United Natural Names Spinner CEO

DAYVILLE, Conn. — United Natural Foods here last week said it has named distribution veteran Steven L. Spinner to be the company’s new chairman and chief executive officer, succeeding Michael S. Funk, who becomes chairman of the board. Spinner most recently was president and CEO of Performance Food Group, Richmond, Va., a foodservice distributor that was acquired by private investors in May. Funk, a co-founder of United Natural, had served a previous stint as CEO and had returned to that role at United in October 2005, following the resignation of Steven Townsend. More recently, Funk had also assumed the duties of Richard Antonelli, who recently retired as executive vice president, chief operating officer and president of distribution. In a research note, Andrew Wolf, an analyst with BB&T Capital Markets, also based in Richmond, said, “We consider Spinner to be one of the top operational executives in food distribution and view his addition very positively.” United also said that its current chairman, Thomas B. Simone, will be come vice chairman.

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