.
             (Exact Name of Registrant as Specified in Its Charter)

          Delaware                     000-21531                 05-0376157
(State or Other Jurisdiction    (Commission File Number)        (IRS Employer
     of Incorporation)                                       Identification No.)

                                  260 Lake Road
                               Dayville, CT 06241
               (Address of Principal Executive Offices) (Zip Code)

                                 (860) 779-2800
              (Registrant's Telephone Number, Including Area Code)

                                 Not Applicable
          (Former Name or Former Address, if Changed Since Last Report)

================================================================================
Item 5. Other Events

      On April 3, 2001, the Company issued a press release announcing a
realignment of management responsibilities. A copy of this press release is
attached as an exhibit to this Form 8-K.

Item 7. Financial Statements and Exhibits

      (a)   Financial Statements of businesses acquired: Not Applicable

      (b)   Pro Forma Financial Information: Not Applicable

      (c)   Exhibits.

               Exhibit No.      Description
               -----------      -----------
                  99.1          Press Release, dated April 3, 2001, announcing
                                a realignment of management responsibilities.

                                   SIGNATURES

      Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, the
registrant has duly caused this report to be signed on its behalf by the
undersigned hereunto duly authorized.

                                         UNITED NATURAL FOODS, INC.

                                         By: /s/ Todd Weintraub
                                             -----------------------------------
                                             Todd Weintraub
                                             Vice President, Treasurer and Chief
                                             Financial Officer

                                         Date:  April 6, 2001

                                  EXHIBIT INDEX

Exhibit No.             Description
-----------             -----------
   99.1                 Press Release, dated April 3, 2001, announcing a
                        realignment of management responsibilities.