<PAGE>
PROSPECTUS FILED PURSUANT TO RULE 424(b)(3)
JUNE 10, 1998 REGISTRATION NO. 333-51167
3,250,000 SHARES
[UNITED NATURAL FOODS LOGO APPEARS HERE]
COMMON STOCK
Of the 3,250,000 shares of Common Stock offered hereby, 800,000 shares are
being sold by United Natural Foods, Inc. ("United Natural" or the "Company")
and 2,450,000 shares are being sold by the Selling Stockholders. See
"Principal and Selling Stockholders." The Company will not receive any
proceeds from the sale of shares by the Selling Stockholders.
The Common Stock is traded on the Nasdaq National Market under the symbol
"UNFI." On June 9, 1998, the last reported sale price of the Common Stock was
$23 3/4 per share.
SEE "RISK FACTORS" BEGINNING ON PAGE 8 FOR INFORMATION THAT SHOULD BE
CONSIDERED BY PROSPECTIVE INVESTORS.
THESE SECURITIES HAVE NOT BEEN APPROVED OR DISAPPROVED BY THE SECURITIES AND
EXCHANGE COMMISSION OR ANY STATE SECURITIES COMMISSION NOR HAS THE
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION OR ANY STATE SECURITIES COMMISSION
PASSED UPON THE ACCURACY OR ADEQUACY OF THIS PROSPECTUS. ANY
REPRESENTATION TO THE CONTRARY IS A CRIMINAL OFFENSE.
<TABLE>
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
<CAPTION>
PRICE UNDERWRITING PROCEEDS PROCEEDS TO
TO THE DISCOUNTS AND TO THE THE SELLING
PUBLIC COMMISSIONS(1) COMPANY(2) STOCKHOLDERS
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
<S> <C> <C> <C> <C>
Per Share.................. $23.00 $0.977 $22.023 $22.023
Total(3)................... $74,750,000 $3,175,250 $17,618,400 $53,956,350
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
</TABLE>
(1) The Company and the Selling Stockholders have agreed to indemnify the
Underwriters against certain liabilities, including liabilities under the
Securities Act of 1933, as amended. See "Underwriting" for indemnification
arrangements with the Underwriters.
(2) Before deducting expenses, estimated at $365,000, which will be paid by
the Company.
(3) A Selling Stockholder has granted to the Underwriters a 30-day option to
purchase up to 487,500 additional shares at the Price to the Public, less
Underwriting Discounts and Commissions, solely to cover over-allotments,
if any. If the option is exercised in full, the total Price to the Public,
Underwriting Discounts and Commissions and Proceeds to the Selling
Stockholders will be $85,962,500, $3,651,537 and $64,692,563,
respectively. See "Underwriting."
The shares of Common Stock are offered by the several Underwriters when, as
and if delivered to and accepted by the Underwriters and subject to various
prior conditions, including their right to reject orders in whole or in part.
It is expected that delivery of the share certificates will be made in New
York, New York on or about June 15, 1998.
DONALDSON, LUFKIN & JENRETTE
SECURITIES CORPORATION
SALOMON SMITH BARNEY
WHEAT FIRST UNION
<PAGE>
[Graphic consists of three photographs: (i) an employee of the Company using a
hand-held radio frequency device to scan the UPC bar code on products; (ii) the
Company's distribution center in Dayville, Connecticut; and (iii) one of the
Company's 18-wheel delivery trucks.]
CERTAIN PERSONS PARTICIPATING IN THIS OFFERING MAY ENGAGE IN TRANSACTIONS
THAT STABILIZE, MAINTAIN OR OTHERWISE AFFECT THE PRICE OF THE COMMON STOCK.
SPECIFICALLY, THE UNDERWRITERS MAY OVER-ALLOT IN CONNECTION WITH THE OFFERING
AND MAY BID FOR AND PURCHASE SHARES OF THE COMMON STOCK IN THE OPEN MARKET.
FOR A DESCRIPTION OF THESE ACTIVITIES, SEE "UNDERWRITING."
------------
IN CONNECTION WITH THIS OFFERING, CERTAIN UNDERWRITERS AND SELLING GROUP
MEMBERS OR THEIR RESPECTIVE AFFILIATES MAY ENGAGE IN PASSIVE MARKET MAKING
TRANSACTIONS IN THE COMMON STOCK ON NASDAQ IN ACCORDANCE WITH RULE 103 OF
REGULATION M. SEE "UNDERWRITING."
<PAGE>
PROSPECTUS SUMMARY
The following summary is qualified in its entirety by the more detailed
information, including "Risk Factors" and the Company's Consolidated Financial
Statements and the Notes thereto, appearing elsewhere in this Prospectus.
Unless otherwise indicated, all information contained in this Prospectus
assumes no exercise of the Underwriters' over-allotment option. This Prospectus
contains forward-looking statements which involve risks and uncertainties. The
Company's actual results could differ materially from those anticipated in
these forward-looking statements as a result of certain factors, including
those set forth under "Risk Factors" and elsewhere in this Prospectus. Unless
the context otherwise requires, references herein to "the Company" refer to
United Natural Foods, Inc. and its wholly owned subsidiaries. Prior to July 31,
1996, the Company's fiscal year ended on October 31 of each year. The Company
has changed its fiscal year end to July 31. References herein to "fiscal 1993,"
"fiscal 1994" and "fiscal 1995" refer to the Company's fiscal years ended
October 31, 1993, 1994 and 1995, respectively.
THE COMPANY
United Natural Foods, Inc. ("United Natural" or the "Company") is the leading
independent national distributor of natural foods and related products in the
United States. The Company is the primary supplier to the majority of its
customers, offering more than 26,000 high-quality natural products consisting
of groceries and general merchandise, nutritional supplements, bulk and
foodservice products, personal care items, perishables and frozen goods. The
Company serves more than 6,500 customers in 46 states, including independent
natural products retailers, natural products supermarket ("super natural")
chains and conventional supermarkets, and is the primary distributor to the two
largest super natural chains, Whole Foods Market, Inc. ("Whole Foods") and Wild
Oats Markets, Inc. ("Wild Oats"). The Company also owns and operates 16 retail
natural products stores which complement its distribution business. The
Company's strategy is to continue to capitalize on its leading market position
and strong industry trends to enhance its position as the leading independent
national distributor to the natural products industry. For the twelve months
ended January 31, 1998, the Company generated net sales and operating income of
$679.6 million and $23.3 million, respectively, representing compound annual
growth rates of 21.6% and 34.4%, respectively, from the twelve months ended
October 31, 1994.
The Company believes it is well positioned to offer high-quality, efficient
service on a national scale to the rapidly growing natural products industry.
According to The Natural Foods Merchandiser, the natural products industry
achieved a compound annual growth rate of 21% from 1992 to 1996, growing from
$5.3 billion to $11.5 billion. The Company believes that this growth reflects a
broadening of the natural products consumer base which is being driven by
several factors, including an increasing awareness of the link between diet and
health, healthier eating patterns, increasing concern regarding food purity and
safety and greater environmental awareness.
COMPETITIVE ADVANTAGES
The Company believes it benefits from a number of significant competitive
advantages which include:
. MARKET LEADER WITH A NATIONWIDE PRESENCE. As a result of its nationwide
presence, the Company believes it is one of the few distributors capable of
serving both local and regional customers as well as the rapidly growing
super natural chains. The Company believes it has significant advantages
over smaller, regional natural products distributors as a result of its
ability to: (i) derive significant economies of scale in operating and
distribution expenses; (ii) benefit from increased purchasing power and
breadth of product offering; (iii) make significant investments in advanced
technology and equipment, which will enhance productivity and customer
service; and (iv) provide superior customer service on a national scale.
3
<PAGE>
. LOW-COST OPERATOR. The Company believes that it is well positioned to
provide value added distribution services to its customers at attractive
prices while also providing superior customer service. In addition to its
volume purchasing power advantage, a critical component of the Company's
position as a low-cost provider is its effective management of warehouse and
distribution costs, primarily as a result of utilizing larger distribution
centers within each of its geographic regions and integrating its facilities
through its nationwide interregional logistics network.
. EXPANDING BASE OF PREMIER CUSTOMER RELATIONSHIPS. The Company has developed
long-standing customer relationships that it believes are among the
strongest in the industry. For example, the Company has been the primary
supplier to each of the industry's two largest super natural chains, Whole
Foods and Wild Oats, for more than ten years.
. EXPERIENCED MANAGEMENT TEAM WITH SIGNIFICANT EQUITY STAKE. The Company's
management team has extensive experience in the natural products industry
and has been successful in identifying, consummating and integrating
multiple acquisitions. Since 1985, the Company has successfully completed 13
acquisitions of distributors and suppliers, including the merger with Stow
Mills, Inc. ("Stow Mills") and the recent acquisition of Hershey Import Co.,
Inc. ("Hershey"), and 11 acquisitions of retail stores. In addition, after
giving effect to this offering, the Company's executive officers and
directors, and their affiliates, and the Company's Employee Stock Ownership
Trust ("ESOT") will beneficially own in the aggregate approximately 62.0% of
the Company's Common Stock.
GROWTH STRATEGY
The Company's growth strategy is to maintain and enhance its position as the
leading independent national distributor to the natural products industry. Key
elements of the Company's strategy include:
. INCREASE MARKET SHARE OF THE RAPIDLY GROWING NATURAL PRODUCTS INDUSTRY. The
Company's strategy is to continue to increase its leading market share of
the rapidly growing natural products industry by significantly expanding its
customer base, increasing its share of existing customers' business and
continuing to expand and further penetrate new distribution territories. The
Company will continue to selectively evaluate opportunities to acquire (i)
distributors to fill in existing markets and expand into new markets and
(ii) suppliers to expand margins through vertical integration and brand
differentiation. The Company currently has no agreements or understandings
with regard to any material acquisitions.
. CONTINUE TO IMPROVE EFFICIENCY OF NATIONWIDE DISTRIBUTION NETWORK. The
Company continually seeks to improve its operating results by integrating
its nationwide network utilizing the best practices within the distribution
industry and within each of the regions that have formed the foundation of
the Company. As a result, the Company has significantly improved its
operating margin, which increased from 2.5% in fiscal 1994 to 4.6% in the
quarter ended January 31, 1998.
. CAPITALIZE ON THE BENEFITS OF THE STOW MILLS MERGER. With the Stow Mills
merger in October 1997, the Company significantly expanded its customer
base, distribution capacity and product offering. The merger is expected to
generate significant benefits, including: (i) increased market share and
distribution capacity, particularly in the Midwest; (ii) improved purchasing
power; (iii) enhanced product offerings; (iv) improved distribution
logistics and operating efficiencies; and (v) significant opportunities for
the reduction of redundant selling, general and administrative expenses.
. CONTINUE TO PROVIDE THE LEADING DISTRIBUTION SOLUTION. The Company's
strategy is to continue to provide the leading distribution solution to the
natural products industry through its national scale, regional
responsiveness, high customer service focus and breadth of product offering.
4
<PAGE>
RECENT ACQUISITIONS
On October 31, 1997, the Company merged with Stow Mills, a regional natural
products distributor serving the Northeast and Midwest regions of the United
States. Stow Mills distributes a line of over 12,000 natural products,
including groceries, vitamins and nutritional supplements, refrigerated foods,
frozen foods, bulk foods and personal care items, to approximately 3,000
customers in 20 states. Stow Mills had net sales of approximately $213.1
million for the fiscal year ended July 31, 1997. The merger with Stow Mills has
been accounted for as a pooling of interests and, accordingly, all information
included herein is reported as though United Natural and Stow Mills had been
combined for all periods reported.
On February 11, 1998, the Company acquired Hershey, a business specializing
in the international trading, roasting and packaging of nuts, seeds, dried
fruits and snack items, for approximately $7.5 million. Hershey supplies over
300 products to leading supermarkets and wholesalers primarily in the eastern
United States and has recently expanded its offerings to include consumer
products under its Express Snacks and Woodfield Farms brands as well as private
label packages for its retail supermarket accounts. Hershey had sales of
approximately $20.8 million for the fiscal year ended June 30, 1997. Hershey
provides the Company with direct access to foreign suppliers as well as
expertise in international commodity markets. The acquisition of Hershey has
been accounted for as a purchase and, accordingly, all financial information
will be included with the Company's information from the date of acquisition.
RECENT DEVELOPMENTS
For the three months ended April 30, 1998, the Company's net sales increased
approximately 18.1% to $187.6 million from $158.9 million for the three months
ended April 30, 1997. Operating income increased approximately 52.5% to $9.9
million for the three months ended April 30, 1998 from $6.5 million for the
three months ended April 30, 1997. The Company's net income increased
approximately 50.4% to $5.1 million, or $0.29 per diluted share, for the three
months ended April 30, 1998 from $3.4 million, or $0.19 per diluted share, for
the three months ended April 30, 1997.
For the nine months ended April 30, 1998, the Company's net sales increased
approximately 15.7% to $538.9 million from $466.0 million for the nine months
ended April 30, 1997. Operating income increased approximately 27.7% to $20.3
million for the nine months ended April 30, 1998 from $15.9 million for the
nine months ended April 30, 1997. The Company's net income increased
approximately 43.4% to $8.7 million, or $0.49 per diluted share, for the nine
months ended April 30, 1998 from $6.0 million, or $0.36 per diluted share, for
the nine months ended April 30, 1997. Excluding $4.1 million (net of taxes) in
merger costs in the nine months ended April 30, 1998 and a $0.9 million
extraordinary item (net of taxes) related to the early extinguishment of debt
in the nine months ended April 30, 1997, the Company's net income would have
increased 82.5% to $12.7 million, or $0.72 per diluted share, for the nine
months ended April 30, 1998, from $7.0 million, or $0.42 per diluted share, for
the nine months ended April 30, 1997.
Historical information for Stow Mills for the three months and nine months
ended April 30, 1997 includes four fewer selling days than in the comparable
periods in fiscal 1998. Additional net sales of approximately $2.8 million
would have been reported by the Company in each of the fiscal 1997 periods had
Stow Mills been on the Company's reporting calendar at that time. As a result,
the increases in the Company's net sales for the three-month and nine-month
periods adjusted for such additional sales would have been approximately 16.0%
and 15.0%, respectively.
5
<PAGE>
THE OFFERING
<TABLE>
<S> <C>
Common Stock offered by the Company.............. 800,000 shares
Common Stock offered by the Selling Stockhold-
ers............................................. 2,450,000 shares
Total............................................ 3,250,000 shares
------
Common Stock to be outstanding after the offer-
ing............................................. 18,175,218 shares(1)(2)
Use of proceeds.................................. The Company intends to use
the net proceeds from this
offering to repay short-term
indebtedness.
Nasdaq National Market symbol.................... UNFI
</TABLE>
- --------------------
(1) Includes 2,063,004 shares of Common Stock held in trust by the Company's
ESOT as of March 31, 1998. See Note 11 of Notes to the Company's
Consolidated Financial Statements.
(2) Based on the number of shares of Common Stock outstanding as of March 31,
1998. Excludes an aggregate of 989,346 shares of Common Stock issuable upon
the exercise of outstanding options as of March 31, 1998.
------------
The Company was incorporated in Rhode Island in 1978 and reincorporated in
Delaware in 1994. The Company's executive offices are located at 260 Lake Road,
Dayville, Connecticut 06241, and its telephone number is (860) 779-2800.
Cape Cod Natural Foods, Cascade Baking Company, Express Snacks, The Granary,
Guardian, Mother Earth Market, Natural Food Systems, Natural Sea, NATUREWORKS!,
Nature's Finest Foods, Railway Market, SunSplash Market, Village Market Natural
Grocer and Woodfield Farms are trademarks of United Natural Foods, Inc.
Woodstock Orchards, Stow Mills, Woodstock Farms, Woodstock and Beautiful Foods
for Beautiful People are trademarks of Stow Mills, Inc., a wholly owned
subsidiary of United Natural Foods, Inc. All other trademarks or trade names
referred to in this Prospectus are the property of their respective owners.
6
<PAGE>
SUMMARY CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL DATA(1)
The summary actual and adjusted financial data set forth below should be read
in conjunction with the Company's Consolidated Financial Statements and the
Notes thereto, "Selected Consolidated Financial Data" and "Management's
Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations," all
of which are included elsewhere in this Prospectus.
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
TWELVE MONTHS ENDED SIX MONTHS ENDED
YEAR ENDED OCTOBER 31, JULY 31, JANUARY 31,
-------------------------- ------------------- -----------------
1993 1994 1995 1996 1997 1997 1998(2)
(IN THOUSANDS, EXCEPT PER SHARE DATA)
<S> <C> <C> <C> <C> <C> <C> <C>
STATEMENT OF INCOME DA-
TA:
Net sales............... $290,990 $359,881 $458,849 $ 580,049 $ 634,825 $307,068 $351,359
Gross profit............ 60,232 74,542 95,092 117,543 127,278 62,045 70,497
Operating income........ 5,244 8,924 11,311 15,666 22,333 9,367 10,351
Net income.............. 1,174 2,737 2,817 4,695 9,467 2,656 3,572
Net income per share
(basic)(3)............. 0.09 0.20 0.21 0.34 0.58 0.17 0.21
Weighted average basic
shares of common
stock(3)............... 13,691 13,691 13,691 13,688 16,367 15,394 17,357
Net income per share
(diluted)(3)........... 0.09 0.18 0.19 0.32 0.57 0.16 0.20
Weighted average diluted
shares of common
stock(3)............... 13,691 14,804 14,858 14,855 16,553 16,125 17,654
</TABLE>
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
AS OF JANUARY 31, 1998
-----------------------
ACTUAL AS ADJUSTED(4)
(IN THOUSANDS)
<S> <C> <C>
BALANCE SHEET DATA:
Working capital......................................... $ 57,408 $ 74,661
Total assets............................................ 180,337 180,337
Total debt and capital leases........................... 63,096 45,843
Total stockholders' equity.............................. 77,569 94,822
</TABLE>
- --------------------
(1) In February 1996 and October 1997, the Company merged with Mountain
People's Warehouse Incorporated ("Mountain People's") and Stow Mills,
respectively, in transactions accounted for as poolings of interests. All
financial information in this Prospectus has been restated to include the
results of operations of Mountain People's and Stow Mills for all periods
presented. See Note 2 of Notes to the Company's Consolidated Financial
Statements.
(2) The six months ended January 31, 1998 includes merger expenses of $4,064.
Excluding these expenses, operating income, net income, net income per
basic share and net income per diluted share would have been $14,415,
$7,636, $0.44 and $0.43, respectively.
(3) All per share and share data have been restated to reflect the adoption of
Statement of Financial Accounting Standards No. 128. See Note 1 of Notes to
the Company's Consolidated Financial Statements.
(4) Adjusted to give effect to the sale by the Company of 800,000 shares of
Common Stock offered hereby (at the public offering price of $23 per share)
and the application of the net proceeds therefrom. See "Use of Proceeds."
7
<PAGE>
RISK FACTORS
This Prospectus contains certain forward-looking statements within the
meaning of Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the
"Securities Act"), and Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as
amended (the "Exchange Act"). For this purpose, any statements contained
herein that are not statements of historical fact may be deemed to be forward-
looking statements. Without limiting the foregoing, the words "believes,"
"anticipates," "plans," "expects" and similar expressions are intended to
identify forward-looking statements. Actual results could differ materially
from those indicated by such forward-looking statements as a result of certain
of the risk factors set forth below and elsewhere in this Prospectus. In
addition to the other information contained in this Prospectus, the following
factors should be considered carefully in evaluating an investment in the
Common Stock offered by this Prospectus.
INTEGRATION OF ACQUISITIONS AND MERGERS; MANAGEMENT OF GROWTH
A significant portion of the Company's historical growth has been achieved
through acquisitions of or mergers with other distributors of natural
products. The Company merged with Stow Mills in October 1997. The successful
and timely integration of this merger is critical to the future operating and
financial performance of the Company. The Company believes that the
integration of Stow Mills will not be substantially completed until mid
calendar 1999. The integration will require, among other things, coordination
of administrative, distribution and finance functions, the integration of
personnel and expansion of information and warehouse management systems among
the Company's regional operations. The integration process could divert the
attention of management, and any difficulties or problems encountered in the
transition process could have a material adverse effect on the Company's
business, financial condition or results of operations. In addition, the
process of combining the companies could cause the interruption of, or a loss
of momentum in, the activities of the respective businesses, which could have
an adverse effect on their combined operations. There can be no assurance that
the Company will retain key employees of Stow Mills or that the Company will
realize any of the other anticipated benefits of the Stow Mills merger. See
"Business--Technology."
The growth in the size of the Company's business and operations has placed
and is expected to continue to place a significant strain on the Company's
management. The Company's future growth is limited in part by the size and
location of its distribution centers. There can be no assurance that the
Company will be able to successfully expand its existing distribution
facilities or open new distribution facilities in new or existing markets to
facilitate growth. In addition, the Company's growth strategy to expand its
market presence includes possible additional acquisitions. To the extent the
Company's future growth includes acquisitions, there can be no assurance that
the Company will successfully identify suitable acquisition candidates,
consummate and integrate such potential acquisitions or expand into new
markets. The Company's ability to compete effectively and to manage future
growth, if any, will depend on its ability to continue to implement and
improve operational, financial and management information systems on a timely
basis and to expand, train, motivate and manage its work force. There can be
no assurance that the Company's personnel, systems, procedures and controls
will be adequate to support the Company's operations. The inability of the
Company to manage its growth effectively could have a material adverse effect
on its business, financial condition or results of operations.
