(Washington, D.C.)—Today, the Teamsters delivered a letter to the
board of directors of United Natural Foods, Inc. (NASDAQ: UNFI), urging
the board to work with stakeholders to produce an enforceable and
transparent code of conduct that upholds workers’ fundamental rights at
the company and throughout its supply chain.

Noting United Natural Foods, Inc.’s 2009 announcement with Walden
Asset Management that it will develop a code of conduct, the Teamsters
asked the board to adopt a code that is based on the International
Labor Organization standards and that applies to both internal
operations and suppliers.

The union also asked the board to enter into an agreement
guaranteeing workers’ right to join a union and bargain collectively
without influence or interference from United Natural Foods, Inc.’s
management.

“United Natural Foods, Inc. has agreed to develop a code of conduct,
and we will hold the company accountable to ensure that it establishes
a code that eliminates the anti-union abuses and exploitation of
workers at UNFI and throughout its supply chain,” said Teamsters
General President Jim Hoffa.

As a leading distributor of natural, organic and specialty foods and
related products, United Natural Foods, Inc.’s supply chain includes
domestic farm workers who are exposed to the most exploitative
conditions of work, including extensive exposure to health and safety
hazards, child labor, and exclusion from labor law protections of the
National Labor Relations Act, said the letter. The company also imports
goods each year from countries such as Malaysia, Mexico, Singapore, Sri
Lanka, and China.

“We commend United Natural Foods, Inc.’s commitment to
sustainability and hope to see the company live up to that commitment
by formally adopting and adhering to international labor standards,”
Hoffa said. “A supply chain that tramples on workers’ rights is not
sustainable.”

Founded in 1903, the International Brotherhood of Teamsters
represents 1.4 million hardworking men and women in the United States,
Canada and Puerto Rico.