United Natural Foods Inc. (UNFI) has announced a sweeping realignment of its executive leadership team, making changes across finance, operations, commercial leadership and supply chain management as the grocery wholesaler positions itself for what President and CEO Sandy Douglas called the company’s “next chapter of value creation.”
The most significant move sees Giorgio “Matteo” Tarditi transition from president and chief financial officer to president and chief operating officer, expanding his responsibilities from financial oversight to the company’s day-to-day operations. Succeeding him as chief financial officer is Alfredo Luchini, who joins UNFI from Carrier Climate Solutions Americas and is expected to assume the role in early August.
The company also announced that Louis Martin will continue as chief commercial officer, concentrating exclusively on leading UNFI’s commercial organization after relinquishing his additional title as president of Conventional Grocery Products. Meanwhile, Mark Bushway, chief supply chain officer and president of Natural, Organic, Specialty & Fresh Products, will remain with the company through the remainder of the year before departing effective Jan. 1, 2027.
Douglas said the leadership changes are designed to strengthen the company’s ability to execute its long-term strategy by aligning executive responsibilities with UNFI’s evolving business priorities. The appointments build on the company’s efforts to simplify decision-making, sharpen operational execution and better position the organization for sustainable growth.
These Moves Come at a Critical Time
The executive overhaul comes during a pivotal period for the Providence, R.I.-based distributor. Earlier this year, UNFI reported stronger-than-expected quarterly results driven by improved operational execution and expense discipline. Shortly afterward, the company navigated a significant cybersecurity incident that temporarily disrupted ordering and distribution before restoring service levels across its network.
For independent grocers throughout the Northeast and Mid-Atlantic, the leadership changes carry particular significance. As one of North America’s largest grocery wholesalers, UNFI plays a central role in supplying thousands of supermarkets, regional chains and natural food retailers. Changes in executive leadership overseeing operations, finance, commercial strategy and supply chain management can ultimately influence everything from distribution efficiency and merchandising programs to customer service and long-term investment priorities.
The restructuring also reflects a broader trend across the grocery industry, where distributors and retailers alike are increasingly aligning leadership teams around operational excellence, technology investments and disciplined execution rather than rapid expansion. By separating financial leadership from operational leadership while sharpening commercial accountability, UNFI appears to be creating a structure designed to support faster decision-making and stronger cross-functional execution.
While executive transitions are common, the breadth of UNFI’s latest changes signals more than routine succession planning. Together, the appointments suggest the company believes it has moved beyond stabilization and is now building the leadership structure needed to support the next phase of its transformation.