COMPETITION
The Company operates in highly competitive markets, and its future success
will be largely dependent on its ability to provide quality products and
services at competitive prices. The Company's competition comes from a variety
of sources, including other distributors of natural products as well as
specialty grocery and mass market grocery distributors. There can be no
assurance that mass market grocery distributors will not increase their
emphasis on natural products and more directly compete with the Company or
that new competitors will not enter the market. These distributors may have
been in business longer than the Company, may have substantially greater
financial and other resources than the Company and may be better established
in their markets. There can be no assurance that the Company's current or
potential competitors will not provide services comparable or superior to
those provided by the Company or adapt more quickly than the Company to
evolving industry trends
8
<PAGE>
or changing market requirements. It is also possible that alliances among
competitors may develop and rapidly acquire significant market share or that
certain of the Company's customers will increase distribution to their own
retail facilities. Increased competition may result in price reductions,
reduced gross margins and loss of market share, any of which could materially
adversely affect the Company's business, financial condition or results of
operations. There can be no assurance that the Company will be able to compete
effectively against current and future competitors. See "Business--
Competition."
DEPENDENCE ON PRINCIPAL CUSTOMERS
The ability of the Company to maintain close, mutually beneficial
relationships with its top two customers, Whole Foods and Wild Oats, is
important to the ongoing growth and profitability of its business. Whole
Foods, the Company's largest customer, accounted for approximately 14% of the
Company's net sales during the fiscal year ended July 31, 1997. As a result of
this concentration of the Company's customer base, the loss or cancellation of
business from either of these customers, including from increased distribution
to their own facilities, could materially and adversely affect the Company's
business, financial condition or results of operations. The Company's sales
are made pursuant to purchase orders and therefore the Company generally has
no agreements with or commitments from its customers for the purchase of
products. No assurance can be given that the Company's customers will maintain
or increase their sales volumes or orders for the products supplied by the
Company or that the Company will be able to maintain or add to its existing
customer base. See "Business--Customers."
LOW MARGIN BUSINESS; ECONOMIC SENSITIVITY
The grocery distribution industry generally is characterized by relatively
high volume with relatively low profit margins. The continuing consolidation
of retailers in the natural products industry and the emergence of super
natural chains may have an adverse effect on the Company's profit margins in
the future as more customers qualify for greater volume discounts offered by
the Company. The grocery industry is also sensitive to national and regional
economic conditions, and the demand for products supplied by the Company may
be adversely affected from time to time by economic downturns. In addition,
the Company's operating results are particularly sensitive to, and may be
materially adversely affected by, difficulties with the collectibility of
accounts receivable, inventory control, competitive pricing pressures and
unexpected increases in fuel or other transportation-related costs. There can
be no assurance that one or more of such factors will not materially adversely
affect the Company's business, financial condition or results of operations.
DEPENDENCE ON KEY PERSONNEL
Management of the Company's business is substantially dependent on the
services of Norman A. Cloutier, the Company's Chairman of the Board and Chief
Executive Officer, Robert T. Cirulnick, the Company's Chief Financial Officer,
and other key management employees. Loss of the services of such officers or
any other key management employee could have a material adverse effect on the
Company's business, financial condition or results of operations.
FLUCTUATIONS IN OPERATING RESULTS
The Company's net sales and operating results may vary significantly from
period to period due to factors such as changes in the Company's operating
expenses, management's ability to execute the Company's business and growth
strategies, personnel changes, demand for natural products, supply shortages
and general economic conditions. Both the Company's distribution and retail
businesses are dependent upon consumer preferences and demands for natural
products, including levels of enthusiasm for health, fitness and environmental
issues. Furthermore, the future operating performance of the Company is
directly influenced by natural product prices, which can be volatile and
fluctuate according to competitive pressures. A lack of an adequate supply of
high-quality agricultural products or volatility in prices resulting from poor
growing conditions, natural disasters or
9
<PAGE>
otherwise, could have a material adverse effect on the Company's business,
financial condition or results of operations. In addition, there can be no
assurance that any future acquisitions by the Company will not have an adverse
effect on the Company's business, financial condition or results of
operations, particularly in periods immediately following the consummation of
such transactions, while the operations of the acquired businesses are being
integrated into the Company's operations. Due to the foregoing factors, the
Company believes that period-to-period comparisons of its operating results
may not necessarily be meaningful and that such comparisons cannot be relied
upon as indicators of future performance. See "Management's Discussion and
Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations."
GOVERNMENTAL REGULATION
The Company's business is highly regulated at the federal, state and local
levels and its products and distribution operations require various licenses,
permits and approvals. In particular, the Company's products are subject to
inspection by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration, its warehouse and
distribution facilities are subject to inspection by the U.S. Department of
Agriculture and state health authorities, and its trucking operations are
regulated by the U.S. Department of Transportation and the U.S. Federal
Highway Administration. The loss or revocation of any existing licenses,
permits or approvals or the failure to obtain any additional licenses, permits
or approvals in new jurisdictions where the Company intends to do business
could have a material adverse effect on the Company's business, financial
condition or results of operations.
CONTROL BY OFFICERS, DIRECTORS AND ESOT
Upon completion of this offering, the Company's executive officers and
directors, and their affiliates, and the ESOT will beneficially own in the
aggregate approximately 62.0% of the Company's Common Stock. Accordingly,
these stockholders, if acting together, would have the ability to elect the
Company's directors and may have the ability to determine the outcome of
corporate actions requiring stockholder approval, irrespective of how other
stockholders of the Company may vote. This concentration of ownership may have
the effect of delaying, deferring or preventing a change in control of the
Company. See "Management" and "Principal and Selling Stockholders."
LABOR RELATIONS
As of March 31, 1998, approximately 90 employees, representing approximately
4% of the Company's 2,230 employees, were union members. The Company is
currently, and has in the past been, the focus of union-organizing efforts. As
the Company increases its employee base and broadens its distribution
operations to new geographic markets, its increased visibility could result in
increased or expanded union-organizing efforts. Although the Company has not
experienced a work stoppage to date, if additional employees of the Company
were to unionize, the Company could be subject to work stoppages and increases
in labor costs, either of which could materially adversely affect the
Company's business, financial condition or results of operations. See
"Business--Employees."
POSSIBLE VOLATILITY OF STOCK PRICE; NO DIVIDENDS
The market performance of the Common Stock could be subject to significant
fluctuation in response to variations in results of operations and various
other factors. In addition, the stock market in recent years has experienced
extreme price and volume fluctuations that often have been unrelated or
disproportionate to the operating performance of companies. These
fluctuations, as well as general economic and market conditions, may adversely
affect the market price of the Common Stock. The Company has never paid any
cash dividends and does not anticipate paying cash dividends in the
foreseeable future. The Company's existing revolving line of credit agreement
prohibits the declaration or payment of cash dividends to the Company's
stockholders without the written consent of the bank during the term of the
credit agreement and until all obligations of the Company under the credit
agreement have been met. See "Price Range of Common Stock and Dividend
Policy."
10
<PAGE>
ANTITAKEOVER PROVISIONS
The Company's Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation (the
"Restated Certificate of Incorporation") requires that any action required or
permitted to be taken by stockholders of the Company must be effected at a
duly called annual or special meeting of stockholders and may not be effected
by any consent in writing, and requires reasonable advance notice by a
stockholder of a proposal or director nomination which such stockholder
desires to present at any annual or special meeting of stockholders. Special
meetings of stockholders may be called only by the Chairman of the Board, the
Chief Executive Officer or, if none, the President of the Company or by the
Board of Directors. The Restated Certificate of Incorporation provides for a
classified Board of Directors, and members of the Board of Directors may be
removed only for cause upon the affirmative vote of holders of at least two-
thirds of the shares of capital stock of the Company entitled to vote. In
addition, shares of the Company's Preferred Stock may be issued in the future
without further stockholder approval and upon such terms and conditions, and
having such rights, privileges and preferences, as the Board of Directors may
determine. The rights of the holders of Common Stock will be subject to, and
may be adversely affected by, the rights of any holders of Preferred Stock
that may be issued in the future. The Company has no present plans to issue
any shares of Preferred Stock. These provisions, and other provisions of the
Restated Certificate of Incorporation, may have the effect of deterring
hostile takeovers or delaying or preventing changes in control or management
of the Company, including transactions in which stockholders might otherwise
receive a premium for their shares over then current market prices. In
addition, these provisions may limit the ability of stockholders to approve
transactions that they may deem to be in their best interests.
11
<PAGE>
USE OF PROCEEDS
The net proceeds to be received by the Company from this offering are
estimated to be approximately $17.3 million after deducting underwriting
discounts and commissions and estimated offering expenses. The Company intends
to use such proceeds to repay certain short-term indebtedness. The
indebtedness to be repaid consists of approximately $17.3 million due to Fleet
Capital Corporation, as agent, under a credit agreement that expires on July
31, 2002. Interest under the facility accrues at the Company's option at the
New York Prime Rate or 1.00% over LIBOR. At May 19, 1998, the 30-day LIBOR was
5.66% and the New York Prime Rate was 8.5%. See "Management's Discussion and
Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations--Liquidity and
Capital Resources." The Company will not receive any proceeds from the sale of
Common Stock by the Selling Stockholders. See "Principal and Selling
Stockholders."
PRICE RANGE OF COMMON STOCK AND DIVIDEND POLICY
The Company's Common Stock is traded on the Nasdaq National Market under the
symbol "UNFI." The Company's Common Stock began trading on the Nasdaq National
Market on November 1, 1996. The following table sets forth for the periods
indicated the high and low sale prices per share of the Company's Common Stock
on the Nasdaq National Market:
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
HIGH LOW
<S> <C> <C>
FISCAL 1997
Second Quarter (from November 1, 1996)..................... $17 1/2 $12 1/2
Third Quarter.............................................. 17 13
Fourth Quarter............................................. 24 3/8 15
FISCAL 1998
First Quarter.............................................. $26 3/4 $19 1/4
Second Quarter............................................. 27 1/8 19 3/4
Third Quarter.............................................. 30 11/16 23 3/4
Fourth Quarter (through June 9, 1998)...................... 28 5/8 23 1/2
</TABLE>
On June 9, 1998, the last reported sale price of the Company's Common Stock
on the Nasdaq National Market was $23 3/4 per share. As of May 19, 1998, there
were 55 stockholders of record of the Company's Common Stock.
The Company has never declared or paid any cash dividends on its capital
stock. The Company anticipates that all of its earnings in the foreseeable
future will be retained to finance the continued growth and development of its
business and has no current intention to pay cash dividends. The Company's
future dividend policy will depend on its earnings, capital requirements and
financial condition, requirements of the financing agreements to which it is
then a party and other factors considered relevant by the Board of Directors.
The Company's existing revolving line of credit agreement prohibits the
declaration or payment of cash dividends to its stockholders without the
written consent of the bank during the term of the credit agreement and until
all obligations of the Company under the credit agreement have been met.
12
<PAGE>
CAPITALIZATION
The following table sets forth the capitalization of the Company at January
31, 1998 (i) on an actual basis and (ii) as adjusted to reflect the issuance
and sale by the Company of 800,000 shares of Common Stock offered hereby at a
public offering price of $23 per share, after deducting the underwriting
discounts and commissions and estimated offering expenses and application of
the net proceeds therefrom. See "Use of Proceeds." This table should be read
in conjunction with the Company's Consolidated Financial Statements and the
Notes thereto included elsewhere in this Prospectus.
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
AS OF JANUARY 31, 1998
--------------------------
ACTUAL AS ADJUSTED
(IN THOUSANDS)
<S> <C> <C>
Total debt (including current portion):
Bank debt.......................................... $ 55,163 $ 37,910
Other debt......................................... 7,933 7,933
----------- -----------
Total debt...................................... 63,096 45,843
----------- -----------
Stockholders' equity:
Preferred stock, $0.01 par value; 5,000 shares au-
thorized;
no shares issued or outstanding................... -- --
Common Stock, $0.01 par value; 25,000 shares
authorized;
17,357 shares issued and outstanding (actual);
18,157 shares issued and outstanding (as
adjusted)(1)...................................... 174 182
Additional paid-in capital......................... 50,007 67,252
Unallocated shares of employee stock ownership
plan.............................................. (2,829) (2,829)
Retained earnings.................................. 30,261 30,261
Treasury stock, 20 shares at cost.................. (44) (44)
----------- -----------
Total stockholders' equity...................... 77,569 94,822
----------- -----------
Total capitalization............................ $ 140,665 $ 140,665
=========== ===========
</TABLE>
- ---------------------
(1) Excludes an aggregate of 916,846 shares of Common Stock reserved for
issuance upon the exercise of options outstanding as of January 31, 1998.
See Note 3 of Notes to the Company's Consolidated Financial Statements.
13
<PAGE>
SELECTED CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL DATA(1)
The following table sets forth selected consolidated financial data of the
Company for the periods indicated. Effective November 1, 1995, the Company
elected to change its fiscal year end from October 31 to July 31.
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
NINE MONTHS ENDED TWELVE MONTHS ENDED SIX MONTHS ENDED
YEAR ENDED OCTOBER 31, JULY 31, JULY 31, JANUARY 31,
---------------------------- ------------------ -------------------- ------------------
1993 1994 1995 1995 1996 1996 1997 1997 1998
(IN THOUSANDS, EXCEPT PER SHARE DATA)
<S> <C> <C> <C> <C> <C> <C> <C> <C> <C>
STATEMENT OF INCOME
DATA:
Net sales............... $290,990 $359,881 $458,849 $318,642 $439,842 $ 580,049 $ 634,825 $307,068 $351,359
Cost of sales........... 230,758 285,339 363,757 251,381 350,130 462,506 507,547 245,023 280,862
-------- -------- -------- -------- -------- --------- --------- -------- --------
Gross profit........... 60,232 74,542 95,092 67,261 89,712 117,543 127,278 62,045 70,497
Operating expenses...... 54,789 65,080 81,355 57,154 75,059 99,261 103,885 52,148 55,577
Merger expenses......... -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- 4,064
Amortization of
intangibles............ 199 538 2,426 602 793 2,616 1,060 530 505
-------- -------- -------- -------- -------- --------- --------- -------- --------
Total operating ex-
penses................ 54,988 65,618 83,781 57,756 75,852 101,877 104,945 52,678 60,146
-------- -------- -------- -------- -------- --------- --------- -------- --------
Operating income....... 5,244 8,924 11,311 9,505 13,860 15,666 22,333 9,367 10,351
-------- -------- -------- -------- -------- --------- --------- -------- --------
Interest expense........ 2,663 4,391 5,969 4,127 5,887 7,730 5,976 3,508 2,273
Other, net.............. (210) (226) (428) (377) (360) (411) (679) (301) (349)
-------- -------- -------- -------- -------- --------- --------- -------- --------
Total other expense.... 2,453 4,165 5,541 3,750 5,527 7,319 5,297 3,207 1,924
-------- -------- -------- -------- -------- --------- --------- -------- --------
Income before income
taxes and extraordi-
nary item............. 2,791 4,759 5,770 5,755 8,333 8,347 17,036 6,160 8,427
Income taxes............ 1,617 2,022 2,953 2,185 2,883 3,652 6,636 2,571 4,855
-------- -------- -------- -------- -------- --------- --------- -------- --------
Income before
extraordinary item..... 1,174 2,737 2,817 3,570 5,450 4,695 10,400 3,589 3,572
Extraordinary item...... -- -- -- -- -- -- 933 933 --
-------- -------- -------- -------- -------- --------- --------- -------- --------
Net income............. $ 1,174 $ 2,737 $ 2,817 $ 3,570 $ 5,450 $ 4,695 $ 9,467 $ 2,656 $ 3,572
======== ======== ======== ======== ======== ========= ========= ======== ========
PER SHARE DATA (BA-
SIC)(2):
Income before extraordi-
nary item.............. $ 0.09 $ 0.20 $ 0.21 $ 0.26 $ 0.40 $ 0.34 $ 0.64 $ 0.23 $ 0.21
Extraordinary item...... -- -- -- -- -- -- 0.06 0.06 --
-------- -------- -------- -------- -------- --------- --------- -------- --------
Net income............. $ 0.09 $ 0.20 $ 0.21 $ 0.26 $ 0.40 $ 0.34 $ 0.58 $ 0.17 $ 0.21
======== ======== ======== ======== ======== ========= ========= ======== ========
Weighted average basic
shares of common
stock.................. 13,691 13,691 13,691 13,691 13,687 13,688 16,367 15,394 17,357
======== ======== ======== ======== ======== ========= ========= ======== ========
PER SHARE DATA (DILUT-
ED)(2):
Income before extraordi-
nary item.............. $ 0.09 $ 0.18 $ 0.19 $ 0.24 $ 0.37 $ 0.32 $ 0.63 $ 0.22 $ 0.20
Extraordinary item...... -- -- -- -- -- -- 0.06 0.06 --
-------- -------- -------- -------- -------- --------- --------- -------- --------
Net income............. $ 0.09 $ 0.18 $ 0.19 $ 0.24 $ 0.37 $ 0.32 $ 0.57 $ 0.16 $ 0.20
======== ======== ======== ======== ======== ========= ========= ======== ========
Weighted average diluted
shares of common
stock.................. 13,691 14,804 14,858 14,858 14,853 14,855 16,553 16,125 17,654
======== ======== ======== ======== ======== ========= ========= ======== ========
</TABLE>
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
AS OF
AS OF OCTOBER 31, AS OF JULY 31, JANUARY 31,
-------------------------- ----------------- -----------
1993 1994 1995 1996 1997 1998
<S> <C> <C> <C> <C> <C> <C>
BALANCE SHEET DATA (IN
THOUSANDS):
Working capital......... $ 22,044 $ 24,713 $ 26,983 $ 13,453 $ 53,101 $ 57,408
Total assets............ 81,960 91,442 134,508 152,343 164,561 180,337
Total long term debt and
capital leases.......... 35,024 34,327 48,890 34,108 21,647 22,916
Total stockholders'
equity.................. 8,894 14,266 17,117 23,440 73,916 77,569
</TABLE>
14
<PAGE>
- ---------------------
(1) Selected consolidated financial data for the year ended October 31, 1995,
nine months ended July 31, 1996 and year ended July 31, 1997 were derived
from financial statements of the Company which were audited by KPMG Peat
Marwick LLP, independent certified public accountants, whose report
appears elsewhere herein. Selected consolidated financial data should be
read in conjunction with the Company's Consolidated Financial Statements
and Notes thereto, "Management's Discussion and Analysis of Financial
Condition and Results of Operations" and other financial information
included elsewhere herein.
Selected consolidated financial data for the years ended October 31, 1993
and 1994, nine months ended July 31, 1995, twelve months ended July 31,
1996 and six months ended January 31, 1997 and 1998 were derived from
unaudited financial statements of the Company. In the opinion of
management, all adjustments, consisting only of normal recurring
adjustments, necessary for a fair presentation of the financial position
and results of operations have been included in such unaudited financial
statements. Such results may not be indicative of the results expected for
a full year.
The Stow Mills merger has been accounted for as a pooling of interests and
therefore the financial data of the Company are presented as if United
Natural and Stow Mills had been combined for all periods presented. Stow
Mills' results of operations for its fiscal years ended December 31, 1993,
1994 and 1995, its nine months ended September 29, 1995 and September 27,
1996, its twelve months ended September 29, 1996 and July 31, 1997 and its
six months ended January 31, 1997 and 1998 have been combined with United
Natural's results of operations for the respective periods indicated
herein. Stow Mills' financial position as of December 31, 1993, 1994 and
1995, September 27, 1996, July 31, 1997 and January 31, 1998 has been
combined with United Natural's financial position for the respective
periods indicated herein.
(2) All per share and share data have been restated to reflect the adoption of
Statement of Financial Accounting Standards No. 128. See Note 1 of Notes
to the Company's Consolidated Financial Statements.
15
<PAGE>
MANAGEMENT'S DISCUSSION AND ANALYSIS OF
FINANCIAL CONDITION AND RESULTS OF OPERATIONS
OVERVIEW
United Natural Foods, Inc. is the leading independent national distributor
of natural foods and related products in the United States. In recent years,
the Company has increased sales to existing and new customers through the
acquisition of or merger with natural products distributors, the opening of
distribution centers in new geographic areas, the expansion of existing
distribution centers and the continued growth of the natural products industry
in general. Through these efforts, management believes that the Company has
been able to broaden its geographic penetration, expand its customer base,
enhance and diversify its product selections and increase its market share.
The Company's distribution operations are divided into three principal
regions: Cornucopia Natural Foods, Inc. ("Cornucopia") and Stow Mills in the
Eastern Region, Rainbow Natural Foods, Inc. ("Rainbow") in the Central Region
and Mountain People's Warehouse Incorporated ("Mountain People's") in the
Western Region. Through its Natural Retail Group ("NRG"), the Company also
owns and operates 16 retail natural products stores located in the eastern
United States. The Company's retail strategy for NRG is to selectively acquire
existing natural products stores that meet the Company's strict criteria in
areas such as sales growth, profitability, growth potential and store
management. Management believes the Company's retail business serves as a
natural complement to its distribution business.
The Company is continually integrating certain operating functions in order
to improve operating efficiencies, including: (i) integrating administrative
and accounting functions; (ii) expanding marketing and customer service
programs across the three regions; (iii) expanding national purchasing
opportunities; (iv) consolidating systems applications between physical
locations and regions; and (v) reducing geographic overlap between regions. In
addition, the Company's continued growth has created the need for expansion of
existing facilities to achieve maximum operating efficiencies and to assure
adequate space for future needs. While operating margins may be affected in
periods in which expenses are incurred, over the long term, the Company
expects to benefit from the increased absorption of its expenses over a larger
sales base. In recent years, the Company has made considerable expenditures in
connection with the expansion of its facilities, including the expansion of
its distribution center and headquarters in Dayville, Connecticut, the
relocation of its Denver, Colorado distribution center and the expansion of
refrigerated and frozen space at its Auburn, California and Atlanta, Georgia
facilities.
