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UNFI names Matt Whitney chief strategy and innovation officer

With promotion, Whitney will oversee Professional Services, eCommerce units for grocery wholesaler

Michael Browne, Executive Editor

May 12, 2021

1 Min Read
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Matt Whitney joined UNFI in early 2020 as senior vice president of sales strategy and business transformation leading the company’s Value Path initiative.UNFI

United Natural Foods Inc. (UNFI) has promoted Matt Whitney to chief strategy and innovation officer effective immediately, the grocery wholesaler announced Wednesday.

In this new role, Whitney will be responsible for leading the company’s Professional Services and eCommerce business units while also developing new business models, pursuing innovation opportunities and implementing several ongoing strategic initiatives to complement UNFI’s base wholesale business.

Matt Whitney headshot.jpg

Whitney (left) joined UNFI in early 2020 as senior vice president of sales strategy and business transformation leading the company’s Value Path initiative, a cross-functional effort to identify sales growth, product efficiencies and cost-containment opportunities.

Prior to joining UNFI, Whitney was the corporate vice president of field transformation at Sysco, where he also served as EVP of the Boston division, and head of the integration management office for Sysco’s proposed acquisition of US Foods. Earlier in his career, Whitney worked in strategy consulting and mergers & acquisitions. He holds a bachelor’s degree from Tufts University, and an MBA from the Tuck School of Business at Dartmouth College.

“UNFI is focused on innovation and finding new ways to support our customers beyond a traditional distribution model,” said Chris Testa, UNFI President. “Our Professional Services and e-commerce teams are two critical growth vehicles that help make our customers stronger, more differentiated, and under Matt’s leadership these teams will help them continue to grow and flourish. His cross-functional leadership, business acumen and strong strategic thinking will help us deliver results and ensure we are best positioned for future growth.”

Related:UNFI launches online wholesale digital marketplace

The nation’s largest publicly traded grocery distributor, UNFI supplies more than 250,000 items to 30,000 retailers in the United States and Canada, including natural product superstores, independent retailers, conventional supermarket chains, e-commerce retailers and foodservice providers.

About the Author

Michael Browne

Executive Editor, Supermarket News

Michael Browne joined Supermarket News in 2018 after serving in managing and executive editor capacities at leading B2B media brands including Convenience Store NewsLicense Global and Travel Agent. He also previously served as content production manager for print and digital in the Business Intelligence division of Informa, parent company of Supermarket News and Nation’s Restaurant News.

As executive editor, Mike oversees the editorial content of supermarketnews.com as well as the monthly print publication. He also directs all content-based brand-related projects including the annual Top 75 Retailers report, Category Guide, Retailer of the Year, research surveys and special reports, as well as podcast and webinar content. Mike has also presented and moderated at industry events.

In addition to the positions mentioned above, Mike has also worked as a writer and/or editor for special projects at American Legal Media (ALM), managing editor for Tobacco International, special projects editor at American Banker • Bond Buyer, and as production editor for Bank Technology News and other related financial magazines and journals published by Faulkner & Gray.

A graduate of Fordham University, Mike is based in New York City, where he was born and raised.

Contact Mike at [email protected] or follow him on Twitter and LinkedIn.

 

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