<PAGE>
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
WASHINGTON, D.C. 20549
_____________________
SCHEDULE 13G
(Rule 13d-102)
INFORMATION STATEMENT PURSUANT TO RULES 13d-1 AND 13d-2
UNDER THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934
(Amendment No. __)
United Natural Foods, Inc.
--------------------------
(Name of Issuer)
Common Stock, $.01 par value per share
--------------------------------------
(Title of Class of Securities)
911163 10 3
-----------
(CUSIP Number)
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SCHEDULE 13G
CUSIP No. 911163 10 3 Page 2 of 9
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____________________________________________________________________________
1. Name of Reporting Persons
S.S. or I.R.S. Identification Number of Above Persons
United Natural Foods, Inc. Employee Stock Ownership Trust (the "ESOT")
06-1473228
____________________________________________________________________________
2. Check the Appropriate Box if a Member of a Group - Not Applicable
____________________________________________________________________________
3. SEC Use Only
____________________________________________________________________________
4. Citizenship or Place of Organization
Connecticut
____________________________________________________________________________
Number of Shares Beneficially Owned By Each Reporting Person With;
5. Sole Voting Power
0 Shares
____________________________________________________________________________
6. Shared Voting Power
2,179,595 Shares (Participants in the United Natural Foods, Inc. Employee
Stock Ownership Plan ("ESOP") have the right to direct the voting of shares
held by the ESOT which are allocated to their accounts under the ESOP. The
Trustee of the ESOT votes unallocated shares and allocated shares for which
no instructions have been received in proportion to the directions received
for the allocated shares).
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CUSIP No. 911163 10 3 Page 3 of 9
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____________________________________________________________________________
7. Sole Dispositive Power
2,179,595 Shares
____________________________________________________________________________
8. Shared Dispositive Power
0 Shares
____________________________________________________________________________
9. Aggregate Amount Beneficially Owned by Each Reporting Person.
2,179,595 shares. The ESOT disclaims beneficial ownership of such shares to
the extent that the beneficial ownership of the shares is attributable to
participants in the ESOP.
____________________________________________________________________________
10. Check Box if the Aggregate Amount in Row (9) Excludes Certain Shares.
Not Applicable
____________________________________________________________________________
11. Percent of Class Represented by Amount in Row 9.
17.6%
____________________________________________________________________________
12. Type of Reporting Person.
EP
____________________________________________________________________________
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SCHEDULE 13G
CUSIP No. 911163 10 3 Page 4 of 9
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____________________________________________________________________________
1. Name of Reporting Persons
S.S. or I.R.S. Identification Number of Above Persons
Robert G. Huckins, Esq. (Trustee of the ESOT)
###-##-####
____________________________________________________________________________
2. Check the Appropriate Box if a Member of a Group - Not Applicable
____________________________________________________________________________
3. SEC Use Only
____________________________________________________________________________
4. Citizenship or Place of Organization
United States of America
____________________________________________________________________________
Number of Shares Beneficially Owned By Each Reporting Person With;
5. Sole Voting Power
0 Shares
____________________________________________________________________________
6. Shared Voting Power
2,179,595 Shares (Participants in the ESOP have the right to direct the
voting of shares held by the ESOT which are allocated to their accounts
under the ESOP. The Trustee of the ESOT votes unallocated shares and
allocated shares for which no instructions have been received in proportion
to the directions received for the allocated shares. No participant in the
ESOP has the individual ability to control the voting of shares held by the
ESOT which
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CUSIP No. 911163 10 3 Page 5 of 9
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constitute 5% or more of the outstanding shares of the common stock of
United Natural Foods, Inc.)
____________________________________________________________________________
7. Sole Dispositive Power
2,179,595 Shares
____________________________________________________________________________
8. Shared Dispositive Power
0 Shares
____________________________________________________________________________
9. Aggregate Amount Beneficially Owned by Each Reporting Person.
Mr. Huckins is the Trustee of the ESOT. Mr. Huckins does not have a
beneficial ownership interest in any of the shares held by the ESOT and
accordingly disclaims beneficial ownership of all such shares.
____________________________________________________________________________
10. Check Box if the Aggregate Amount in Row (9) Excludes Certain Shares.
Not Applicable
____________________________________________________________________________
11. Percent of Class Represented by Amount in Row 9.
17.6%
____________________________________________________________________________
12. Type of Reporting Person.
IN
____________________________________________________________________________
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CUSIP No. 911163 10 3 Page 6 of 9
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SCHEDULE 13G
Item 1(a). Name of Issuer:
- ---------------------------
United Natural Foods, Inc.