The Company's net sales consist primarily of sales of natural products to
retailers adjusted for customer volume discounts, returns and allowances and,
to a lesser extent, sales from its natural products stores. The principal
components of the Company's cost of sales include the amount paid to
manufacturers and growers for product sold, plus the cost of transportation
necessary to bring the product to the Company's distribution facilities.
Operating expenses include salaries and wages, employee benefits (including
payments under the Company's Employee Stock Ownership Plan), warehousing and
delivery, selling, occupancy, administrative, depreciation, merger expenses
and amortization expense. Other expenses include interest payments on
outstanding indebtedness, miscellaneous expenses, interest income and
miscellaneous income.
RECENT ACQUISITIONS
The mergers of the Company with Mountain People's and Stow Mills have each
been accounted for as a pooling of interests and, accordingly, all information
included herein is reported as though United Natural, Mountain People's and
Stow Mills had been combined for all periods reported.
On May 22, 1995, prior to its merger with United Natural, Mountain People's
acquired Nutrasource, Inc. ("Nutrasource"), and on July 29, 1995 the Company
acquired Rainbow. The acquisitions of Nutrasource and Rainbow were each
accounted for under the purchase method of accounting and, accordingly, all
financial information for Nutrasource and Rainbow has been included since the
respective dates of acquisition. The acquisition of Hershey will also be
accounted for under the purchase method of accounting but, as the acquisition
was not consummated until after January 31, 1998, financial information for
Hershey will be included in all
16
<PAGE>
periods after the date of acquisition. The excess of the purchase price over
the net assets acquired in each of these acquisitions has been recorded as
goodwill and is being amortized by the Company over various useful lives, not
exceeding 40 years.
RESULTS OF OPERATIONS
The following table presents, for the periods indicated, certain income and
expense items expressed as a percentage of net sales:
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
NINE MONTHS TWELVE MONTHS SIX MONTHS
ENDED JULY 31, ENDED JULY 31, ENDED JANUARY 31,
---------------- ---------------- -----------------
1995 1996 1996 1997 1997 1998
<S> <C> <C> <C> <C> <C> <C>
Net sales............... 100.0% 100.0% 100.0% 100.0% 100.0% 100.0%
Cost of sales........... 78.9 79.6 79.7 80.0 79.8 79.9
------- ------- ------- ------- -------- --------
Gross profit.......... 21.1 20.4 20.3 20.0 20.2 20.1
------- ------- ------- ------- -------- --------
Operating expenses...... 17.9 17.0 17.1 16.3 17.0 15.8
Merger expenses......... -- -- -- -- -- 1.2
Amortization of intangi-
bles................... 0.2 0.2 0.5 0.2 0.2 0.1
------- ------- ------- ------- -------- --------
Total operating ex-
penses................ 18.1 17.2 17.6 16.5 17.2 17.1
------- ------- ------- ------- -------- --------
Operating income....... 3.0 3.2 2.7 3.5 3.0 3.0
------- ------- ------- ------- -------- --------
Other expense (income):
Interest expense...... 1.3 1.4 1.4 0.9 1.1 0.7
Other, net............ (0.1) (0.1) (0.1) (0.1) (0.1) (0.1)
------- ------- ------- ------- -------- --------
Total other expense,
net.................. 1.2 1.3 1.3 0.8 1.0 0.6
------- ------- ------- ------- -------- --------
Income before income
taxes and extraordi-
nary item............. 1.8 1.9 1.4 2.7 2.0 2.4
Income taxes........... 0.7 0.7 0.6 1.0 0.8 1.4
------- ------- ------- ------- -------- --------
Income before extraor-
dinary item........... 1.1 1.2 0.8 1.7 1.2 1.0
Extraordinary item--loss
on early extinguishment
of debt, net of income
tax benefit............ -- -- -- 0.2 0.3 --
------- ------- ------- ------- -------- --------
Net income............. 1.1% 1.2% 0.8% 1.5% 0.9% 1.0%
======= ======= ======= ======= ======== ========
</TABLE>
SIX MONTHS ENDED JANUARY 31, 1998 COMPARED TO SIX MONTHS ENDED JANUARY 31,
1997
Net Sales. The Company's net sales increased approximately 14.4%, or $44.3
million, to $351.4 million for the six months ended January 31, 1998 from
$307.1 million for the six months ended January 31, 1997. The overall increase
in net sales was primarily attributable to increased sales to existing
customers, sales to new accounts in existing geographic areas and the
introduction of new products not previously offered by the Company.
Gross Profit. The Company's gross profit increased approximately 13.6%, or
$8.5 million, to $70.5 million for the six months ended January 31, 1998 from
$62.0 million for the six months ended January 31, 1997. The Company's gross
profit as a percentage of net sales decreased to 20.1% for the six months
ended January 31, 1998 from 20.2% for the six months ended January 31, 1997.
The decrease in gross profit as a percentage of net sales resulted partially
from the comparatively lower gross margin contribution from Stow Mills'
operations in the first quarter of fiscal 1998. Also, as in prior periods,
increased sales to existing customers under the Company's volume discount
program resulted in a further reduction in gross margin. These factors were
partially offset by purchasing efficiencies gained with the integration of
Stow Mills in the second quarter of fiscal 1998.
Operating Expenses. The Company's total operating expenses increased
approximately 14.2%, or $7.4 million, to $60.1 million for the six months
ended January 31, 1998 from $52.7 million for the six months ended
17
<PAGE>
January 31, 1997. As a percentage of net sales, operating expenses decreased
to 17.1% for the six months ended January 31, 1998 from 17.2% for the six
months ended January 31, 1997. Excluding merger costs of $4.1 million, the
Company's total operating expenses for the six months ended January 31, 1998
would have been $56.0 million, or 16.0% of net sales, representing an increase
of $3.3 million, or 6.5%, over the comparable prior period. The decrease in
total operating expenses as a percentage of net sales was primarily
attributable to the Company's ability to leverage its overhead and realize
synergies from recent acquisitions. Additionally, because of the October 31,
1997 effective date of the Stow Mills merger, resulting operational
efficiencies were not realized in the first quarter of fiscal 1998.
Operating Income. Operating income increased $1.0 million, or approximately
10.5%, to $10.4 million for the six months ended January 31, 1998 from $9.4
million for the six months ended January 31, 1997. As a percentage of net
sales, operating income was 3.0% in each of the six months ended January 31,
1998 and 1997. Excluding the merger costs noted above, operating income for
the six months ended January 31, 1998 would have been $14.4 million
(representing an increase of 54.0% over the prior period), or 4.1% of net
sales.
Other (Income)/Expense. The $1.3 million decrease in other expense in the
six months ended January 31, 1998 compared to the six months ended January 31,
1997 was primarily attributable to the reduction in interest expense relating
to the repayment of Stow Mills' debt with proceeds from the Company's credit
facility, which bears interest at a lower rate. In addition, the proceeds from
the Company's initial public offering were used to repay debt.
Income Taxes. The Company's effective income tax rates were 57.6% and 41.7%
for the six months ended January 31, 1998 and 1997, respectively. The
effective rates were higher than the federal statutory rate primarily due to
nondeductible merger costs incurred during the first quarter of fiscal 1998
and state and local income taxes, partially offset by the fact that Stow Mills
was an S Corporation prior to the merger and, as such, had no federal tax
expense.
Net Income. As a result of the foregoing, the Company's net income increased
by $0.9 million to $3.6 million for the six months ended January 31, 1998 from
$2.7 million in the six months ended January 31, 1997. Excluding the $4.1
million (net of taxes) in merger costs in fiscal 1998 and $0.9 million
extraordinary item (net of taxes) related to the early extinguishment of debt
in fiscal 1997, net income would have been $7.6 million (representing an
increase of 112.8% over the prior period), or 2.2% of net sales, and $3.6
million, or 1.2% of net sales, for the six months ended January 31, 1998 and
1997, respectively.
TWELVE MONTHS ENDED JULY 31, 1997 COMPARED TO TWELVE MONTHS ENDED JULY 31,
1996
Net Sales. The Company's net sales increased approximately 9.4%, or $54.8
million, to $634.8 million for the twelve months ended July 31, 1997 from
$580.0 million for the twelve months ended July 31, 1996. Net sales for Stow
Mills during the period increased at a lower rate than net sales for the
Company's other regions. The increase in net sales was primarily attributable
to increased sales by the Company to its existing customers, sales to new
customers, increased sales attributable to the introduction of new products
not formerly offered by the Company and increased market penetration in
existing geographic territories.
Gross Profit. The Company's gross profit increased approximately 8.3%, or
$9.8 million, to $127.3 million for the twelve months ended July 31, 1997 from
$117.5 million for the twelve months ended July 31, 1996. The Company's gross
profit as a percentage of net sales decreased to 20.0% for the twelve months
ended July 31, 1997 from 20.3% for the twelve months ended July 31, 1996. The
decrease in gross profit as a percentage of net sales resulted primarily from
increased sales to existing customers that earned greater discounts under the
Company's volume discount program.
18
<PAGE>
Operating Expenses. The Company's total operating expenses increased
approximately 3.0%, or $3.0 million, to $104.9 million for the twelve months
ended July 31, 1997 from $101.9 million for the twelve months ended July 31,
1996. However, as a percentage of net sales, operating expenses decreased to
16.5% for the twelve months ended July 31, 1997 from 17.6% for the twelve
months ended July 31, 1996. Operating expenses for the twelve months ended
July 31, 1996 included $1.6 million representing the write-down of intangible
assets, $0.5 million for costs associated with the merger with Mountain
People's and $1.1 million for costs associated with the grant of stock options
under the Company's 1996 Stock Option Plan. Excluding this charge, the
Company's total operating expenses for the twelve months ended July 31, 1996
would have been $98.8 million, or 17.0% of net sales. The decrease in total
operating expenses as a percentage of net sales was attributable to the
Company's absorption of fixed expenses and overhead over a larger sales base.
Operating Income. Operating income increased $6.6 million, or approximately
42.6%, to $22.3 million for the twelve months ended July 31, 1997 from $15.7
million for the twelve months ended July 31, 1996. As a percentage of net
sales, operating income increased to 3.5% for the twelve months ended July 31,
1997 from 2.7% for the twelve months ended July 31, 1996. Excluding the
charges discussed above, operating income for the twelve months ended July 31,
1996 would have been $18.8 million, or 3.2% of net sales.
Other (Income)/Expense. Total other expense, net, decreased by $2.0 million,
or approximately 27.6%, to $5.3 million for the twelve months ended July 31,
1997 from $7.3 million for the twelve months ended July 31, 1996. The decrease
was primarily attributable to lower interest payments for the twelve months
ended July 31, 1997 resulting from the use of the proceeds of the Company's
initial public offering to repay debt. As a result, interest expense decreased
to $6.0 million for the twelve months ended July 31, 1997 from $7.7 million
for the twelve months ended July 31, 1996.
Income Taxes. The Company's effective income tax rate was 39.0% and 43.8%
for the twelve months ended July 31, 1997 and 1996, respectively. Stow Mills
was taxed as an S Corporation prior to the merger with the Company. Had Stow
Mills been a C corporation, the Company's effective tax rates would have been
41.3% and 49.6% for the twelve months ended July 31, 1997 and 1996,
respectively. The effective rates were higher than the federal statutory rate
primarily due to nondeductible amortization, especially the write-off of the
intangible assets in the twelve months ended July 31, 1996, as well as the
impact of state and local income taxes.
Net Income. As a result of the foregoing, the Company's income before
extraordinary item for the twelve months ended July 31, 1997 was $10.4
million. In November 1996, the Company completed its initial public offering
of stock, the net proceeds of which were used to repay debt. In connection
with the Company's early repayment of debt from the proceeds of its initial
public offering, the Company recorded an extraordinary loss of $1.6 million
($0.9 million net of taxes) for the twelve months ended July 31, 1997. Net
income for the twelve months ended July 31, 1997 was $9.5 million. Net income
for the twelve months ended July 31, 1996 was $4.7 million. Net income for the
year included a charge of $1.3 million net of taxes.
NINE MONTHS ENDED JULY 31, 1996 COMPARED TO NINE MONTHS ENDED JULY 31, 1995
Net Sales. The Company's net sales increased 38.0%, or $121.2 million, to
$439.8 million for the nine months ended July 31, 1996 from $318.6 million for
the nine months ended July 31, 1995. The increase in net sales was primarily
due to additional sales of $74.5 million attributable to Nutrasource and
Rainbow, whose operations were included for the entire nine-month period in
1996. Sales of $6.5 million were attributable to two months of operations of
Nutrasource during the comparable 1995 period. The remainder of the increase
was also attributable to increased sales by the Company to existing customers,
including net sales attributable to new products offered by the Company and
net sales to new customers in existing geographic distribution areas as well
as new geographic areas not formerly served by the Company.
Gross Profit. The Company's gross profit increased 33.4%, or $22.4 million,
to $89.7 million for the nine months ended July 31, 1996 from $67.3 million
for the nine months ended July 31, 1995. The Company's gross profit as a
percentage of net sales decreased to 20.4% for the nine months ended July 31,
1996 from 21.1% for
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<PAGE>
the nine months ended July 31, 1995. The decrease in the gross profit as a
percentage of net sales was primarily due to the lower-margin business of the
Company's recently acquired distributors and to the increase in net sales
during fiscal 1996 attributable to super natural chains, which tend to buy in
larger quantities and to qualify for greater volume discounts.
Operating Expenses. The Company's total operating expenses increased 31.3%,
or $18.1 million, to $75.9 million for the nine months ended July 31, 1996
from $57.8 million for the nine months ended July 31, 1995. As a percentage of
net sales, operating expenses decreased to 17.2% for the nine months ended
July 31, 1996 from 18.1% for the nine months ended July 31, 1995. Total
operating expenses for the nine months ended July 31, 1996 included a non-cash
charge of $1.1 million related to the grant of options under the Company's
1996 Stock Option Plan and a charge of $0.5 million representing costs
associated with the Mountain People's merger. Excluding the charges discussed
above, the Company's total operating expenses would have been $74.4 million,
or 16.9% of net sales, for the nine months ended July 31, 1996. The decrease
in total operating expenses as a percentage of net sales was primarily
attributable to the Company's increased absorption of overhead and fixed
expenses over a larger sales base. In addition, the Company achieved increased
operating efficiencies through the implementation of new information and
warehouse management systems in its Connecticut and Georgia facilities.
Operating Income. Operating income increased $4.4 million, or 45.8%, to
$13.9 million for the nine months ended July 31, 1996 from $9.5 million for
the nine months ended July 31, 1995. As a percentage of net sales, operating
income increased to 3.2% for the nine months ended July 31, 1996 from 3.0% in
the nine months ended July 31, 1995. Excluding the charges discussed above,
operating income would have been $15.4 million, or 3.5% of net sales, for the
nine months ended July 31, 1996.
Other Income/(Expense). The $1.8 million increase in interest expense for
the nine months ended July 31, 1996 compared to the nine months ended July 31,
1995 was primarily attributable to the indebtedness incurred in connection
with the purchase of the Company's Connecticut facility in August 1995 and the
acquisitions of Nutrasource and Rainbow, along with an increase in borrowings
under the Company's revolving lines of credit to fund increasing inventory and
accounts receivable balances related to the Company's increased operating
volume.
Income Taxes. The Company's effective income tax rates were 34.6% and 38.0%
for the nine months ended July 31, 1996 and 1995, respectively. Stow Mills was
taxed as an S Corporation prior to the merger with the Company. Had Stow Mills
been a C corporation, the Company's effective tax rates would have been 40.6%
and 40.0% for the nine months ended July 31, 1996 and 1995, respectively. The
effective rates were higher than the federal statutory rate due to
nondeductible costs associated with the merger with Mountain People's and
state and local income taxes.
Net Income. As a result of the foregoing, the Company's net income increased
by 52.7%, or $1.9 million, to $5.5 million for the nine months ended July 31,
1996 from $3.6 million for the nine months ended July 31, 1995. Excluding the
$1.1 million of charges (net of taxes) related to the granting of options
under the 1996 Stock Option Plan and the costs associated with the Mountain
People's merger, net income would have been $7.1 million, or 1.6% of net
sales, for the nine months ended July 31, 1996.
LIQUIDITY AND CAPITAL RESOURCES
The Company historically has financed its operations and growth primarily
from cash flows from operations, borrowings under its credit facility, seller
financing of acquisitions, operating and capital leases, trade payables, bank
indebtedness and the sale of debt and equity securities. Primary uses of
capital have been acquisitions, expansion of plant and equipment and
investment in accounts receivable and inventory.
Net cash (used in) provided by operations was $(5.5) million, $1.9 million
and $(0.5) million for the six months ended January 31, 1998, the year ended
July 31, 1997 and the nine months ended July 31, 1996,
20
<PAGE>
respectively. The Company's increase in cash used in operations for the six
months ended January 31, 1998 related to increased investments in accounts
receivable and inventory and a decrease in accounts payable, all in the
ordinary course of business. The recent increases in inventory levels relate
to supporting increased sales with wider product assortment combined with the
Company's ability to capture purchasing efficiency opportunities in excess of
total carrying costs. The decrease in accounts payable is the result of
accelerating payments to capture early payment discounts in excess of the
Company's cost of capital. Excluding the merger expenses, net cash used in
operations for the first six months of 1998 would have been $1.4 million. The
Company's working capital at January 31, 1998 was $57.4 million.
Net cash used in investing activities was $4.5 million, $3.8 million and
$8.6 million for the six months ended January 31, 1998, the year ended July
31, 1997 and the nine months ended July 31, 1996, respectively. Investing
activities included primarily capital expenditures related to the purchase of
material handling equipment and the continued upgrade of existing management
information systems. During the nine months ended July 31, 1996, the Company
also used capital to purchase and expand its Connecticut distribution
facility. The Company's capital expenditures were primarily funded from senior
bank indebtedness, including term loans.
Cash provided by financing activities was $12.5 million, $2.0 million and
$9.3 million for the six months ended January 31, 1998, the year ended July
31, 1997 and the nine months ended July 31, 1996, respectively. During fiscal
1997, the Company issued 2.9 million shares of its common stock in its initial
public offering, which resulted in net proceeds to the Company of $35.5
million. The proceeds were used to repay indebtedness of the Company. The
Company also utilized proceeds from long-term debt of $8.6 million, $12.5
million and $6.5 million for the six months ended January 31, 1998, the year
ended July 31, 1997 and the nine months ended July 31, 1996, respectively.
In October 1997, the Company amended its credit agreement with its bank to
increase the amount of the facility from $50 million to $100 million, to
increase the limit on inventory advances to $50 million and the advance rate
to 60%, to establish a term loan of $6.6 million and to increase the aggregate
amount of real estate acquisition loans and real estate term loans to $20
million. The agreement also provides for the bank to syndicate the credit
facility to other banks and lending institutions. The credit facility was used
to repay existing indebtedness of Stow Mills owing to the Company's bank and
will be used for general operating capital needs. Interest under the facility,
except the portion related to the mortgage commitments, accrues at the
Company's option at the New York Prime Rate or 1.00% above the bank's London
Interbank Offered Rate (LIBOR), and the Company has the option to fix the rate
for all or a portion of the debt for a period up to 180 days. Interest on the
mortgage facility will accrue at 1.25% above the bank's LIBOR rate, although
the Company has the option to fix the rate for a period of five years at a
rate of 1.25% above the five-year rate for U.S. Treasury Notes. The Company
has pledged all of its assets as collateral for its obligations under the
credit agreement. As of January 31, 1998, the Company's outstanding borrowings
under the credit agreement totaled $38.6 million. The credit agreement expires
on July 31, 2002.
The Company expects to spend approximately $25 million over the next five
years in capital expenditures to fund the expansion of existing facilities,
upgrade information systems and technology and update its material handling
equipment. Included in this amount are $3 to $5 million in capital
expenditures in the 1998 and 1999 calendar years for the Company's Year 2000
upgrade and new warehouse management system, including new hardware and
installation.
Management believes that the Company will have adequate capital resources
and liquidity to meet its borrowing obligations, fund all required capital
expenditures and pursue its business strategy, with the exception of any major
acquisitions which may be made by the Company, through fiscal 2000. The
Company's capital resources and liquidity are expected to be provided by cash
flow from operations and borrowings under the credit facility and capital and
operating leases. All of the net proceeds from this offering will be used to
repay certain of the Company's outstanding indebtedness. See "Use of
Proceeds."
21
<PAGE>
IMPACT OF INFLATION
Historically, the Company has been able to pass along inflation-related
increases. Consequently, inflation has not had a material impact upon the
results of the Company's operations or profitability.
SEASONALITY
Generally, the Company does not experience any material seasonality.
However, the Company's sales and operating results may vary significantly from
quarter to quarter due to factors such as changes in the Company's operating
expenses, management's ability to execute the Company's operating and growth
strategies, personnel changes, demand for natural products, supply shortages
and general economic conditions.
RECENTLY ISSUED FINANCIAL ACCOUNTING STANDARDS
The Financial Accounting Standards Board recently issued Statement of
Financial Accounting Standards ("SFAS") No. 129, "Disclosure of Information
about Capital Structure." This statement establishes standards for disclosing
information about an entity's capital structure. This statement is effective
for periods ending after December 15, 1997. The Company is in compliance with
this standard.
