UNFI updates leadership team to advance its turnaround plans

Wholesaler United Natural Foods, Inc. (UNFI), which is in the midst of a turnaround strategy following lackluster earnings, promoted two senior leaders to better advance those plans, the company announced Wednesday.

Erin Horvath, who in October was named UNFI’s chief supply chain transformation officer, is now chief operating officer. Louis Martin, who was appointed to the newly created role of chief strategy and transformation officer a year ago, is now UNFI’s president of wholesale, the company said.

“This operational team, made up of UNFI veterans and new leaders, is equipped to help us accelerate improvement in our customer and supplier experience, our operating efficiency, and digital and physical infrastructure,” UNFI CEO Sandy Douglas said in a statement. “With our transformation plan nearly complete and the realignment of our leadership teams in place, we are well positioned to become a unique value creator for our customers, suppliers, associates and shareholders.”

In her new role, Horvath will oversee project management of the transformation plan and will oversee implementation of UNFI’s digital, technology and automation initiatives. Before coming to the grocery wholesaler, Horvath spent 17 years in senior leadership at global pharmaceutical wholesale company AmerisourceBergen Corporation and has “deep expertise in driving transformation initiatives in large-scale wholesale distribution systems,” UNFI noted.

Martin has also been a leader in UNFI’s turnaround plans, the company said, as well as in developing an early-stage digital roadmap for the wholesaler. For 15 years, Martin held senior leadership posts with The Coca-Cola Company. In his new role, he will work to integrate national and regional customer organizations to lead UNFI’s “customer-centric strategy,” the company said.

For the quarter ended Jan. 28, UNFI reported its net income fell 71.2% compared to a year ago, to $19 million. The company lowered its earnings forecast for the fiscal year and withdrew its 2024 targets.

Earlier this month, UNFI said it would deploy new robotics and automation software at its 1.15 million-square-foot distribution center in Centralia, Washington—part of the greater focus on technology that is central to its transformation agenda. The facility will be UNFI’s first to get Symbotic’s automation, which provides robotic case-pick capabilities. A deal announced in September called for the platform to deploy in five UNFI distribution centers over a four-year period.

Providence, Rhode Island-based UNFI supplies fresh, brand and private-label products to more than 30,000 locations around North America, including independent retailers, conventional supermarket chains, natural product stores, e-commerce providers and foodservice customers.