Item 1(b). Address of Issuer's Principal Executive Offices:
- ------------------------------------------------------------
260 Lake Road
Dayville, Connecticut 06241
Item 2(a). Name of Person Filing:
- ----------------------------------
United Natural Foods, Inc. Employee Stock Ownership Trust on its own behalf and
on behalf of its trustee, Robert G. Huckins, Esq.
Item 2(b). Address of
Principal Business Office or, if None, Residence:
- -------------------------------------------------
c/o Robert G. Huckins, Esq.
Smith Barney, Inc.
One Citizens Plaza
Suite 600
Providence, R.I. 02903
Item 2(c). Citizenship:
- ------------------------
The United Natural Foods, Inc. Employee Stock Ownership Trust is a trust
established under the laws of the State of Connecticut.
Mr. Huckins is a citizen of the United States of America.
Item 2(d). Title of Class of Securities:
- -----------------------------------------
Common Stock, $.01 par value per share
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CUSIP No. 911163 10 3 Page 7 of 9
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Item 2(e). CUSIP Number:
- -------------------------
911163 10 3
Item 3:
- -------
Not Applicable
Item 4. Ownership:
- -------------------
(a) Amount Beneficially Owned:
The 2,179,595 shares are held by the United Natural Foods, Inc. Employee
Stock Ownership Trust ("ESOT"). Mr. Robert G. Huckins, Esq. is the Trustee
of the ESOT. Mr. Huckins does not have a beneficial ownership interest in
any of the shares held by the ESOT and accordingly disclaims beneficial
ownership of all such shares. The ESOT disclaims beneficial ownership of
such shares to the extent that the beneficial ownership of the shares is
attributable to participants in the ESOP.
(b) Percent of Class:
17.6%
(c) Number of shares as to which such person has:
(i) sole power to vote or to direct the vote:
Mr. Huckins has sole power to direct the vote of 0 Shares;
(ii) shared power to vote or to direct the vote:
2,179,595 Shares (Participants in the United Natural Foods, Inc.
Employee Stock Ownership Plan ("ESOP") have the right to direct
the voting of shares held by the ESOT which are allocated to
their accounts under the ESOP. The Trustee of the ESOT votes
unallocated shares and allocated shares for which no
instructions have been received in proportion to the directions
received for the allocated shares.);
(iii) sole power to dispose or to direct the
disposition of:
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CUSIP No. 911163 10 3 Page 8 of 9
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Mr. Huckins, as trustee of the ESOT, has the sole power to
dispose of the 2,179,595 Shares held by the ESOT;
(iv) shared power to dispose or to direct the
disposition of:
Mr. Huckins shares power to dispose of 0 shares.
Item 5. Ownership of Five Percent or Less of a Class:
- ------------------------------------------------------
Not Applicable
Item 6. Ownership of More Than Five Percent on Behalf of Another Person:
- -------------------------------------------------------------------------
The 2,179,595 shares are held by the United Natural Foods, Inc. Employee Stock
Ownership Trust ("ESOT"). Mr. Robert G. Huckins, Esq. is the Trustee of the
ESOT. Mr. Huckins does not have a beneficial ownership interest in any of the
shares held by the ESOT and accordingly disclaims beneficial ownership of all
such shares. Participants in the ESOP are eligible to receive the shares held by
the ESOT and allocated to their participant accounts under the ESOP, to the
extent that their rights to such shares have vested, upon terminating their
employment with United Natural Foods, Inc. All participants in the ESOP disclaim
beneficial ownership of the shares held by the ESOT except to the extent of
their proportionate pecuniary interest therein.
The ESOT disclaims beneficial ownership of such shares to the extent that the
beneficial ownership of the shares is attributable to participants in the ESOP.
Item 7. Identification and Classification of the Subsidiary which Acquired the
Security Being Reported by the Parent Holding Company:
- -------------------------------------------------------
Not Applicable
Item 8. Identification and Classification
of Members of the Group:
- --------------------------------------------
Not Applicable
Item 9. Notice of Dissolution of Group:
- ----------------------------------------
Not Applicable
Item 10. Certification:
- ------------------------
Not Applicable
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CUSIP No. 911163 10 3 Page 9 of 9
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SIGNATURE
After reasonable inquiry and to the best of my knowledge and belief, I certify
that the information set forth in this statement is true, complete and correct.
/s/ Robert G. Huckins
-------------------------------
Robert G. Huckins, Esq.
individually
February 10, 1997
----------------------------------
Date
United Natural Foods, Inc.
Employee Stock Ownership
Trust
By: /s/ Robert G. Huckins
-------------------------------
Robert G. Huckins, Esq.
Its Trustee
February 10, 1997
----------------------------------
Date