The Financial Accounting Standards Board recently issued SFAS No. 130,
"Reporting Comprehensive Income." This statement establishes standards for
reporting and display of comprehensive income and its components in a full set
of general purpose financial statements. This statement is effective for
fiscal years beginning after December 15, 1997 and requires reclassification
of financial statements for earlier periods provided for comparative purposes.
The Company will comply with the required presentation in fiscal 1999.
The Financial Accounting Standards Board recently issued SFAS No. 131,
"Disclosures about Segments of an Enterprise and Related Information." This
statement establishes standards for reporting operating segments of publicly
traded business enterprises in annual and interim financial statements and
requires that those enterprises report selected information about operating
segments. This statement supersedes SFAS No. 14, "Financial Reporting for
Segments of a Business," but retains the requirement to report information
about major customers. This statement also amends SFAS No. 94, "Consolidation
of All Majority-Owned Subsidiaries." SFAS No. 131 is effective for financial
statements for fiscal years beginning after December 15, 1997 and requires
that comparative information for earlier years be restated. The Company has
not yet determined what impact, if any, this standard will have on its
financial statement presentation.
The Financial Accounting Standards Board recently issued SFAS No. 132,
"Employers' Disclosures about Pensions and Other Postretirement Benefits."
This statement standardizes disclosure requirements for pensions and other
postretirement benefits, and is effective for fiscal years beginning after
December 15, 1997. This statement does not apply to the Company as the Company
does not currently sponsor any defined benefit plans.
YEAR 2000 ISSUES
The Company's financial accounting systems are Year 2000 compliant. The
Company's Eastern Region and its Chicago facility are not currently Year 2000
compliant. The Company is currently reviewing its operational business systems
to ensure Year 2000 compliance and to enhance its business systems
functionality to achieve operating efficiencies and customer service
improvements. The Company plans to purchase packaged software to address Year
2000 issues when available. The Company expects to incur $3 to $5 million in
expenditures in the 1998 and 1999 calendar years for its Year 2000 upgrade and
new warehouse management systems, including new hardware and installation.
However, there can be no assurance that the systems of other companies on
which the Company's systems rely also will be timely converted or that any
such failure to convert by another company would not have a material adverse
effect on the Company's business, financial condition or results of
operations.
22
<PAGE>
BUSINESS
United Natural Foods, Inc. is the leading independent national distributor
of natural foods and related products in the United States. The Company is the
primary supplier to a majority of its customers, offering more than 26,000
high-quality natural products consisting of groceries and general merchandise,
nutritional supplements, bulk and foodservice products, personal care items,
perishables and frozen foods. The Company serves more than 6,500 customers in
46 states, including independent natural products retailers, super natural
chains and conventional supermarkets, and is the primary distributor to the
two largest super natural chains, Whole Foods and Wild Oats. The Company also
owns and operates 16 retail natural products stores which complement its
distribution business. The Company's strategy is to continue to capitalize on
its leading market position and strong industry trends to enhance its position
as the leading independent national distributor to the natural products
industry. For the twelve months ended January 31, 1998, the Company generated
net sales and operating income of $679.6 million and $23.3 million,
respectively, representing compound annual growth rates of 21.6% and 34.4%,
respectively, from the twelve months ended October 31, 1994.
The Company has achieved its market leadership position through a strategy
consisting of both strong internal growth and acquisitions. Since 1985, the
Company has successfully completed 13 acquisitions of distributors and
suppliers, including Stow Mills and Hershey, and 11 acquisitions of retail
stores, significantly expanding the Company's distribution network, product
offering and customer base. On October 31, 1997, the Company merged with Stow
Mills, a regional natural products distributor serving the Northeast and
Midwest regions of the United States. The Company believes that the Stow Mills
merger will generate significant benefits, including: (i) increased market
share and distribution capacity, particularly in the Midwest; (ii) improved
purchasing power; (iii) enhanced product offerings; (iv) improved distribution
logistics and operating efficiencies; and (v) significant opportunities for
the reduction of selling, general and administrative expenses. On February 11,
1998, the Company acquired the assets of Hershey, a business specializing in
the international trading, roasting and packaging of nuts, seeds, dried fruits
and snack items. In managing its growth strategy, the Company has successfully
captured the benefits of its national scale, while utilizing a regional
approach to managing its business, taking advantage of the strong customer
loyalty developed by its regional divisions which have formed the foundation
of the Company. As a result of its national expansion, the Company has
organized its operations into three geographic regions: Cornucopia and Stow
Mills in the Eastern Region, Rainbow in the Central Region and Mountain
People's in the Western Region. The Company believes that this combination of
national distribution economies combined with a regional operating focus has
been the cornerstone of its successful operating strategy.
NATURAL PRODUCTS INDUSTRY
According to The Natural Foods Merchandiser, a leading industry publication,
the natural products industry has achieved a compound annual growth rate of
21% from 1992 to 1996, growing from $5.3 billion to $11.5 billion. The Company
believes that this growth reflects a broadening of the natural products
consumer base which is being driven by several factors, including an
increasing awareness of the link between diet and health, healthier eating
patterns, increasing concern regarding food purity and safety and greater
environmental awareness.
According to The Natural Foods Merchandiser, the natural products retailing
sector is highly fragmented, with over 6,700 independent natural products
retailers in operation in 1996 and continuing to grow annually. Although the
natural products industry sector remains fragmented, natural products
supermarkets continue to increase their market share of total natural products
sales as they expand into additional geographic markets and acquire smaller
independent competitors. In addition, conventional supermarkets and mass
market outlets have also begun to increase their emphasis on the sale of
natural products as the sector gains appeal. Moreover, as consumer demand for
natural products has grown, an increasing number of national, regional and
local natural products have become available as more suppliers and producers
have entered the market.
23
<PAGE>
COMPETITIVE ADVANTAGES
The Company believes it benefits from a number of significant competitive
advantages which include:
. MARKET LEADER WITH A NATIONWIDE PRESENCE. As a result of its nationwide
presence, the Company believes it is one of the few distributors capable of
serving both local and regional customers as well as the rapidly growing
super natural chains. The Company believes it has significant advantages
over smaller, regional natural products distributors as a result of its
ability to: (i) derive significant economies of scale in operating and
distribution expenses; (ii) benefit from increased purchasing power and
breadth of product offering; (iii) make significant investments in advanced
technology and equipment, which will enhance productivity and customer
service; and (iv) provide superior customer service on a national scale.
. LOW-COST OPERATOR. The Company believes that it is well positioned to
provide value added distribution services to its customers at attractive
prices while also providing superior customer service. In addition to its
volume purchasing power advantage, a critical component of the Company's
position as a low-cost provider is its effective management of warehouse
and distribution costs, primarily as a result of utilizing larger
distribution centers within each of its geographic regions and integrating
its facilities through its nationwide interregional logistics network. In
addition, the Company has made significant investment in transportation
equipment and information technology to enable it to more efficiently serve
its customers.
. EXPANDING BASE OF PREMIER CUSTOMER RELATIONSHIPS. The Company serves more
than 6,500 customers in 46 states. The Company has developed long-standing
customer relationships that it believes are among the strongest in the
industry. The Company has also been the primary supplier to each of the
industry's two largest super natural chains, Whole Foods and Wild Oats, for
more than ten years.
. EXPERIENCED MANAGEMENT TEAM WITH SIGNIFICANT EQUITY STAKE. The Company's
management team has extensive experience in the natural products industry
and has been successful in identifying, consummating and integrating
multiple acquisitions. Since 1985, the Company has successfully completed
13 acquisitions of distributors and suppliers, including Stow Mills and
Hershey, and 11 acquisitions of retail stores. In addition, after giving
effect to this offering, the Company's executive officers and directors,
and their affiliates, and the ESOT will beneficially own in the aggregate
approximately 62.0% of the Company's Common Stock. Accordingly, the
Company's senior management and employees have significant incentive to
continue to generate strong growth in operating results in the future.
GROWTH STRATEGY
The Company's growth strategy is to maintain and enhance its position as the
leading independent national distributor to the natural products industry. Key
elements of the Company's strategy include:
. INCREASE MARKET SHARE OF THE RAPIDLY GROWING NATURAL PRODUCTS INDUSTRY. The
Company's strategy is to continue to increase its leading market share of
the rapidly growing natural products industry by significantly expanding
its customer base, increasing its share of existing customers' business and
continuing to expand and further penetrate new distribution territories.
Expand Existing Customer Base. The Company has expanded substantially
the number of customers served to more than 6,500 as of January 31,
1998. The Company plans to continue to expand its coverage of the highly
fragmented natural products industry by cultivating new customer
relationships within the industry as well as in developing channels of
business such as traditional supermarkets, mass market outlets, Internet
retailers, institutional foodservice providers, hotels and gourmet
stores.
Increase Its Share of Existing Customers' Distribution Needs. The
Company seeks to become the primary supplier for a majority of its
customers' needs by offering the broadest product offering in the
industry at the most competitive prices. Since 1993, the Company has
significantly expanded its product offering from approximately 14,000
products to more than 26,000 as of January 31, 1998. In addition, the
Company has launched a number of highly successful private label
programs, which offer both the Company and its customers higher margins
than many of the Company's existing product
24
<PAGE>
offerings. As a result, the Company believes it has become the primary
distributor to the majority of its natural products customer base.
Continue to Expand and Penetrate Into New Distribution
Territories. Since 1993, the Company has increased the aggregate size of
its distribution centers from approximately 660,000 square feet to
approximately 1,250,000 square feet and the number of states served from
25 to 46. The Company will continue to selectively evaluate
opportunities to acquire (i) distributors to fill in existing markets
and expand into new markets and (ii) suppliers to expand margins through
vertical integration and brand differentiation. The Company currently
has no agreements or understandings with regard to any material
acquisitions.
. CONTINUE TO IMPROVE EFFICIENCY OF NATIONWIDE DISTRIBUTION NETWORK. The
Company continually seeks to improve its operating results by integrating
its nationwide network utilizing the best practices within the industry and
within each of the regions that have formed the foundation of the Company.
This focus on achieving improved economies of scale in purchasing,
warehousing, transportation and general and administrative functions has
resulted in significant improvements in operating margins, which increased
from 2.5% in fiscal 1994 to 4.6% in the quarter ended January 31, 1998.
Management believes that there are significant additional opportunities for
margin improvement from its best practices programs.
. CAPITALIZE ON THE BENEFITS OF THE STOW MILLS MERGER. With the Stow Mills
merger in October 1997, the Company significantly expanded its customer
base, distribution capacity and product offering. The merger is expected to
generate significant benefits, including: (i) increased market share and
distribution capacity, particularly in the Midwest; (ii) improved
purchasing power; (iii) enhanced product offerings; (iv) improved
distribution logistics and operating efficiencies; and (v) significant
opportunities for the reduction of redundant selling, general and
administrative expenses. As a result, management expects the Stow Mills
merger to offer significant opportunities for future sales growth together
with opportunities for further margin improvement.
. CONTINUE TO PROVIDE THE LEADING DISTRIBUTION SOLUTION. The Company's
strategy is to continue to provide the leading distribution solution to the
natural products industry through its national scale, regional
responsiveness, high customer service focus and breadth of product
offering. The Company offers its customers a selection of inventory
management, merchandising, marketing, promotional and event management
services to increase customer sales and enhance customer satisfaction and a
broad range of marketing services, many of which are supplier-sponsored,
including monthly and seasonal flier programs, in-store signage and
assistance in product display, all in order to assist its customers in
increasing sales.
PRODUCTS
The Company's extensive selection of high-quality natural products enables
it to provide a primary source of supply to a diverse base of customers whose
product needs vary significantly. The Company distributes more than 26,000
high-quality natural products, consisting of national brand, regional brand,
private label and master distribution products in six product categories
consisting of grocery and general merchandise, nutritional supplements, bulk
and foodservice products, personal care items, perishables and frozen foods.
The Company's private label products address certain preferences of customers
that are not otherwise being met by other suppliers.
The Company evaluates more than 10,000 potential new products each year
based on existing and anticipated trends in consumer preferences and buying
patterns. Since 1992, the Company has introduced an average of 350 new
products each month, while discontinuing approximately 150 less successful
products. The Company's buyers regularly attend regional natural, organic,
specialty, ethnic and gourmet products shows to review the latest product
introductions that are likely to be of interest to retailers and consumers.
The Company also actively solicits suggestions for new products from its
customers. The Company makes the majority of its new product decisions at the
regional level. The Company believes that its decentralized purchasing
practices allow its regional purchasers to react quickly to changing consumer
preferences and to evaluate new products
25
<PAGE>
and new product categories regionally. In addition, many of the new products
offered by the Company are marketed on a regional basis or in the Company's
own retail stores prior to being offered nationally, which enables the Company
to evaluate local consumer reaction to the products without incurring
significant inventory risk.
SUPPLIERS
The Company purchases its products from approximately 1,800 active
suppliers. Although the majority of the Company's suppliers are based in the
United States, the Company regularly sources products from vendors throughout
Europe, Asia, South America, Africa and Australia. Management believes that
natural products suppliers seek distribution of their products through the
Company because it provides access to a large and growing customer base,
distributes the majority of the suppliers' products and supports the
suppliers' marketing programs. Substantially all product categories
distributed by the Company are available from a number of suppliers and the
Company is not dependent on any single source of supply for any product
category. The Company's largest supplier accounted for approximately 3.8% of
total purchases in calendar 1997.
The Company has positioned itself to respond to regional and local customer
preferences for natural products by decentralizing the majority of its
purchasing decisions for all products except bulk commodities. The Company
believes that regional buyers are best suited to identify and to respond to
local demands and preferences. Although each of the Company's regions is
responsible for placing its own orders and can select the products that it
believes will most appeal to its customers, each region is required to
participate in Company-wide purchasing programs that enable it to take
advantage of the Company's consolidated purchasing power. For example, the
Company has positioned itself as the largest purchaser of organically grown
bulk products in the natural products industry by centralizing its purchase of
nuts, seeds, grains, flours and dried foods.
The Company's purchasing staff cooperates closely with suppliers to provide
new and existing products. The suppliers assist in training the Company's
account and customer service representatives in marketing new products,
identifying industry trends and coordinating advertising and other promotions.
The Company maintains a comprehensive quality control assurance program. All
products sold by the Company and represented as "organic" are required to be
certified as such by an independent third-party agency. The Company maintains
current certification affidavits on all organic commodities and produce in
order to verify the authenticity of the product. All potential vendors of
organic products are required to provide such third-party certification before
they are approved as a supplier to the Company. In addition, the Company has
secured the services of counsel specializing in Food and Drug Administration
("FDA") matters to audit all labels, packaging, ingredient lists and product
claims relating to products offered by the Company to ensure that all products
meet current FDA requirements. The Company believes that it is the only
natural products distributor which has performed such an audit to date.
CUSTOMERS
The Company markets its products to more than 6,500 customers located in 46
states. The Company maintains long-standing customer relationships with
independent natural products retailers, including super natural chains, and
has continued to emphasize its relationships with new customers, such as
conventional supermarkets, Internet retailers and other mass market outlets,
as well as gourmet stores, all of which are continually increasing their
natural product offerings. Among the Company's wholesale customers are leading
super natural chains doing business as Whole Foods Market, Wild Oats Markets,
Nature's Fresh, Northwest!, Nature's Heartland and Wild Harvest and
conventional supermarket chains such as Carr's, City Market, Harris Teeter,
King Soopers, Kroger, Path Mark, Quality Food Centers (QFC), Shaws, Star
Market and Stop and Shop.
Management believes that the Company is the primary supplier to the majority
of its customers. Whole Foods accounted for approximately 14% of the Company's
net sales in fiscal 1997. No other customer accounted for more than 10% of the
Company's net sales in fiscal 1997.
26
<PAGE>
The following table sets forth the types of customers served by the Company
and the approximate percentage of its net sales generated by each category for
calendar 1996 and 1997.
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
PERCENTAGE OF
NET SALES
--------------
1996 1997
<S> <C> <C>
TYPE OF CUSTOMER
Independent Natural Products Stores........................ 53.8% 55.5%
Super Natural Chains....................................... 31.5 31.1
Conventional Supermarkets.................................. 9.3 8.9
Miscellaneous/Other........................................ 5.4 4.5
------ ------
100.0% 100.0%
====== ======
</TABLE>
SALES
The Company maintains an order fill rate that exceeds 95% (excluding
products unavailable from the supplier), which the Company believes is one of
the highest order fill rates in the natural products distribution industry.
The Company believes that its high fill rates can be attributed to its
experienced purchasing department and sophisticated warehousing, inventory
control and distribution systems. The Company offers next-day delivery service
to a majority of its active customers and offers multiple deliveries each week
to its largest customers. The Company believes that customer loyalty is
dependent upon outstanding customer service to ensure accurate fulfillment of
orders, timely product delivery, low prices and a high level of product
marketing support.
MARKETING
The Company has developed a variety of supplier-sponsored marketing services
that cater to a broad range of retail formats. These programs are designed to
educate consumers, profile suppliers and increase sales for retailers, the
majority of which do not have the resources necessary to conduct such
marketing programs independently.
The Company offers a monthly flier program featuring the logo and address of
the participating retailer imprinted on a flier advertising approximately 200
sale items which is distributed by the retailer to its customers. The color
fliers are designed by the Company's in-house marketing department utilizing
modern digital photography and contain detailed product descriptions and
pricing information. In addition, each flier generally includes detailed
information on selected vendors, recipes, product features and a comparison of
the characteristics of a natural product with a similar mass market product.
The monthly flier program is structured to pass through to the retailer the
benefit of company negotiated discounts and advertising allowances. The
program also provides retailers with posters, window banners and shelf tags to
coincide with each month's promotions.
In addition to its monthly flier program, the Company offers thematic custom
and seasonal consumer fliers that are used to promote items associated with a
particular cause or season, such as environmentally sensitive products for
Earth Day or foods and gifts particularly popular during the holiday season.
The Company also (i) offers in-store signage and promotional materials,
including shopping bags and end-cap displays, (ii) provides assistance with
planning and setting up product displays and (iii) advises on pricing
decisions to enable its customers to respond to local competition.
DISTRIBUTION
The Company maintains nine distribution centers located in Atlanta, Georgia;
Auburn, California; Chesterfield, New Hampshire; Chicago, Illinois; Dayville,
Connecticut; Denver, Colorado; Kealeakua, Hawaii; New Oxford, Pennsylvania;
and Seattle, Washington. These facilities consist of an aggregate of more than
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<PAGE>
1,200,000 square feet of space, the largest capacity of any distributor in the
natural products industry. The Company has recently expanded its Connecticut
headquarters from 165,000 to 245,000 square feet and leased a new facility in
Colorado which, at 180,800 square feet, is twice the size of its former
facility. The Company intends to replace its 40,000 square foot auxiliary
storage facility in Sacramento, California with a 75,000 square foot storage
facility located adjacent to its Auburn, California distribution center.
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
SIZE LEASE
LOCATION (IN SQUARE FEET) EXPIRATION
<S> <C> <C>
Atlanta, Georgia............................... 175,000 March 1999
Auburn, California............................. 150,000 Owned
Chesterfield, New Hampshire.................... 126,500 Owned
Chicago, Illinois.............................. 80,000 December 2000
Dayville, Connecticut.......................... 245,000 Owned
Denver, Colorado............................... 180,800 July 2013
Kealeakua, Hawaii.............................. 16,300 October 2002
New Oxford, Pennsylvania....................... 127,000 May 2003
Seattle, Washington............................ 100,000 February 2001
</TABLE>
The Company has carefully chosen the sites for its distribution centers to
provide direct access to its regional markets. This proximity allows the
Company to reduce its transportation costs compared to competitors that seek
to service their customers from locations that are often hundreds of miles
away. The Company believes that it incurs lower inbound freight expense than
its regional competitors because its national presence allows it to buy full
and partial truckloads of products which, if necessary, it can backhaul using
the Company's own trucks between its distribution centers and satellite
staging facilities. Many of the Company's competitors must employ outside
consolidation services and pay higher carrier transportation fees to move
products from other regions. In addition, overstocks and inventory imbalances
at one distribution center may be redistributed by the Company to another
distribution center where products may be sold prior to their expiration date.
Products are delivered to the Company's distribution centers primarily by
its leased fleet of trucks, contract carriers and the suppliers themselves.
The Company leases most of its trucks from Ryder Truck Leasing, which
maintains facilities on some of the Company's premises for the maintenance and
service of these vehicles, and a lesser number of its trucks from regional
firms that offer competitive services.
The Company ships orders for supplements or for items that are destined for
areas outside regular delivery routes through the United Parcel Service and
other independent carriers. Deliveries to areas outside the continental United
States are shipped by ocean-going containers on a weekly basis.
TECHNOLOGY
The Company has made a significant investment in information and warehouse
management systems. The Company continually evaluates and upgrades its
management information systems based on the best practices in the distribution
industry and at its regional operations in order to make the systems more
efficient, cost effective and responsive to customer needs. These systems
include radio frequency-based inventory control, paperless receiving,
engineered labor standards, computer-assisted order processing and slot
locator/retrieval assignment systems. At the receiving docks, warehouse
workers attach computer-generated, preprinted locator tags to inbound
products. These tags contain the expiration date, locations, quantity, lot
number and other information in bar code format. To process customer orders,
warehouse workers use hand-held radio frequency devices to scan the UPC bar
code as a product is removed from its assigned slot. Similarly, customer
returns are processed by scanning the UPC bar codes. The Company also employs
a management information system that enables it to
28
<PAGE>
lower its inbound transportation costs by making optimum use of its own fleet
of trucks or by consolidating deliveries into full truckloads. Orders from
multiple suppliers and multiple distribution centers are consolidated into
single truckloads for efficient use of available vehicle capacity and return-
haul trips.
