United Natural Foods Inc. (UNFI), North America’s leading distributor of health and specialty foods, is undergoing a significant leadership change as it continues to recover from a serious cyberattack that disrupted operations earlier this year. Andre Persaud, who served as President and CEO of Retail at UNFI, will depart the company on July 25, 2025.
Persaud, a seasoned executive who joined UNFI in November 2023 from Rite Aid, was responsible for overseeing the company’s key retail banners including Cub and Shoppers Food Warehouse. His departure marks a pivotal transition for UNFI’s retail division as it repositions its leadership to support long-term strategic growth.
A spokesperson for UNFI confirmed Persaud’s exit in a statement:
“Andre Persaud, UNFI’s President & CEO of Retail, will be leaving the company. We are grateful for his contributions and wish him well in his next chapter. In the interim, UNFI CEO Sandy Douglas will oversee the retail business as we search for a successor to accelerate our retail growth strategy for the future.”
Douglas, who has led the company since 2021, emphasized the resilience of UNFI’s teams and the importance of efficiency during a July 16 business update call. “Looking ahead, we remain focused on adding value for our customers and suppliers while becoming a more efficient and effective partner,” he said. “With a proven multiyear strategy and the momentum we’ve generated through the third quarter of our fiscal 2025, we are confident in our trajectory.”
He further noted that the operational impact of the earlier cyberattack is expected to be contained to the fourth quarter of fiscal 2025. “It’s been a challenging experience for our teams and our customers, but we’ve learned a great deal and we’re emerging stronger,” said Douglas.
Headquartered in Providence, Rhode Island, UNFI serves over 30,000 customer locations across North America. The company’s broad distribution network supports natural food retailers, pharmacies, independent grocers, and conventional supermarket chains with a mix of fresh, branded, and private-label products. UNFI ranks No. 20 on the Progressive Grocer’s 2025 Top 100 list of food and consumables retailers.
As UNFI works to strengthen its operational core and retail presence, the industry will be watching closely to see who steps into the leadership role and how the company continues to adapt in the face of evolving cybersecurity and retail challenges.