The Company has recently begun installation of an Oracle-based Warehouse
Management Systems (WMS) software package at its Dayville and Atlanta
facilities. The Company expects to realize continued customer service
improvements as a result of this investment and anticipates that the WMS will
be operational in six of its distribution centers by the end of calendar 1999.
RETAIL OPERATIONS
The Company's Natural Retail Group currently owns and operates 16 retail
natural products stores located in Connecticut, Florida, Maryland,
Massachusetts and New York. The Company's retail strategy is to selectively
acquire existing stores that meet the Company's strict criteria in categories
such as sales and profitability, growth potential, merchandising and
management. Generally, the Company will not purchase stores that directly
compete with primary retail customers of its distribution business. The
Company believes its retail stores have a number of advantages over their
competitors, including the financial strength and marketing expertise provided
by the Company, the purchasing power resulting from group purchasing by stores
within NRG and the breadth of their product selection. The Company's strategy
for future retail growth is to identify and acquire additional retail stores
as opportunities arise and to focus on increased sales of higher margin
nutritional supplements while maintaining emphasis on the sale of organic
produce and delicatessen and bakery products and consumer education.
As both a distributor to its retail stores and a retailer, a number of
advantages are made available to the Company, including the ability to: (i)
control the purchases made by these stores; (ii) expand the number of high-
growth, high-margin product categories such as produce and prepared foods
within these stores; and (iii) keep current with the retail marketplace which
allows it to better serve its distribution customers. In addition, as the
primary natural products distributor to its retail locations, the Company
expects to realize significant economies of scale and operating and buying
efficiencies. As an operator of retail stores, the Company also has the
ability to test market select products prior to offering them nationally,
which allows the Company to evaluate consumer reaction to the product without
incurring significant inventory risk. The Company is able to test new
marketing and promotional programs within its stores prior to offering them to
a broader customer base.
COMPETITION
The natural products distribution industry is highly competitive. The
industry has been characterized in recent years by significant consolidation
and the emergence of large competitors. The Company's major national
competitor is Tree of Life Distribution, Inc. (a subsidiary of Koninklijke
Bolswessanen N.V.) and its major regional competitors are Nature's Best, Inc.
in the western United States, Northeast Cooperative in the eastern United
States and Blooming Prairie Cooperative Warehouse in the Midwestern states.
The Company also competes with numerous smaller regional and local
distributors of ethnic, Kosher, gourmet and other specialty foods. In
addition, the Company competes with national, regional and local distributors
of conventional groceries and, to a lesser extent, companies that distribute
to their own retail facilities. There can be no assurance that distributors of
conventional groceries will not increase their emphasis on natural products
and more directly compete with the Company or that new competitors will not
enter the market. Many of these distributors may have been in business longer,
may have substantially greater financial and other resources than the Company
and may be better established in their markets. There can be no assurance that
the Company's current or potential competitors will not provide services
comparable or superior to those provided by the Company or adapt more quickly
than the Company to evolving industry trends or changing market requirements.
It is also possible that alliances among competitors may emerge and rapidly
acquire significant market share or that certain of the Company's customers
will increase distribution to their own retail facilities. Increased
competition may result in price reductions, reduced gross margins and loss of
market share, any of which could materially adversely affect the Company's
business, financial condition or results of operations.
29
<PAGE>
The Company believes that distributors in the natural products industry
compete principally on product quality and depth of inventory selection, price
and quality of customer service. Although the Company believes it currently
competes effectively with respect to each of these factors, there can be no
assurance that the Company will be able to maintain its competitive position
against current and potential competitors.
The Company's retail stores compete against other natural products outlets,
conventional supermarkets and specialty stores. The Company believes that
retailers of natural products compete principally on product quality and
selection, price, knowledge of personnel and convenience of location.
EMPLOYEES
As of March 31, 1998, United Natural had approximately 2,230 full- and part-
time employees. The Company is currently, and has in the past been, the focus
of union-organizing efforts. An aggregate of approximately 90 of the employees
at the Company's Seattle, Washington and Rahway, New Jersey facilities are
covered by a collective bargaining agreement. United Natural has never
experienced a work stoppage by its unionized employees. United Natural
believes that its relationship with its employees is good.
30
<PAGE>
MANAGEMENT
EXECUTIVE OFFICERS AND DIRECTORS
The executive officers and directors of the Company and their ages as of
March 31, 1998 are as follows:
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
NAME AGE POSITION
<S> <C> <C>
Norman A. Cloutier(1)(2)...... 44 Chairman of the Board and Chief Executive
Officer
Michael S. Funk(2)............ 43 Vice Chairman of the Board, President of the
Company and President of the Company's
Western Region
Robert T. Cirulnick........... 42 Chief Financial Officer and Treasurer
Richard S. Youngman........... 46 President of the Company's Eastern Region,
Assistant Secretary and Director of the
Company
Daniel V. Atwood.............. 40 President of NRG, Vice President and
Secretary
Kevin T. Michel............... 40 President of the Company's Central Region,
Assistant Treasurer and Director of the
Company
Barclay McFadden, III......... 47 Director
Thomas B. Simone(1)(3)........ 58 Director
Steven H. Townsend............ 44 Director
Richard J. Williams(1)(3)..... 37 Director
</TABLE>
- ---------------------
(1) Member of the Audit Committee.
(2) Member of the Nominating Committee.
(3) Member of the Compensation Committee.
Norman A. Cloutier founded the Company in 1978. Mr. Cloutier has been
Chairman of the Board and Chief Executive Officer of the Company since its
inception. Mr. Cloutier served as President of the Company from its inception
until October 1996. Mr. Cloutier previously operated a natural products retail
store in Coventry, Rhode Island from 1977 to 1978.
Michael S. Funk has been Vice Chairman of the Board of the Company since
February 1996 and President of the Company since October 1996. Mr. Funk served
as Executive Vice President of the Company from February 1996 until October
1996. Since its inception in July 1976, Mr. Funk has been President of
Mountain People's (currently the Company's Western Region). Mr. Funk has
served on the Board of Directors since February 1996.
Robert T. Cirulnick has been Chief Financial Officer of the Company since
February 1998. Mr. Cirulnick served in various financial capacities with
PepsiCo, Inc. from September 1985 through January 1998, including Vice
President, Controller of Frito-Lay, Inc., a subsidiary of PepsiCo, from August
1994 to February 1998. Mr. Cirulnick was the Chief Financial Officer and
Director of Finance and Administration for Smith's Food Group, a joint venture
company between PepsiCo and General Mills from May 1993 through August 1994.
Mr. Cirulnick was a Certified Public Accountant with KPMG Peat Marwick LLP
from June 1980 to September 1985, where he served in various audit and tax
capacities.
Richard S. Youngman was the President and a director of Stow Mills and its
predecessor company from 1979 until October 1997. In October 1997, Mr.
Youngman became Chief Executive Officer of Stow Mills and President of the
Company's Eastern Region. Mr. Youngman has served on the Board of Directors
since December 1997.
Daniel V. Atwood has been President of NRG and Vice President of the Company
since August 1995. Mr. Atwood was Vice President--Marketing of the Company
from January 1984 to August 1995. From 1979 to
31
<PAGE>
1982, Mr. Atwood was a Store Manager at Bread & Circus Supermarkets, a super
natural chain. Mr. Atwood served on the Board of Directors from August 1988 to
December 1997.
Kevin T. Michel has been President of the Company's Central Region since
January 1998. Mr. Michel served as Chief Financial Officer of Mountain
People's from January 1995 until December 1997. From January 1992 until
January 1995, Mr. Michel held several different accounting and finance
positions at Mountain People's. From March 1991 until December 1991, Mr.
Michel was the sole proprietor of a restaurant. Mr. Michel has served on the
Board of Directors since February 1996.
Barclay McFadden, III was the Chief Executive Officer and a director of Stow
Mills and its predecessor company from 1976 until October 1997. Mr. McFadden
serves on the Board of Directors of First Vermont Bank and a number of
charitable organizations. Mr. McFadden has served on the Board of Directors
since December 1997.
Thomas B. Simone has served on the Board of Directors since October 1996.
Since April 1994, Mr. Simone has served as President and Chief Executive
Officer of Simone & Associates, a healthcare and natural products investment
and consulting company. From February 1991 to April 1994, Mr. Simone was
President of McKesson Drug Company. Mr. Simone also serves on the Board of
Directors of ECO-DENT International, Inc. and IBV Technologies, Inc.
Steven H. Townsend served as Vice President--Finance and Administration of
the Company from 1983 to February 1998 and Chief Financial Officer of the
Company from August 1988 to February 1998. From 1980 to 1983, Mr. Townsend was
Director of Finance for the Town of Mansfield, Connecticut. Mr. Townsend has
served on the Board of Directors since August 1988.
Richard J. Williams has been a Managing Director of Triumph Capital Group,
Inc. since March 1990. Mr. Williams has served on the Board of Directors since
November 1993. Mr. Williams also serves on the Board of Directors of Outsource
International, Inc.
32
<PAGE>
PRINCIPAL AND SELLING STOCKHOLDERS
The following table sets forth certain information regarding the beneficial
ownership of the Company's Common Stock as of March 31, 1998, and as adjusted
to reflect the sale of the shares of Common Stock offered hereby, by (i) each
person or entity known to the Company to own beneficially more than 5% of the
outstanding shares of Common Stock, (ii) each of the Company's directors,
(iii) the Chief Executive Officer and the three other most highly compensated
executive officers during the fiscal year ended July 31, 1997, (iv) all
directors and executive officers as a group and (v) each of the other Selling
Stockholders.
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
BENEFICIAL OWNERSHIP BENEFICIAL OWNERSHIP
PRIOR TO OFFERING(1) SHARES AFTER OFFERING(1)(2)
--------------------- BEING --------------------
NAME OF BENEFICIAL OWNER NUMBER PERCENTAGE OFFERED(3) NUMBER PERCENTAGE
<S> <C> <C> <C> <C> <C>
5% STOCKHOLDERS
Norman A. Cloutier(4)... 3,369,466 19.2% 250,000 3,119,466 17.0%
c/o United Natural
Foods, Inc.
260 Lake Road
Dayville, CT 06241
Michael S. Funk(5)...... 3,009,216 17.2% 250,000 2,759,216 15.1%
c/o Mountain People's
Warehouse Incorporated
12745 Earhart Avenue
Auburn, CA 95602
Funk Family 1992 Revoca- 2,916,100 16.8% 250,000 2,666,100 14.7%
ble Living Trust(6)....
c/o Michael S. Funk
Mountain People's Ware-
house Incorporated
12745 Earhart Avenue
Auburn, CA 95602
Richard S. Youngman..... 2,448,468 14.1% 250,000 2,198,468 12.1%
c/o Stow Mills, Inc.
Stow Drive
Chesterfield, NH 03443
Employee Stock Ownership 2,063,004 11.9% -- 2,063,004 11.4%
Trust(7)...............
Robert G. Huckins,
Trustee
15342 Sky High Road
Escondido, CA 92025
Barclay McFadden, III... 1,825,576 10.5% 917,009 908,567 5.0%
c/o United Natural
Foods, Inc.
260 Lake Road
Dayville, CT 06241
OTHER DIRECTORS AND EX-
ECUTIVE OFFICERS
Steven H. Townsend(8)... 138,509 * -- 138,509 *
Daniel V. Atwood(9)..... 76,900 * -- 76,900 *
Kevin T. Michel......... -- -- -- -- --
Thomas B. Simone........ -- -- -- -- --
Richard J. Wil- 488,730 2.8% 250,000 238,730 1.3%
liams(10)..............
All executive officers 11,356,865 64.0% 1,917,009 9,439,856 50.9%
and directors, as a
group (10 per-
sons)(11)..............
OTHER SELLING STOCKHOLD-
ERS
Triumph--Connecticut 488,730 2.8% 250,000 238,730 1.3%
Limited Partnership....
Barclay McFadden Family 406,722 2.3% 406,722 -- --
Trust..................
James S. McDonald,
Trustee
Barclay McFadden Chari- 200,000 1.2% 100,000 100,000 *
table Remainder
Unitrust...............
James S. McDonald,
Trustee
Barclay McFadden IV 1995 5,423 * 5,423 -- --
Trust..................
Peter B. Loring,
Trustee
George Stillman McFadden 5,423 * 5,423 -- --
Trust..................
Peter B. Loring,
Trustee
Thomas Morrison Carnegie 5,423 * 5,423 -- --
McFadden Trust.........
Peter B. Loring,
Trustee
Jonathan Jacobowitz..... 27,115 * 10,000 17,115 *
</TABLE>
33
<PAGE>
- ---------------------
* Less than 1%
(1) The number of shares beneficially owned by each stockholder is determined
under rules promulgated by the Securities and Exchange Commission, and
the information is not necessarily indicative of beneficial ownership for
any other purpose. Under such rules, beneficial ownership includes any
shares as to which the individual has sole or shared voting power or
investment power and also any shares which the individual has the right
to acquire within 60 days after March 31, 1998 through the exercise of
any stock option or other right. The inclusion herein of such shares,
however, does not constitute an admission that the named stockholder is a
direct or indirect beneficial owner of such shares. Unless otherwise
indicated, each person or entity named in the table has sole voting power
and investment power (or shares such power with his or her spouse) with
respect to all shares of capital stock listed as owned by such person or
entity.
(2) Assumes no exercise of the Underwriters' over-allotment option.
(3) In the event that the over-allotment option is exercised in full, the
Funk Family 1992 Revocable Living Trust (the "Funk Family Trust") will
offer to sell an additional 487,500 shares to the Underwriters. As a
result of such exercise, the Funk Family Trust will thereafter
beneficially own 2,178,600 (or 12.0%) of the shares outstanding after
this offering.
(4) Includes 167,375 shares issuable within the 60-day period following March
31, 1998 pursuant to the exercise of stock options. Does not include
31,938 shares held by the ESOT and allocated to Mr. Cloutier under the
Employee Stock Ownership Plan ("ESOP").
(5) Includes 2,916,100 shares held by the Funk Family Trust, of which Michael
and Judith Funk are the Co-Trustees. Includes 93,116 shares issuable
within the 60-day period following March 31, 1998 pursuant to the
exercise of stock options. Does not include 1,335 shares held by the ESOT
and allocated to Mr. Funk under the ESOP. The Funk Family Trust will
offer to sell 250,000 shares in this offering (or a total of 737,500 if
the over-allotment option is exercised in full).
(6) Michael S. Funk and his wife Judith A. Funk are Co-Trustees of the Funk
Family Trust and share investment and voting control of the shares held
by the trust.
(7) ESOP participants are entitled to direct Robert G. Huckins, the trustee
of the ESOT (the "Trustee"), as to how to vote shares allocated to their
ESOP accounts under the ESOP. In accordance with the provisions of the
ESOP, the Trustee is directed to vote unallocated shares of Common Stock,
and allocated shares for which no voting direction has been received, in
the same proportion as participants have directed the Trustee to vote
their allocated shares of Common Stock. The ESOT disclaims beneficial
ownership of the allocated shares to the extent that the beneficial
ownership of such shares is attributable to participants in the ESOP.
(8) Includes 58,000 shares transferred to Marjolaine M. Townsend, wife of Mr.
Townsend. Includes 61,996 shares issuable within the 60-day period
following March 31, 1998 pursuant to the exercise of stock options. Does
not include 22,437 shares held by the ESOT and allocated to Mr. Townsend
under the ESOP.
(9) Includes 44,000 shares issuable within the 60-day period following March
31, 1998 pursuant to the exercise of stock options. Does not include
21,803 shares held by the ESOT and allocated to Mr. Atwood under the
ESOP.
(10) Consists of the 488,730 shares held by Triumph-Connecticut Limited
Partnership, of which Mr. Williams is a general partner of the general
partner. Mr. Williams disclaims beneficial ownership of these shares
except to the extent of his proportionate pecuniary interest therein.
(11) Includes 366,487 shares issuable within the 60-day period following March
31, 1998 pursuant to the exercise of stock options.
34
<PAGE>
UNDERWRITING
Subject to certain conditions contained in the Underwriting Agreement, a
syndicate of underwriters named below (the "Underwriters"), for whom
Donaldson, Lufkin & Jenrette Securities Corporation, Smith Barney Inc. and
Wheat First Union, a division of Wheat First Securities, Inc., are acting as
representatives (the "Representatives"), have severally agreed to purchase
from the Company and the Selling Stockholders an aggregate of 3,250,000 shares
of Common Stock. The number of shares of Common Stock that each Underwriter
has agreed to purchase is set forth opposite its name below:
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
NUMBER OF
UNDERWRITERS SHARES
<S> <C>
Donaldson, Lufkin & Jenrette Securities Corporation.................. 1,462,500
Smith Barney Inc..................................................... 1,137,500
Wheat First Securities, Inc. ........................................ 650,000
---------
Total.............................................................. 3,250,000
=========
</TABLE>
The Underwriting Agreement provides that the obligations of the several
Underwriters to purchase and accept delivery of the shares of Common Stock
offered hereby are subject to approval of certain legal matters by their
counsel and to certain other conditions. If any of the shares of Common Stock
offered hereby are purchased by the Underwriters pursuant to the Underwriting
Agreement, the Underwriters are obligated to purchase all such shares (other
than those covered by the over-allotment option described below).
The Company and the Selling Stockholders have been advised by the
Representatives that the Underwriters propose to offer the shares of Common
Stock to the public initially at the price to the public set forth on the
cover page of this Prospectus and to certain dealers (including the
Underwriters) at such price, less a concession not in excess of $0.58 per
share. The Underwriters may allow, and such dealers may re-allow, a concession
not in excess of $0.10 per share to certain other dealers.
A Selling Stockholder has granted to the Underwriters an option, exercisable
for 30 days from the date of this Prospectus, to purchase from time to time,
in whole or in part, up to 487,500 additional shares of Common Stock at the
public offering price less underwriting discounts and commissions, solely to
cover over-allotments. To the extent that the Underwriters exercise such
option, each of the Underwriters will be committed, subject to certain
conditions, to purchase a number of option shares pro rata in accordance with
such Underwriter's initial commitment as indicated in the preceding table.
The Company and the Selling Stockholders have agreed to indemnify the
Underwriters against certain liabilities, including liabilities under the
Securities Act, or to contribute to payments the Underwriters may be required
to make in respect thereof.
The Company, its officers and directors and certain other stockholders will
agree not to (i) pledge, offer, sell, contract to sell, sell any options or
contracts to purchase, purchase any options or contracts to sell, grant any
option, right or warrant to purchase or otherwise transfer or dispose of,
directly or indirectly, any shares of Common Stock or any securities
convertible into or exercisable or exchangeable for Common Stock, other than
the exercise of options exercisable for the purchase of Common Stock, or (ii)
enter into any swap or other arrangement that transfers all or a portion of
the economic consequences associated with the ownership of any Common Stock
(regardless of whether any of the transactions described in clause (i) or (ii)
is to be settled by the delivery of Common Stock, or such other securities, in
cash or otherwise) for a period of 90 days after the date of this Prospectus
without the prior written consent of Donaldson, Lufkin & Jenrette Securities
Corporation, provided that the Company may grant options and issue Common
Stock upon the exercise of options under its option plans. In addition, during
such period, the Company will also agree not to file any registration
statement with respect to, and each of its executive officers, directors and
certain stockholders of the Company will agree not to make any demand for, or
exercise any right with respect to, the registration of any shares of Common
Stock or any securities convertible into or exercisable or exchangeable for
Common Stock without Donaldson, Lufkin & Jenrette Securities Corporation's
prior written consent.
35
<PAGE>
Other than in the United States, no action has been taken by the Company,
the Selling Stockholders or the Underwriters that would permit a public
offering of the shares of Common Stock offered hereby in any jurisdiction
where action for that purpose is required. The shares of Common Stock offered
hereby may not be offered or sold, directly or indirectly, nor may this
Prospectus or any other offering material or advertisements in connection with
the offer and sale of any such shares of Common Stock be distributed or
published in any jurisdiction, except under circumstances that will result in
compliance with the applicable rules and regulations of such jurisdiction.
Persons into whose possession this Prospectus comes are advised to inform
themselves about and to observe any restrictions relating to the offering of
the Common Stock and the distribution of this Prospectus. This Prospectus does
not constitute an offer to sell or a solicitation of an offer to buy any
shares of Common Stock offered hereby in any jurisdiction in which such an
offer or a solicitation is unlawful.
In general, the rules of the Securities and Exchange Commission (the
"Commission") prohibit the Underwriters (and selling group members) from
making a market in the Common Stock during the "cooling off" period
immediately preceding the commencement of sales in this offering. The
Commission has, however, adopted exemptions from these rules that permit
passive market making under certain conditions. The Underwriters and dealers
may engage in passive market making transaction in the Common Stock in
accordance with Rule 103 of Regulation M promulgated by the Commission. In
general, a passive market maker may not bid for or purchase the Common Stock
at a price that exceeds the highest independent bid. In addition, the net
daily purchases made by any passive market maker generally may not exceed 30%
of its average daily trading volume in the Common Stock during a specified
two-month prior period, or 200 shares, whichever is greater. A passive market
maker must identify passive market making bids on the Nasdaq electronic inter-
dealer reporting systems. Passive market making may stabilize or maintain the
market price of the Common Stock above independent market levels. Underwriters
and dealers are not required to engage in passive market making and may end
passive market making activities at any time.
In connection with this offering, the Underwriters may engage in
transactions that stabilize, maintain or otherwise affect, the price of the
Common Stock. Specifically, the Underwriters may overallot this offering,
creating a syndicate short position. The Underwriters may bid for and purchase
shares of Common Stock in the open market to cover syndicate short positions
or to stabilize the price of the Common Stock. These activities may stabilize
or maintain the market price of the Common Stock above independent market
levels. The Underwriters are not required to engage in these activities and
may end these activities at any time.
In connection with the merger of United Natural and Stow Mills in October
1997, advisory services were rendered to United Natural by Smith Barney Inc.
and to Stow Mills by Salomon Brothers Inc. Smith Barney Inc. and Salomon
Brothers Inc received customary financial advisory fees from United Natural
and Stow Mills, respectively, for such services. Smith Barney Inc. and Salomon
Brothers Inc are separately registered broker/dealers which, since late
November 1997, have been under the common control of Salomon Smith Barney
Holdings Inc.
LEGAL MATTERS
The validity of the shares of Common Stock offered by the Company hereby
will be passed upon for the Company by Hale and Dorr llp, Boston,
Massachusetts, and for the Underwriters by Goodwin, Procter & Hoar llp,
Boston, Massachusetts.
EXPERTS
The consolidated financial statements of United Natural Foods, Inc. as of
July 31, 1996 and 1997 and for the year ended October 31, 1995, for the nine
months ended July 31, 1996 and for the year ended July 31, 1997 and the
related consolidated financial statement schedule have been included and
incorporated by reference in this Registration Statement, respectively, in
reliance upon the reports of KPMG Peat Marwick LLP, independent certified
public accountants, which reports are included and incorporated by reference
herein, respectively, and given upon the authority of said firm as experts in
accounting and auditing.
36
<PAGE>
AVAILABLE INFORMATION
The Company is subject to the informational requirements of the Exchange
Act, and in accordance with the Exchange Act files reports, proxy statements
and other information with the Commission. The Company has filed a
registration statement on Form S-3 (the "Registration Statement") under the
Securities Act with the Commission with respect to the Common Stock offered
hereby. This Prospectus, which constitutes part of the Registration Statement,
does not contain all the information set forth in the Registration Statement
and reference is made to the Registration Statement and the exhibits thereto
for further information with respect to the Company and the Common Stock. Such
reports, proxy statements, Registration Statement and exhibits and other
information omitted from this Prospectus can be inspected and copied at the
public reference facilities maintained by the Commission at 450 Fifth Street,
N.W., Room 1024, Washington, D.C. 20549 and at the Commission's Regional
Offices located at Seven World Trade Center, Suite 1300, New York, N.Y. 10048
and Citicorp Center, 500 West Madison Street, Suite 1400, Chicago, IL 60661-
2511. Copies of such material can be obtained at prescribed rates from the
Public Reference Section of the Commission, 450 Fifth Street, N.W., Room 1024,
Washington, D.C. 20549. Such reports, proxy statements and other information
concerning the Company can be inspected at the Nasdaq Stock Market at 1735 K
Street, N.W., Washington, D.C. 20006. In addition, the Company is required to
file electronic versions of these documents with the Commission through the
Commission's Electronic Data Gathering, Analysis, and Retrieval (EDGAR)
system. The Commission maintains a World Wide Web site at http://www.sec.gov
that contains reports, proxy and information statements and other information
regarding registrants that file electronically with the Commission.
INCORPORATION OF CERTAIN DOCUMENTS BY REFERENCE
The Company's Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended July 31,
1997, the Company's Proxy Statement dated November 25, 1997 for the Company's
1997 Annual Meeting of Stockholders, the Company's Quarterly Report on Form
10-Q for the quarter ended October 31, 1997, including the amendments thereto
on Form 10-Q/A filed with the Commission on January 6, 1998 and May 22, 1998,
the Company's Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the quarter ended January 31,
1998, including the amendment thereto on Form 10-Q/A filed with the Commission
on May 22, 1998, the Company's Current Reports on Form 8-K dated November 12,
1997, February 10, 1998 and April 28, 1998 and the description of the
Company's capital stock contained in its Registration Statement on Form 8-A
filed on October 11, 1996 are incorporated by reference in this Prospectus.
All documents filed by the Company pursuant to Sections 13(a), 13(c), 14 or
15(d) of the Exchange Act subsequent to the date of this Prospectus and prior
to the termination of the offering made hereby shall be deemed to be
incorporated by reference into this Prospectus and to be made a part hereof
from the respective dates of filing of such documents. Any statement in any
document incorporated or deemed to be incorporated by reference herein shall
be deemed to be modified or superseded for purposes of the Registration
Statement and this Prospectus to the extent that a statement contained herein
or in any subsequently filed document which also is or is deemed to be
incorporated by reference herein modifies or supersedes such statement. Any
such statement so modified or superseded shall not be deemed, except as so
modified or superseded, to constitute a part of the Registration Statement or
this Prospectus.
Copies of the above documents (other than exhibits to such documents unless
such exhibits are specifically incorporated by reference in such documents)
may be obtained upon written or oral request without charge from the Company,
260 Lake Road, Dayville, Connecticut 06241, Attention: Robert T. Cirulnick,
telephone (860) 779-2800.
37
<PAGE>
UNITED NATURAL FOODS, INC.
INDEX TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
PAGE
<S> <C>
UNITED NATURAL FOODS, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES:
Independent Auditors' Report............................................... F-2
Consolidated Balance Sheets................................................ F-3
Consolidated Statements of Income.......................................... F-4
Consolidated Statements of Stockholders' Equity............................ F-5
Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows...................................... F-6
Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements................................. F-8
</TABLE>
F-1
<PAGE>
INDEPENDENT AUDITORS' REPORT
The Board of Directors
United Natural Foods, Inc.:
We have audited the accompanying consolidated balance sheets of United Natural
Foods, Inc. and subsidiaries as of July 31, 1996 and 1997 and the related
consolidated statements of income, stockholders' equity and cash flows for the
year ended October 31, 1995, for the nine months ended July 31, 1996, and for
the year ended July 31, 1997. These consolidated financial statements are the
responsibility of the Company's management. Our responsibility is to express
an opinion on these consolidated financial statements based on our audits.
We conducted our audits in accordance with generally accepted auditing
standards. Those standards require that we plan and perform the audit to
obtain reasonable assurance about whether the financial statements are free of
material misstatement. An audit includes examining, on a test basis, evidence
supporting the amounts and disclosures in the financial statements. An audit
also includes assessing the accounting principles used and significant
estimates made by management, as well as evaluating the overall financial
statement presentation. We believe that our audits provide a reasonable basis
for our opinion.
In our opinion, the consolidated financial statements referred to above
present fairly, in all material respects, the financial position of United
Natural Foods, Inc. and subsidiaries as of July 31, 1996 and 1997 and the
results of their operations and their cash flows for the year ended October
31, 1995, for the nine months ended July 31, 1996, and for the year ended July
31, 1997 in conformity with generally accepted accounting principles.
KPMG Peat Marwick LLP
Providence, Rhode Island
April 15, 1998
F-2
<PAGE>
UNITED NATURAL FOODS, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES
CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
JULY 31, 1996 JULY 31, 1997 JANUARY 31, 1998
------------- ------------- ----------------
(UNAUDITED)
(IN THOUSANDS, EXCEPT PER SHARE DATA)
<S> <C> <C> <C>
ASSETS
Current assets:
Cash and cash equivalents....... $ 749 $ 952 $ 3,458
Accounts receivable, net of
allowance of $1,411 and $2,283
for 1996 and 1997,
respectively................... 40,042 42,952 49,581
Notes receivable, trade......... 360 866 908
Inventories..................... 63,761 71,509 78,035
Prepaid expenses................ 2,133 4,110 3,568
Deferred income taxes........... 796 1,032 1,032
-------- -------- --------
Total current assets........ 107,841 121,421 136,582
-------- -------- --------
Property and equipment, net....... 33,218 32,412 32,723
-------- -------- --------
<CAPTION>
<S> <C> <C> <C>
Other assets:
Notes receivable, trade, net.... 1,068 995 1,274
Goodwill, net of accumulated
amortization of $556 and $791
for 1996 and 1997,
respectively................... 8,096 7,579 8,453
Covenants not to compete, net of
accumulated amortization of
$711 and $1,552 for 1996 and
1997, respectively............. 1,117 592 512
Other, net...................... 1,003 1,562 793
-------- -------- --------
Total assets................ $152,343 $164,561 $180,337
======== ======== ========
LIABILITIES AND STOCKHOLDERS' EQ-
UITY
Current liabilities:
Notes payable................... $ 50,251 $ 27,222 $ 38,603
Current installments of long-
term debt...................... 5,102 3,016 1,426
Current installments of
obligations under capital
leases......................... 526 681 151
Accounts payable................ 30,013 30,536 31,962
Accrued expenses................ 8,192 6,488 6,613
Income taxes payable............ 304 377 419
-------- -------- --------
Total current liabilities... 94,388 68,320 79,174
Long-term debt, excluding current
installments..................... 27,374 20,411 21,803
Notes payable to Stow
officers/stockholders............ 5,483 -- --
Deferred income taxes............. 407 678 678
Obligations under capital leases,
excluding current installments... 1,251 1,236 1,113
-------- -------- --------
Total liabilities........... 128,903 90,645 102,768
-------- -------- --------
Stockholders' equity:
Preferred stock, $.01 par value:
authorized 5,000 shares;
none issued or outstanding .... -- -- --
Common stock, $.01 par value:
authorized 25,000 shares;
issued 13,691 and outstanding
13,671 in 1996;
issued 17,377 and outstanding
17,357 in 1997;................ 137 174 174
Additional paid-in capital...... 6,592 51,842 50,007
Stock warrants.................. 3,200 -- --
Unallocated shares of Employee
Stock Ownership Plan (ESOP).... (3,074) (2,910) (2,829)
Retained earnings............... 16,629 24,854 30,261
Treasury stock, 20 shares at
cost........................... (44) (44) (44)
-------- -------- --------
Total stockholders' equity.. 23,440 73,916 77,569
-------- -------- --------
Total liabilities and
stockholders' equity....... $152,343 $164,561 $180,337
======== ======== ========
</TABLE>
See notes to consolidated financial statements.
F-3
<PAGE>
UNITED NATURAL FOODS, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES
CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF INCOME
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
NINE
YEAR ENDED MONTHS ENDED YEAR ENDED SIX MONTHS ENDED
OCTOBER 31, JULY 31, JULY 31, JANUARY 31,
1995 1996 1997 1997 1998
----------- ------------ ---------- -------- --------
(UNAUDITED)
(IN THOUSANDS, EXCEPT PER SHARE DATA)
<S> <C> <C> <C> <C> <C>
Net sales............... $458,849 $439,842 $634,825 $307,068 $351,359
Cost of sales........... 363,757 350,130 507,547 245,023 280,862
-------- -------- -------- -------- --------
Gross profit........... 95,092 89,712 127,278 62,045 70,497
-------- -------- -------- -------- --------
Operating expenses...... 81,355 75,059 103,885 52,148 55,577
Merger expenses......... -- -- -- -- 4,064
Amortization of
intangibles............ 2,426 793 1,060 530 505
-------- -------- -------- -------- --------
Total operating
expenses.............. 83,781 75,852 104,945 52,678 60,146
-------- -------- -------- -------- --------
Operating income....... 11,311 13,860 22,333 9,367 10,351
-------- -------- -------- -------- --------
Other expense (income):
Interest expense....... 5,462 5,524 5,481 3,268 2,273
Interest expense on
notes payable to Stow
officers/stockholders.. 507 363 495 240 -
Other, net............. (428) (360) (679) (301) (349)
-------- -------- -------- -------- --------
Total other expense.... 5,541 5,527 5,297 3,207 1,924
-------- -------- -------- -------- --------
Income before income
taxes and
extraordinary item.... 5,770 8,333 17,036 6,160 8,427
Income taxes............ 2,953 2,883 6,636 2,571 4,855
-------- -------- -------- -------- --------
Income before
extraordinary item.... 2,817 5,450 10,400 3,589 3,572
Extraordinary item--loss
on early extinguishment
of debt, net of income
tax benefit of $662 -- -- 933 933 --
-------- -------- -------- -------- --------
Net income............. $ 2,817 $ 5,450 $ 9,467 $ 2,656 $ 3,572
======== ======== ======== ======== ========
Pro forma additional
income tax expense
(Unaudited)............ 75 499 401 6 320
-------- -------- -------- -------- --------
Pro forma income before
extraordinary item
(Unaudited)............ $ 2,742 $ 4,951 $ 9,999 $ 3,583 $ 3,252
======== ======== ======== ======== ========
Per share data (Basic):
Income before
extraordinary item..... $ 0.21 $ 0.40 $ 0.64 $ 0.23 $ 0.21
Extraordinary item, net
of income tax benefit.. -- -- 0.06 0.06 --
-------- -------- -------- -------- --------
Net income............. $ 0.21 $ 0.40 $ 0.58 $ 0.17 $ 0.21
======== ======== ======== ======== ========
Pro forma income before
extraordinary item
(Unaudited)............ $ 0.20 $ 0.36 $ 0.61 $ 0.23 $ 0.19
======== ======== ======== ======== ========
Weighted average basic
shares of common
stock.................. 13,691 13,687 16,367 15,394 17,357
======== ======== ======== ======== ========
Per share data
(Diluted):
Income before
extraordinary item..... $ 0.19 $ 0.37 $ 0.63 $ 0.22 $ 0.20
Extraordinary item, net
of income tax benefit.. -- -- 0.06 0.06 --
-------- -------- -------- -------- --------
Net income............. $ 0.19 $ 0.37 $ 0.57 $ 0.16 $ 0.20
======== ======== ======== ======== ========
Pro forma income before
extraordinary item
(Unaudited)............ $ 0.18 $ 0.33 $ 0.60 $ 0.22 $ 0.18
======== ======== ======== ======== ========
Weighted average diluted
shares of common
stock.................. 14,858 14,853 16,553 16,125 17,654
======== ======== ======== ======== ========
</TABLE>
See notes to consolidated financial statements.
F-4
<PAGE>
UNITED NATURAL FOODS, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES
CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF STOCKHOLDERS' EQUITY
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
UNALLOCATED
OUTSTANDING ADDITIONAL SHARES OF TOTAL
NUMBER COMMON PAID-IN STOCK EMPLOYEE STOCK RETAINED TREASURY STOCKHOLDERS'
OF SHARES STOCK CAPITAL WARRANTS OWNERSHIP PLAN EARNINGS STOCK EQUITY
----------- ------ ---------- -------- -------------- -------- -------- -------------
(IN THOUSANDS)
<S> <C> <C> <C> <C> <C> <C> <C> <C>
Balances at October 31,
1994.................... 13,691 $137 $ 4,285 $3,200 $(3,359) $10,001 $-- $14,264
Allocation of shares to
ESOP................... -- -- -- -- 163 -- -- 163
Distributions to Stow
officers/stockholders.. -- -- -- -- -- (127) -- (127)
Transfer of
undistributed earnings
of S Corporation to
additional paid-in
capital................ -- -- 87 -- -- (87) -- --
Net income.............. -- -- -- -- -- 2,817 -- 2,817
------ ---- ------- ------ ------- ------- ---- -------
Balances at October 31,
1995.................... 13,691 137 4,372 3,200 (3,196) 12,604 -- 17,117
Allocation of shares to
ESOP................... -- -- -- -- 122 -- -- 122
Purchase of treasury
stock.................. (20) -- -- -- -- -- (44) (44)
Stock options .......... -- -- 1,056 -- -- -- -- 1,056
Distributions to Stow
officers/stockholders.. -- -- -- -- -- (261) -- (261)
Transfer of
undistributed earnings
of S Corporation to
additional paid-in
capital................ -- -- 1,164 -- -- (1,164) -- --
Net income.............. -- -- -- -- -- 5,450 -- 5,450
------ ---- ------- ------ ------- ------- ---- -------
Balances at July 31,
1996.................... 13,671 137 6,592 3,200 (3,074) 16,629 (44) 23,440
Issuance of common
stock.................. 2,900 29 35,481 -- -- -- -- 35,510
Exercise of stock
warrants............... 786 8 3,192 (3,200) -- -- -- --
Allocation of shares to
ESOP................... -- -- -- -- 164 -- -- 164
Distributions to Stow
officers/stockholders.. -- -- -- -- -- (611) -- (611)
Capital contribution.... 6,043 -- -- -- 6,043
Effect of change in year
end.................... -- -- -- -- -- (97) -- (97)
Transfer of
undistributed earnings
of S Corporation to
additional paid-in
capital................ -- -- 534 -- -- (534) -- --
Net income.............. -- -- -- -- -- 9,467 -- 9,467
------ ---- ------- ------ ------- ------- ---- -------
Balances at July 31,
1997.................... 17,357 174 51,842 -- (2,910) 24,854 (44) 73,916
Allocation of shares to
ESOP (Unaudited)....... -- -- -- -- 81 -- -- 81
Transfer of
undistributed loss of
S Corporation to
additional paid-in
capital (Unaudited).... -- -- (1,835) -- -- 1,835 -- --
Net income (Unaudited).. -- -- -- -- -- 3,572 -- 3,572
------ ---- ------- ------ ------- ------- ---- -------
Balances at January 31,
1998 (Unaudited)........ 17,357 $174 $50,007 $ -- $(2,829) $30,261 $(44) $77,569
====== ==== ======= ====== ======= ======= ==== =======
</TABLE>
See notes to consolidated financial statements.
F-5
<PAGE>
UNITED NATURAL FOODS, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES
CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
NINE SIX MONTHS ENDED
YEAR ENDED MONTHS ENDED YEAR ENDED JANUARY 31,
OCTOBER 31, 1995 JULY 31, 1996 JULY 31, 1997 1997 1998
---------------- ------------- ------------- -------- --------
(UNAUDITED)
(IN THOUSANDS, EXCEPT PER SHARE DATA)
<S> <C> <C> <C> <C> <C>
CASH FLOWS FROM
OPERATING ACTIVITIES:
Net income.............. $ 2,817 $5,450 $ 9,467 $ 2,656 $ 3,572
Adjustments to
reconcile net income
to net cash provided
by (used in) operating
activities:
Extraordinary loss on
early extinguishment
of debt, net of tax
benefit............... -- -- 933 933 --
Depreciation,
amortization and
write-off of
intangible assets..... 5,640 4,052 5,609 2,996 2,957
Loss (gain) on
disposals of property
and equipment......... (32) 34 9 6 (1)
Accretion of original
issue discount........ 530 459 153 153 --
Compensation expense
related to stock
options............... -- 1,056 -- -- --
Deferred income taxes.. 330 (270) (5) (101) --
Provision for doubtful
accounts.............. 763 647 2,112 1,529 704
Changes in assets and
liabilities, net of
acquired companies:
Accounts receivable.... (7,383) (4,073) (3,782) (6,904) (7,954)
Inventory.............. (12,029) (8,181) (7,748) (4,858) (6,015)
Prepaid expenses....... (240) (761) (1,977) 33 542
Refundable income
taxes................. -- -- -- (306) --
Other assets........... 1,990 362 (1,299) (207) 97
Notes receivable,
trade................. (265) (204) (434) 38 (321)
Accounts payable....... 6,493 (1,694) 523 5,491 1,075
Accrued expenses....... 614 2,418 (1,704) (1,883) 379
Income taxes payable... (247) 195 73 358 (552)
------- ------ ------- -------- -------
Net cash provided (used
in) by operating
activities............ (1,019) (510) 1,930 (66) (5,517)
------- ------ ------- -------- -------
CASH FLOWS FROM
INVESTING ACTIVITIES:
Payments for purchases
of subsidiaries, net of
cash acquired.......... (8,673) (900) -- -- (2,698)
Proceeds from disposals
of property and
equipment.............. 161 53 111 72 259
Capital expenditures.... (10,348) (7,791) (3,875) (2,461) (2,022)
------- ------ ------- -------- -------
Net cash used in
investing activities... (18,860) (8,638) (3,764) (2,389) (4,461)
------- ------ ------- -------- -------
CASH FLOWS FROM
FINANCING ACTIVITIES:
Net (repayments)
borrowings under note
payable................ 15,305 9,429 (23,029) (17,033) 11,381
Repayments of long-term
debt................... (2,861) (5,954) (22,276) (16,162) (6,798)
Proceeds from long-term
debt................... 9,604 6,490 12,529 805 8,584
Principal payments of
capital lease
obligations............ (252) (388) (646) (251) (683)
Payment of financing
costs.................. (321) -- -- -- --
Proceeds from issuance
of common stock, net... -- -- 35,510 35,510 --
Purchase of treasury
stock.................. -- (44) -- -- --
Net borrowings on notes
payable to Stow
officers/stockholders.. (1,574) 25 560 561 --
Cash distributions paid
to Stow
officers/stockholders.. (127) (277) (611) (445) --
------- ------ ------- -------- -------
Net cash provided by
financing activities... 19,774 9,281 2,037 2,985 12,484
------- ------ ------- -------- -------
NET CHANGE IN CASH AND
CASH EQUIVALENTS....... (105) 133 203 530 2,506
Cash and cash
equivalents at
beginning of period.... 721 616 749 1,282 952
------- ------ ------- -------- -------
Cash and cash
equivalents at end of
period................. $ 616 $ 749 $ 952 $ 1,812 $ 3,458
======= ====== ======= ======== =======
</TABLE>
F-6
<PAGE>
<TABLE>
<S> <C> <C> <C> <C> <C>
Supplemental disclosures of cash flow
information:
Cash paid during the period for:
Interest................................. $4,834 $ 4,073 $5,895 $3,406 $ 2,298
====== ======= ====== ====== =======
Income taxes............................. $2,919 $ 2,544 $5,534 $2,503 $ 4,612
====== ======= ====== ====== =======
</TABLE>
Supplemental schedule of non-cash investing and financing activities:
In 1995, the Company purchased substantially all of the assets of one retail
store and one wholesale distributor, and the capital stock of another wholesale
distributor for $6,725. In conjunction with these acquisitions, liabilities
were assumed as follows:
<TABLE>
<S> <C>
Fair value of assets acquired: $21,315
Cash paid: 6,725
-------
Liabilities assumed and debt issued: $14,590
=======
</TABLE>
In 1996 and 1997, the Company incurred capital lease obligations of
approximately $582 and $786, respectively.
See notes to consolidated financial statements.
F-7
<PAGE>
UNITED NATURAL FOODS, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
JULY 31, 1996 AND 1997
(INFORMATION AS OF JANUARY 31, 1998 AND FOR THE SIX MONTHS THEN ENDED IS
UNAUDITED)
(1) SIGNIFICANT ACCOUNTING POLICIES
(A) NATURE OF BUSINESS
United Natural Foods, Inc. and Subsidiaries (the Company) is a distributor
and retailer of natural products. The Company sells its products throughout
the United States. For purposes of segment reporting, the Company considers
its operations to be within a single industry.
(B) BASIS OF CONSOLIDATION
The accompanying financial statements include the accounts of the Company
and its wholly-owned subsidiaries. All significant intercompany transactions
and balances have been eliminated in consolidation.
(C) CASH EQUIVALENTS
Cash equivalents at January 31, 1998 consist of highly liquid investment
instruments with original maturities of three months or less.
(D) INVENTORIES
Inventories are stated at the lower of cost or market, with cost being
determined using the first-in, first-out (FIFO) method.
(E) PROPERTY AND EQUIPMENT
Property and equipment are stated at cost. Equipment under capital leases is
stated at the present value of minimum lease payments at the inception of the
lease. Depreciation and amortization are principally provided under the
straight-line method over the estimated useful lives.
(F) INCOME TAXES
The Company accounts for income taxes under the asset and liability method.
Under the asset and liability method, deferred tax assets and liabilities are
recognized for the future tax consequences attributable to differences between
the financial statement carrying amounts of existing assets and liabilities
and their respective tax bases. Deferred tax assets and liabilities are
measured using enacted tax rates expected to apply to taxable income in the
years in which those temporary differences are expected to be recovered or
settled. The effect on deferred tax assets and liabilities of a change in tax
rates is recognized in income in the period that includes the enactment date.
(G) INTANGIBLE ASSETS
Intangible assets consist principally of goodwill and covenants not to
compete. Goodwill represents the excess purchase price over fair value of net
assets acquired in connection with purchase business combinations and is being
amortized on the straight-line method not exceeding forty years. Covenants not
to compete are stated at cost and are amortized using the straight-line method
over the lives of the respective agreements, generally five years.
The Company evaluates impairment of intangible assets annually, or more
frequently if events or changes in circumstances indicate that carrying
amounts may no longer be recoverable. Impairment losses are determined
F-8
<PAGE>
UNITED NATURAL FOODS, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS--(CONTINUED)
based upon the excess of carrying amounts over expected future cash flows
(undiscounted) of the underlying business. The assessment of the
recoverability of intangible assets will be impacted if estimated future cash
flows are not achieved.
In fiscal 1995, the Company wrote off approximately $1.6 million in
intangible assets, primarily goodwill, upon evaluating impairment of the
underlying business of certain of its retail operations. The impairment was
indicated by projected cash flow losses caused by increased competition at one
location and a change in demographics for the other affected location. This
amount is included in "Amortization of Intangibles" in the 1995 Consolidated
Statement of Income.
(H) REVENUE RECOGNITION AND TRADE RECEIVABLES
The Company records revenue upon shipment of products. Revenues are recorded
net of applicable sales discounts. The Company's sales are with customers
located throughout the United States. The Company had one customer in 1997,
Whole Foods Market, Inc. that provided 10% or more of the Company's revenue,
and no such customers in 1996 or 1995. Total sales to this customer were
approximately $89 million in 1997.
(I) FAIR VALUE OF FINANCIAL INSTRUMENTS
The carrying amounts of the Company's financial instruments including cash,
accounts receivable, accounts payable and accrued expenses approximate fair
value due to the short-term nature of these instruments. The carrying value of
notes receivable, long-term debt and capital lease obligations approximate
fair value based on the instruments' interest rate, terms, maturity date, and
collateral, if any, in comparison to the Company's incremental borrowing rate
for similar financial instruments.
(J) CHANGE IN FISCAL YEAR
Effective November 1, 1995, the Company elected to change its fiscal year
end from October 31 to July 31. The consolidated statements of income and cash
flows for the nine months ended July 31, 1996 are not necessarily indicative
of results that would be expected for a full year.
On October 31, 1997, a subsidiary of the Company completed its merger with
Stow Mills, Inc. and Subsidiary and Hendrickson Partners ("Stow"), wherein
Stow became a wholly-owned subsidiary of the Company. Prior to this merger,
Stow's fiscal year ended December 31. In recording this merger, Stow's
combined financial statements for the fiscal year ended December 31, 1996 have
been restated to the nine months ended September 27, 1996. As permitted by the
rules and regulations of the Securities and Exchange Commission, Stow's nine
months ended September 27, 1996 and fiscal year ended December 31, 1995 have
been combined with the Company's nine months ended July 31, 1996 and fiscal
year ended October 31, 1995, respectively.
As a result, Stow's two-month period ended September 27, 1996, has been
included in the consolidated financial statements in both the year ended July
31, 1997 and the nine months ended July 31, 1996. Stow's unaudited results of
operations for this two-month period included net sales, operating income and
net income of approximately $31.0 million, $0.5 million and $0.1 million,
respectively. Stow did not pay any dividends during this two-month period. The
consolidated statements of stockholders' equity include an adjustment in 1997
to reduce the Company's retained earnings for the net income of Stow for this
two-month period.
(K) ACCOUNTING CHANGES
Effective November 1, 1995, the Company changed its method of accounting for
certain inventories from the last-in, first-out (LIFO) method to the first-in,
first-out (FIFO) method. Due to a number of recent
F-9
<PAGE>
UNITED NATURAL FOODS, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS--(CONTINUED)
acquisitions, the Company's subsidiaries were accounting for inventories on
varying methods (LIFO, FIFO) and using different calculation methodologies for
LIFO. In order to conform all the Company's inventories to the same valuation
method and to enhance the comparability of the Company's financial results
with other publicly traded entities, the conforming change to FIFO was made,
which was deemed preferable for these reasons. This change has been applied
retroactively and financial statements of prior periods have been restated.
(L) USE OF ESTIMATES
Management of the Company has made a number of estimates and assumptions
relating to the reporting of assets and liabilities and the disclosure of
contingent assets and liabilities to prepare these financial statements in
conformity with generally accepted accounting principles. Actual results could
differ from those estimates.
(M) NOTES RECEIVABLE, TRADE
The Company issues notes receivable, trade to certain customers under two
basic circumstances, inventory purchases for initial store openings and
overdue accounts receivable. Initial store opening notes are generally
receivable over a period not to exceed twelve months. The overdue accounts
receivable notes may extend for periods greater than one year. All notes are
issued at a market interest rate and contain certain guarantees and collateral
assignments in favor of the Company.
(N) EMPLOYEE BENEFIT PLANS
The Company sponsors various defined contribution plans that cover
substantially all employees. Pursuant to certain stock incentive plans, the
Company has granted stock options to key employees and to non-employee
directors. The Company accounts for stock option grants using the intrinsic
value based method.
(O) EARNINGS PER SHARE
During fiscal 1998, the Company adopted the provisions of Statement of
Financial Accounting Standards (SFAS) No. 128, "Earnings per Share". Under the
provisions of SFAS No. 128, basic earnings per share replaces primary earnings
per share and the dilutive effect of stock options are excluded from the
calculation. Fully diluted earnings per share are replaced by diluted earnings
per share, and included the dilutive effect of stock options using the
treasury stock method. All earnings per share information included in these
financial statements has been restated to conform to the requirements of SFAS
No. 128. For purposes of the diluted earnings per share calculation,
outstanding stock options and stock warrants are considered common stock
equivalents, using the treasury stock method. The number of shares used in all
calculations has been adjusted to reflect a fifty-five-for-one stock split
effective August 30, 1996.
A reconciliation of the weighted average number of shares outstanding used
in the computation of the basic and diluted earnings per share for the year
ended October 31, 1995, nine months ended July 31, 1996, the year ended July
31, 1997 and the six months ended January 31, 1998 is as follows:
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
NINE MONTHS SIX MONTHS SIX MONTHS
YEAR ENDED ENDED YEAR ENDED ENDED ENDED
OCTOBER 31, JULY 31, JULY 31, JANUARY 31, JANUARY 31,
1995 1996 1997 1997 1998
----------- ----------- ---------- ----------- -----------
<S> <C> <C> <C> <C> <C>
(in thousands)
Weighted average basic
shares of common stock 13,691 13,687 16,367 15,394 17,357
Effect of dilutive stock
options 1,167 1,166 186 731 297
------ ------ ------ ------ ------
Weighted average diluted
shares of common stock 14,858 14,853 16,553 16,125 17,654
====== ====== ====== ====== ======
</TABLE>
F-10
<PAGE>
UNITED NATURAL FOODS, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS--(CONTINUED)
In November 1996, the Company completed a public offering of its common
stock. Proceeds from the sale of 2.9 million shares were used to repay
outstanding bank indebtedness. Assuming the aforementioned sale of common
stock and repayment of debt occurred effective August 1, 1996, unaudited
supplementary income before extraordinary item per basic common and diluted
common share for the year ended July 31, 1997 would have been $0.62 based upon
17.4 million and 17.5 million weighted average basic common and diluted common
shares, respectively.
(P) PRO FORMA ADDITIONAL INCOME TAX EXPENSE (UNAUDITED)
Stow was organized as an S corporation for Federal income tax purposes prior
to the merger. Pro forma income tax expense reflects Federal income tax
applied to taxable income at a rate of 35% for Stow for all periods prior to
the effective date of the merger.
(2) ACQUISITIONS
SUBSEQUENT EVENTS
During February 1998, the Company acquired substantially all the assets of
Hershey Import Co., Inc. ("Hershey"), a business specializing in the
international trading, roasting and packaging of nuts, seeds, dried fruit and
snack items, for approximately $7.5 million. Hershey had sales of $20.8
million for its most recent fiscal year ending June 30, 1997.
On October 31, 1997, a subsidiary of the Company completed its merger with
Stow wherein Stow became a wholly-owned subsidiary of the Company. The merger
with Stow was accounted for as a pooling of interests and, accordingly, all
financial information included is reported as though the companies had been
combined for all periods presented. The Company issued 4,978,280 shares, which
represented 29% of the Company's Common Stock after the merger in exchange for
all of the outstanding common stock of Stow. Net sales for the year ended
October 31, 1995, nine months ended July 31, 1996, year ended July 31, 1997,
and quarter ended October 31, 1997 for the Company excluding Stow were
approximately $283.3 million, $286.4 million, $421.7 million and $116.5
million (unaudited), respectively. Net income for the year ended October 31,
1995, nine months ended July 31, 1996, year ended July 31, 1997, and quarter
ended October 31, 1997 for the Company excluding Stow was approximately $2.6
million, $4.0 million, $8.3 million and $1.2 million (unaudited),
respectively. Net sales for the year ended October 31, 1995, nine months ended
July 31, 1996, year ended July 31, 1997, and quarter ended October 31, 1997
for Stow were approximately $175.5 million, $153.4 million, $213.1 million and
$56.9 million (unaudited), respectively. Net income (loss) for the year ended
October 31, 1995, nine months ended July 31, 1996, year ended July 31, 1997,
and quarter ended October 31, 1997 for Stow was approximately $.2 million,
$1.4 million, $1.1 million and ($1.8) million (unaudited), respectively.
FISCAL 1996
In February 1996, Cornucopia Natural Foods, Inc. (CNF) (predecessor company)
and Mountain People's Warehouse, Inc. (MPW) merged in a business combination
accounted for as a pooling of interests and CNF changed its name to United
Natural Foods, Inc. CNF issued 3,213,100 shares, which represented
approximately 37% of the common stock of CNF after the merger, in exchange for
all of the outstanding common stock of MPW. The financial statements for all
periods presented reflect the merger. Net sales for fiscal 1995 and the
quarter ended January 31, 1996 for CNF were $145.6 million and $48.7 million
(unaudited), respectively. Net income for fiscal 1995 and the quarter ended
January 31, 1996 for CNF was $0.9 million and $1.0 million (unaudited),
respectively. Net sales for fiscal 1995 and the quarter ended January 31, 1996
for MPW were $137.7 million and $43.6 million (unaudited), respectively. Net
income for fiscal 1995 and the quarter ended January 31, 1996 for MPW $1.7
million and $0.1 million (unaudited), respectively.
F-11
<PAGE>
UNITED NATURAL FOODS, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS--(CONTINUED)
FISCAL 1995
During fiscal 1995, the Company acquired substantially all of the assets of
one natural products retailer, SunSplash Market, Inc. (in April 1995), one
wholesale distributor, Prem Mark, Inc. (the predecessor business to Rainbow
Natural Foods, Inc.) (in July 1995) and the capital stock of another wholesale
distributor, Nutrasource, Inc. (in May 1995), in business combinations
accounted for as purchases. The results of operations of these acquisitions
have been included in the accompanying financial statements since the dates of
the acquisitions. The total cash paid and debt issued for these acquisitions
was approximately $12.5 million, which exceeded the fair value of the net
assets acquired by approximately $6.3 million. This excess of purchase price
over the net assets acquired has been recorded as goodwill, and is being
amortized over thirty years.
In connection with these acquisitions, the Company executed covenants not to
compete and consulting agreements totaling approximately $0.5 million to be
amortized using the straight-line method over the lives of the respective
agreements, generally five years.
(3) STOCK OPTION PLAN
The Company implemented Statement of Financial Accounting Standards No. 123,
"Accounting for Stock- Based Compensation," during fiscal 1997. While SFAS No.
123 established financial accounting and reporting standards for stock-based
employee compensation plans using a fair value method of accounting, it allows
companies to continue to measure compensation using the intrinsic value method
of accounting as prescribed in APB Opinion No. 25 (APB No. 25), "Accounting
for Stock Issued to Employees." The Company will continue to use its present
APB No. 25 accounting treatment for stock-based compensation. If the fair
value method of accounting had been used, net income would have been $3.8
million and $9.3 million for 1996 and 1997, respectively, basic earnings per
share would have been $0.28 and $0.57 for 1996 and 1997, respectively, and
diluted earnings per share would have been $0.26 and $0.56 for 1996 and 1997,
respectively. The weighted average grant date fair value of options granted
during 1996 and 1997 was $6.47 and $5.84 per option, respectively. The fair
value of each option grant was estimated using the Black-Sholes Option Pricing
Model with the following weighted average assumptions for 1997 and 1996: a
dividend yield of 0.0%, an expected volatility of 46.5%, a risk free interest
rate of 6.07% and an expected life of 8 years. The effects of applying SFAS
No. 123 in this pro forma disclosure are not indicative of future amounts.
On July 29, 1996, the Board of Directors adopted, and on July 31, 1996 the
stockholders approved, the 1996 Stock Option Plan which provides for grants of
stock options to employees, officers, directors and others. These options are
intended to qualify as incentive stock options within the meaning of Section
422 of the Internal Revenue Code or options not intended to qualify as
incentive stock options ("non-statutory stock options"). A total of 1,375,000
shares of common stock may be issued upon the exercise of options granted
under the 1996 Stock Option Plan.
In 1996, as consideration for their services on the Company's Board of
Directors, four employee-directors were awarded non-statutory stock options to
purchase an aggregate of 324,500 shares of common stock under the Company's
1996 Stock Option Plan at an exercise price of $6.38 per share, which vested
immediately. In addition, one non-employee director was awarded a non-
statutory stock option to purchase 16,500 shares of common stock under the
1996 Stock Option Plan at an exercise price of $9.64 per share which vests
after three years. Incentive stock options to purchase an aggregate of 297,000
shares of common stock were also granted to several employees at not less than
the fair value at the date of grant, with vesting at various rates generally
over the next five years. Compensation expense of approximately $1.1 million
was charged to operations in fiscal 1996 related to the employee-director
stock options.
F-12
<PAGE>
UNITED NATURAL FOODS, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS--(CONTINUED)
The following table summarizes the stock option activity for the six months
ended January 31, 1998, fiscal 1997 and fiscal 1996.
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
WEIGHTED AVERAGE
SHARES EXERCISE PRICE
------- ----------------
<S> <C> <C>
1996
Outstanding at beginning of year................... -- --
Granted............................................ 638,000 $ 8.11
Exercised.......................................... -- --
Canceled........................................... -- --
------- ------
Outstanding at end of year......................... 638,000 $ 8.11
======= ======
Options exercisable at year end.................... 353,739 $ 6.61
======= ======
1997
Outstanding at beginning of year................... 638,000 $ 8.11
Granted............................................ 16,500 $ 9.64
Exercised.......................................... -- --
Canceled........................................... -- --
------- ------
Outstanding at end of year......................... 654,500 $ 8.14
======= ======
Options exercisable at year end.................... 382,978 $ 6.80
======= ======
1998 (UNAUDITED)
Outstanding at beginning of period................. 654,500 $ 8.14
Granted............................................ 292,346 $20.54
Exercised.......................................... -- --
Canceled........................................... (30,000) $20.25
------- ------
Outstanding at end of period....................... 916,846 $11.70
======= ======
Options exercisable at period end.................. 393,987 $ 7.17
======= ======
</TABLE>
The options to purchase 916,846 shares of common stock outstanding at
January 31, 1998 had exercise prices and remaining contractual lives as
follows:
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
REMAINING
EXERCISE PRICE SHARES CONTRACTUAL LIFE
<C> <S> <C> <C>
$6.38....................................... 324,500 9 Years
$9.64....................................... 247,500 9 Years
$10.60...................................... 82,500 4 Years
(Unaudited) $20.25.......................... 220,807 10 Years
(Unaudited) $22.28.......................... 41,539 5 Years
</TABLE>
(4) NOTES PAYABLE
The Company entered into a line of credit and term loan agreement (see note
5) with a bank effective February 20, 1996. The agreement has had three
subsequent amendments effective March 1997, July 1997 and October 1997. In
October 1997, the Company amended the agreement with its bank to increase the
amount of the facility from $50 million to $100 million, to increase the limit
on inventory advances to $50 million and the advance rate to 60%, to establish
a term loan of $6.6 million and to increase the aggregate amount of real
estate
F-13
<PAGE>
UNITED NATURAL FOODS, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS--(CONTINUED)
acquisition loans and real estate term loans to $20 million. The agreement
also provides for the bank to syndicate the credit facility to other banks and
lending institutions. The credit facility was used to repay existing
indebtedness of Stow owing to the Company's bank at the date of the merger and
is used for general operating capital needs. Interest under the facility,
except the portion related to the mortgage commitments, accrues at the
Company's option at the New York Prime Rate (8.25% and 8.50% at July 31, 1996
and 1997, respectively) or 1.00% above the bank's London Interbank Offered
Rate (LIBOR), and the Company has the option to fix the rate for all or a
portion of the debt for a period up to 180 days. Interest on the mortgage
facility will accrue at 1.25% above the bank's LIBOR rate, although the
Company has the option to fix the rate for a period of five years at a rate of
1.25% above the five-year U.S Treasury Note rate. At July 31, 1996 and 1997,
the weighted average interest rate on the line of credit was 7.84% and 6.98%,
respectively. The Company has pledged all of its assets as collateral for its
obligations under the credit agreement. As of July 31, 1997, the Company's
outstanding borrowings under the credit agreement totaled $6.3 million. The
credit agreement expires on July 31, 2002 and contains certain restrictive
covenants. The Company was in compliance with its restrictive covenants at
July 31, 1997.
In connection with the amendment to the Company's credit agreement with its
bank as noted above, an Agency and Interlender Agreement was entered into by
the Company, its bank and two additional participating banks effective
December 1, 1997. This agreement states, among other things, that the
Company's primary bank will participate in this credit facility with the other
banks.
At July 31, 1996, Stow had a revolving line of credit with a bank to borrow
up to $25 million due June 30, 1999. The line was increased, per the terms of
the agreement, to $28 million at July 1, 1997. Borrowings under the line were
limited to qualified accounts receivable and inventory, as defined. The
maximum borrowing base available at July 31, 1997 was approximately $24
million which was limited by the letters of credit of approximately $0.7
million. The Company had approximately $2.4 million available under the line
on July 31, 1997. This line of credit bore interest at the bank's prime rate
(8.50% at July 31, 1997), or the London Interbank Offered Rate (5.6875% at
July 31, 1997) plus 150 to 200 basis points or some combination thereof, as
defined, and was secured by substantially all of the assets of Stow. At July
31, 1996 and 1997, the weighted average interest rate on the line of credit
was 7.93% and 7.98%, respectively. Under the terms of the line of credit, the
Company was required to, among other things, maintain certain financial
covenants, as defined. In addition, the agreement contained certain
restrictions on the sale or disposition of Company assets. At July 31, 1996
and 1997, the Company was either in compliance with such covenants or such
events of noncompliance were waived by the bank. This line of credit was
repaid in full and canceled as of October 31, 1997.
Notes payable to Stow officers/stockholders totaling $5.5 million at July
31, 1996 were due on demand and carried interest at 8.25%. The noteholders
waived rights to collect these notes through December 31, 1997, and
accordingly, that portion of the notes has been classified as long-term in the
accompanying combined balance sheets. These long-term notes were subordinated
to all bank debt. The total outstanding balance of the notes was contributed
to capital as of June 30, 1997.
(5) LONG-TERM DEBT
Long-term debt consisted of the following: (dollars in thousands)
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
JULY 31, JULY 31,
1996 1997
-------- --------
<S> <C> <C>
Note payable to limited partnership, secured, with inter-
est ranging from 8% to 12% per annum payable quarterly,
repaid in November 1996................................. $4,744 --
Term loan for employee stock ownership plan, secured by
stock of the Company, due $14 monthly plus interest at
10%, balance due May 1, 2015............................ 3,074 $2,910
</TABLE>
F-14
<PAGE>
UNITED NATURAL FOODS, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS--(CONTINUED)
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
JULY 31, JULY 31,
1996 1997
-------- --------
<S> <C> <C>
Real estate term loan payable to bank, secured by land
and building, refinanced in July 1997................... 5,775 25
Term loan payable to former owners of acquired business,
secured by substantially all assets of subsidiary, re-
paid in November 1996................................... 2,785 --
Term loan payable to bank, secured by substantially all
assets of the Company, with monthly principal payments
of $50 through July 2002 and the remaining principal due
on July 31, 2002, interest at bank's prime plus 0.25% or
at 2.25% above the LIBOR rate........................... 4,702 12,000
Installment notes secured by equipment, payable in
monthly installments through 2002 at interest rates
ranging from 7.43% to 11.82%............................ 1,958 2,320
Other notes payable to former owners of acquired busi-
nesses and former stockholders of subsidiaries, maturing
at various dates through February 2002 at interest rates
ranging from 6% to 10%.................................. 3,165 528
Notes payable to bank, secured by automobiles, including
interest ranging from 6.25% to 7.25%, primarily due over
three years............................................. 54 34
Note payable to bank, secured by mortgage, payable in
monthly installments through 2001 of $6, carrying inter-
est at bank's prime plus 0.5%........................... 301 263
Note payable to bank, secured by mortgage, payable in
monthly installments of $39, carrying interest at bank's
prime plus 0.75%, due October 2017...................... 4,397 4,336
Note payable to agency, secured by land and building,
payable in monthly installments of $3, carrying interest
at 8.25%, due October 2001.............................. 120 102
Note payable to agency, secured by land and building,
payable in monthly installments of $1, carrying interest
at 12%, due March 2001.................................. 27 23
Note payable to agency, secured by land and building,
payable in monthly installments of $2, carrying interest
at 10.57%, due September 2007........................... 146 141
Term note payable to bank, secured by substantially all
assets of Stow, payable in monthly installments of $44,
carrying interest at bank's prime plus 0.5%, due Decem-
ber 1998................................................ 1,228 745
------- -------
32,476 23,427
Less: current installments............................... 5,102 3,016
------- -------
Long-term debt, excluding current installments........... $27,374 $20,411
======= =======
</TABLE>
The Company entered into a Note and Warrant Purchase Agreement (the
Agreement) with a limited partnership (the Purchaser) on November 17, 1993.
Under the Agreement, the Company issued to the Purchaser a Senior Note in the
principal amount of $6.5 million and a Common Stock Purchase Warrant for
1,166,660 shares of the common stock of the Company. The Senior Note was
repaid in full in November 1996 upon receipt of the proceeds from the initial
public offering. The loss on the early retirement of debt has been reflected
as an extraordinary item of $933, net of the income tax benefit of $662. This
loss represents the charge off of the remaining original issue discount at the
date of repayment. The Purchaser exercised stock warrants to purchase 785,730
shares of common stock during fiscal 1997 at a price of $.01 per share, with
the remaining stock warrants repurchased by the Company. Interest on the
Senior Note ranged from 8% to 12% per annum.
Certain debt agreements contain restrictive covenants. At July 31, 1997, the
Company was either in compliance with such covenants or such events of
noncompliance were waived by the counterparty.
F-15
<PAGE>
UNITED NATURAL FOODS, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS--(CONTINUED)
Aggregate maturities of long-term debt for the next five years and
thereafter are as follows at July 31, 1997:
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
(DOLLARS IN THOUSANDS)
<S> <C>
1998.................. $ 3,016
1999.................. 1,814
2000.................. 1,403
2001.................. 1,209
2002.................. 9,930
Thereafter............ 6,055
-------
$23,427
=======
</TABLE>
(6) PROPERTY AND EQUIPMENT
Property and equipment consisted of the following at July 31, 1996 and 1997:
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
ESTIMATED
USEFUL
LIVES (YEARS) 1996 1997
------------- ----------- -----------
(DOLLARS IN THOUSANDS)
<S> <C> <C> <C>
Land................................. $ 1,070 $ 1,070
Building............................. 20-40 18,441 18,642
Leasehold improvements............... 5-30 4,776 5,894
Warehouse equipment.................. 5-20 10,363 10,625
Office equipment..................... 3-10 6,945 7,439
Motor vehicles....................... 3-5 4,691 5,217
Equipment under capital leases....... 5 2,344 3,299
Construction in progress............. 337 196
----------- -----------
48,967 52,382
Less accumulated depreciation and
amortization........................ 15,749 19,970
----------- -----------
Net property and equipment......... $ 33,218 $ 32,412
=========== ===========
</TABLE>
(7) CAPITAL LEASES
The Company leases computer, office and warehouse equipment under capital
leases expiring in various years through 2002. The assets and liabilities
under capital leases are recorded at the lower of the present value of the
minimum lease payments or the fair value of the assets. The assets are
depreciated over the lower of their related lease terms or their estimated
productive lives.
Minimum future lease payments under capital leases as of July 31, 1997 for
each of the next five fiscal years and in the aggregate are:
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
YEAR ENDED JULY 31 AMOUNT
(IN THOUSANDS)
<S> <C>
1998...................... $ 813
1999...................... 616
2000...................... 498
2001...................... 146
2002 and thereafter....... 120
------
Total minimum lease
payments............... 2,193
Less: Amount representing
interest................. 276
------
Present value of net
minimum lease
payments............... 1,917
Less: current
installments............. 681
------
Capital lease
obligations, excluding
current installments... $1,236
======
</TABLE>
F-16
<PAGE>
UNITED NATURAL FOODS, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS--(CONTINUED)
(8) COMMITMENTS AND CONTINGENCIES
The Company leases various facilities under operating lease agreements with
varying terms. Most of the leases contain renewal options and purchase options
at several specific dates throughout the terms of the leases.
The Company also leases equipment under master lease agreements. Payment
under these agreements will continue for a period of four years. The equipment
lease agreements contain covenants concerning the maintenance of certain
financial ratios. The Company was in compliance with its covenants at July 31,
1997.
Future minimum annual fixed payments required under non-cancelable operating
leases having an original term of more than one year as of July 31, 1997 are
as follows:
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
(IN THOUSANDS)
<S> <C>
1998.......................... $ 4,228
1999.......................... 3,676
2000.......................... 3,036
2001.......................... 1,988
2002.......................... 1,821
-------
$14,749
=======
</TABLE>
Rent and other lease expense for the year ended October 31, 1995, the nine
months ended July 31, 1996 and the year ended July 31, 1997 totaled
approximately $5.8 million, $5.2 million and $7.1 million, respectively.
Outstanding commitments as of July 31, 1997 for the purchase of inventory
were approximately $9.5 million. The Company had outstanding letters of credit
of approximately $1.1 million at July 31, 1997.
The Company may from time to time be involved in various claims and legal
actions arising in the ordinary course of business. In the opinion of
management, the ultimate disposition of these matters will not have a material
adverse effect on the Company's consolidated financial position or results of
operations.
(9) SALARY REDUCTION/PROFIT SHARING PLANS
The Company has several salary reduction/profit sharing plans, generally
called "401(k) Plans" (the Plans), covering various employee groups. Under
these types of Plans the employees may choose to reduce their compensation and
have these amounts contributed to the Plans on their behalf. In order to
become a participant in the Plans, employees must meet certain eligibility
requirements as described in the respective Plan's document. In addition to
amounts contributed to the Plans by employees, the Company makes contributions
to the Plans on behalf of the employees. The Company contributions to the
Plans were approximately $0.4 million, $0.4 million and $0.6 million for the
year ended October 31, 1995, for the nine months ended July 31, 1996 and for
the year ended July 31, 1997, respectively.
F-17
<PAGE>
UNITED NATURAL FOODS, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS--(CONTINUED)
(10) INCOME TAXES
Total Federal and state income tax expense consists of the following:
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
CURRENT DEFERRED TOTAL
------- -------- ------
(IN THOUSANDS)
<S> <C> <C> <C>
Fiscal year ended October 31, 1995:
U.S. Federal..................................... $2,079 $ 302 $2,381
State and local.................................. 544 28 572
------ ----- ------
$2,623 $ 330 $2,953
====== ===== ======
Nine months ended July 31, 1996:
U.S. Federal..................................... $2,428 $(255) $2,173
State and local.................................. 725 (15) 710
------ ----- ------
$3,153 $(270) $2,883
====== ===== ======
Fiscal year ended July 31, 1997:
From continuing operations
U.S. Federal................................... $4,839 $ 19 $4,858
State and local................................ 1,802 (24) 1,778
------ ----- ------
6,641 (5) 6,636
------ ----- ------
Extraordinary item
U.S. Federal................................... (542) -- (542)
State and local................................ (120) -- (120)
------ ----- ------
(662) -- (662)
------ ----- ------
$5,979 $ (5) $5,974
====== ===== ======
</TABLE>
Total income tax expense was different than the amounts computed using the
United States statutory income tax rate (approximately 34% for 1995 and 1996
and 35% for fiscal 1997) applied to income before income taxes and
extraordinary item as a result of the following:
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
YEAR ENDED NINE MONTHS ENDED YEAR ENDED
OCTOBER 31, JULY 31, JULY 31,
1995 1996 1997
----------- ----------------- ----------
(IN THOUSANDS)
<S> <C> <C> <C>
Computed "expected" tax expense... $1,964 $2,849 $5,405
State and local income tax, net of
Federal income tax benefit....... 377 467 1,078
Effect of entities not taxed for
Federal income tax............... (75) (499) (401)
Merger related expenses........... -- 156 --
Non-deductible expenses........... 20 70 42
Non-deductible amortization....... 479 5 16
Other, net........................ 188 (165) (166)
------ ------ ------
$2,953 $2,883 $5,974
====== ====== ======
</TABLE>
F-18
<PAGE>
UNITED NATURAL FOODS, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS--(CONTINUED)
The tax effects of temporary differences that give rise to significant
portions of the net deferred tax assets and deferred tax liabilities at July
31, 1996 and 1997 are presented below:
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
1996 1997
------- -------
(IN THOUSANDS)
<S> <C> <C>
Deferred tax assets:
Inventories, principally due to additional costs inven-
toried for tax purposes................................ $ 421 $ 460
Rents deducted for book purposes in excess of tax....... 28 22
Financing costs......................................... 25 25
Intangible assets....................................... 221 301
Deferred compensation................................... 401 411
Accrued vacation........................................ 59 77
Accounts receivable, principally due to allowances for
uncollectible accounts................................. 281 202
Other................................................... 165 --
------ -------
Total gross deferred tax assets....................... 1,601 1,498
Less valuation allowance.................................. -- --
------ -------
Net deferred tax assets............................... 1,601 1,498
------ -------
Deferred tax liabilities:
Plant and equipment, principally due to differences in
depreciation........................................... 537 571
Reserve for LIFO inventory method....................... 675 523
Other................................................... -- 50
------ -------
Total deferred tax liabilities........................ 1,212 1,144
------ -------
Net deferred tax assets................................... $ 389 $ 354
====== =======
Current deferred income tax assets........................ $ 796 $ 1,032
Non-current deferred income tax liabilities............... (407) (678)
------ -------
$ 389 $ 354
====== =======
</TABLE>
In assessing the recoverability of deferred tax assets, the Company
considers whether it is more likely than not that some portion or all of the
deferred tax assets will not be realized. Due to the fact that the Company has
sufficient taxable income in the federal carryback period and anticipates
sufficient future taxable income over the periods which the deferred tax
assets are deductible, the ultimate realization of deferred tax assets for
Federal and state tax purposes appears more likely than not.
(11) EMPLOYEE STOCK OWNERSHIP PLAN
The Company adopted the CNF Employee Stock Ownership Plan (the Plan) for the
purpose of acquiring outstanding shares of the Company for the benefit of
eligible employees. The Plan was effective as of November 1, 1988 and has
received notice of qualification by the Internal Revenue Service.
In connection with the adoption of the Plan, a Trust was established to hold
the shares acquired. On November 1, 1988, the Trust purchased 40% of the
outstanding Common Stock of the Company at a price of $4,080,000. The trustees
funded this purchase by issuing promissory notes to the initial stockholders,
with the ESOT shares pledged as collateral. These notes bear interest at 10%
and are payable through May 2015. As the debt is repaid, shares are released
from collateral and allocated to active employees, based on the proportion of
debt service paid in the year.
The Accounting Standards Executive Committee of the American Institute of
Certified Public Accountants issued Statement of Position 93-6, "Employers'
Accounting for Employee Stock Ownership Plans," in
F-19
<PAGE>
UNITED NATURAL FOODS, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS--(CONTINUED)
November 1993. The statement provides guidance on employers' accounting for
ESOPs and is required to be applied to shares purchased by ESOPs after
December 31, 1992, that have not been committed to be released as of the
beginning of the year of adoption. In accordance with SOP 93-6, the Company
elected not to adopt the guidance in SOP 93-6 for the shares held by the ESOP,
all of which were purchased prior to December 31, 1992. The debt of the ESOP
is recorded as debt and the shares pledged as collateral are reported as
unearned ESOP shares in the Supplemental Consolidated Balance Sheets. During
1995, 1996 and 1997 contributions totaling approximately $0.5 million, $0.4
million and $0.5 million, respectively, were made to the Trust. Of these
contributions, approximately $0.3 million, $0.2 million and $0.3 million,
respectively, represented interest.
The ESOP shares were classified as follows:
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
JULY 31, JULY 31,
1996 1997
-------- --------
(IN THOUSANDS)
<S> <C> <C>
Allocated shares........................................... 484 550
Shares released for allocation............................. 66 88
Shares distributed to employees............................ (20) (88)
Unreleased shares.......................................... 1,650 1,562
----- -----
Total ESOP shares........................................ 2,180 2,112
===== =====
</TABLE>
The fair value of unreleased shares was approximately $37.5 million at July
31, 1997. Employees have the option of putting their shares back to the
Company upon leaving employment. This option will remain available until the
shares held by the Trust are registered.
(12) STOCK SPLIT
In connection with the Company's initial public offering of shares of common
stock, on August 30, 1996, the Board of Directors adopted, and the
stockholders approved, an amendment to the Company's certificate of
incorporation increasing the number of authorized shares of common stock from
0.2 million to 25.0 million and stating the par value of such shares as $0.01,
and the Company effected a fifty-five-for-one split of its issued and
outstanding common stock. All share, option and warrant and per share data
presented in the accompanying consolidated financial statements have been
restated to reflect the increased number of authorized and outstanding shares
of common stock.
F-20
<PAGE>
UNITED NATURAL FOODS, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS--(CONTINUED)
(13) QUARTERLY FINANCIAL DATA (UNAUDITED)
Following is a summary of quarterly operating results and share data.
Quarterly information shown below has been adjusted from amounts reported on
any Form 10-Q previously filed by the Company to reflect the acquisition of
Stow. There were no dividends paid or declared by the Company during fiscal
year 1996, the twelve months ended 1997 and the six months ended January 31,
1998 and the Company anticipates that it will continue to retain earnings for
use in its business and not pay cash dividends in the foreseeable future. The
comparable fiscal year 1996 information has been created by combining actual
fiscal 1996 results with the fourth quarter results for fiscal 1995.
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
FIRST SECOND THIRD FOURTH FULL YEAR
-------- -------- -------- -------- ---------
(IN THOUSANDS, EXCEPT PER SHARE DATA)
<S> <C> <C> <C> <C> <C>
1996
Net sales................... $140,207 $142,560 $149,053 $148,229 $580,049
Gross profit................ 27,831 29,334 30,287 30,091 117,543
Income before income taxes.. 14 2,659 3,323 2,351 8,347
Net income (loss)........... (755) 1,940 2,054 1,456 4,695
Per common share
Income (Loss)
Basic..................... $ (0.06) $ 0.14 $ 0.15 $ 0.11 $ 0.34
Diluted................... $ (0.05) $ 0.13 $ 0.14 $ 0.10 $ 0.32
Weighted average basic
shares outstanding......... 13,691 13,691 13,691 13,678 13,687
Weighted average diluted
shares outstanding......... 14,858 14,858 14,858 14,844 14,855
1997
Net sales................... $146,659 $160,409 $158,890 $168,867 $634,825
Gross profit................ 29,649 32,396 31,647 33,586 127,278
Income before income taxes
and extraordinary item..... 2,346 3,814 5,446 5,430 17,036
Extraordinary item.......... -- 933 -- -- 933
Net income.................. 1,292 1,364 3,377 3,434 9,467
Per common share
Income before extraordinary
item
Basic..................... $ 0.09 $ 0.13 $ 0.19 $ 0.20 $ 0.64
Diluted................... $ 0.09 $ 0.13 $ 0.19 $ 0.20 $ 0.63
Weighted average basic
shares outstanding......... 13,671 17,116 17,357 17,357 16,367
Weighted average diluted
shares outstanding......... 14,976 17,274 17,539 17,601 16,553
</TABLE>
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
SIX
FIRST SECOND MONTHS
1998 -------- -------- --------
<S> <C> <C> <C>
Net sales....................................... $173,383 $177,976 $351,359
Gross profit.................................... 34,189 36,308 70,497
Income before income taxes...................... 1,293 7,134 8,427
Net income(loss)................................ (628) 4,200 3,572
Per common share Income (loss)
Basic........................................ $ (0.04) $ 0.24 $ 0.21
Diluted...................................... $ (0.04) $ 0.24 $ 0.20
Weighted average basic shares outstanding....... 17,357 17,357 17,357
Weighted average diluted shares outstanding..... 17,649 17,659 17,654
</TABLE>
F-21
<PAGE>
[Graphic consists of three photographs: (i) an assortment of marketing
materials, including catalogs and flyers; (ii) a customer reading the label of a
natural product; and (iii) a mother and child at the check-out counter in one of
the Company's retail stores.]
<PAGE>
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NO DEALER, SALESPERSON OR OTHER PERSON HAS BEEN AUTHORIZED TO GIVE ANY INFOR-
MATION OR TO MAKE ANY REPRESENTATIONS OTHER THAN THOSE CONTAINED IN THIS PRO-
SPECTUS AND, IF GIVEN OR MADE, SUCH INFORMATION OR REPRESENTATIONS MUST NOT BE
RELIED UPON AS HAVING BEEN AUTHORIZED BY THE COMPANY, ANY OF THE SELLING STOCK-
HOLDERS OR ANY OF THE UNDERWRITERS. THIS PROSPECTUS DOES NOT CONSTITUTE AN OF-
FER TO SELL OR A SOLICITATION OF AN OFFER TO BUY THE SHARES BY ANYONE IN ANY
JURISDICTION IN WHICH SUCH OFFER OR SOLICITATION IS NOT AUTHORIZED, OR IN WHICH
THE PERSON MAKING THE OFFER OR SOLICITATION IS NOT QUALIFIED TO DO SO, OR TO
ANY PERSON TO WHOM IT IS UNLAWFUL TO MAKE SUCH OFFER OR SOLICITATION. NEITHER
THE DELIVERY OF THIS PROSPECTUS NOR ANY SALE MADE HEREUNDER SHALL CREATE ANY
IMPLICATION THAT THE INFORMATION CONTAINED HEREIN IS CORRECT AS OF ANY TIME
SUBSEQUENT TO ITS DATE.
---------------
TABLE OF CONTENTS
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
PAGE
<S> <C>
Prospectus Summary....................................................... 3
Risk Factors............................................................. 8
Use of Proceeds.......................................................... 12
Price Range of Common Stock and Dividend Policy.......................... 12
Capitalization........................................................... 13
Selected Consolidated Financial Data..................................... 14
Management's Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results
of Operations........................................................... 16
Business................................................................. 23
Management............................................................... 31
Principal and Selling Stockholders....................................... 33
Underwriting............................................................. 35
Legal Matters............................................................ 36
Experts.................................................................. 36
Available Information.................................................... 37
Incorporation of Certain Documents by Reference.......................... 37
Index to Consolidated Financial Statements............................... F-1
</TABLE>
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3,250,000 SHARES
[UNITED NATURAL FOODS LOGO APPEARS HERE]
COMMON STOCK
---------------
PROSPECTUS
---------------
DONALDSON, LUFKIN & JENRETTE
SECURITIES CORPORATION
SALOMON SMITH BARNEY
WHEAT FIRST UNION
June 10, 1998
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[RECYCLED LOGO] [SOY INK LOGO]
