<SEC-DOCUMENT>0001020859-17-000123.txt : 20170928
<SEC-HEADER>0001020859-17-000123.hdr.sgml : 20170928
<ACCEPTANCE-DATETIME>20170928162155
ACCESSION NUMBER:		0001020859-17-000123
CONFORMED SUBMISSION TYPE:	4
PUBLIC DOCUMENT COUNT:		1
CONFORMED PERIOD OF REPORT:	20170926
FILED AS OF DATE:		20170928
DATE AS OF CHANGE:		20170928

REPORTING-OWNER:	

	OWNER DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			Traficanti Joseph J
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0001328789

	FILING VALUES:
		FORM TYPE:		4
		SEC ACT:		1934 Act
		SEC FILE NUMBER:	001-15723
		FILM NUMBER:		171107717

	MAIL ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		12500 WEST CREEK PARKWAY
		CITY:			RICHMOND
		STATE:			VA
		ZIP:			23238

ISSUER:		

	COMPANY DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			UNITED NATURAL FOODS INC
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0001020859
		STANDARD INDUSTRIAL CLASSIFICATION:	WHOLESALE-GROCERIES & GENERAL LINE [5141]
		IRS NUMBER:				050376157
		STATE OF INCORPORATION:			DE
		FISCAL YEAR END:			0730

	BUSINESS ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		313 IRON HORSE WAY
		CITY:			PROVIDENCE
		STATE:			RI
		ZIP:			02908
		BUSINESS PHONE:		401-528-8634

	MAIL ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		313 IRON HORSE WAY
		CITY:			PROVIDENCE
		STATE:			RI
		ZIP:			02908
</SEC-HEADER>
<DOCUMENT>
<TYPE>4
<SEQUENCE>1
<FILENAME>wf-form4_150663010076238.xml
<DESCRIPTION>FORM 4
<TEXT>
<XML>
<?xml version="1.0"?>
<ownershipDocument>

    <schemaVersion>X0306</schemaVersion>

    <documentType>4</documentType>

    <periodOfReport>2017-09-26</periodOfReport>

    <notSubjectToSection16>0</notSubjectToSection16>

    <issuer>
        <issuerCik>0001020859</issuerCik>
        <issuerName>UNITED NATURAL FOODS INC</issuerName>
        <issuerTradingSymbol>UNFI</issuerTradingSymbol>
    </issuer>

    <reportingOwner>
        <reportingOwnerId>
            <rptOwnerCik>0001328789</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>Traficanti Joseph J</rptOwnerName>
        </reportingOwnerId>
        <reportingOwnerAddress>
            <rptOwnerStreet1>C/O UNITED NATURAL FOODS, INC.</rptOwnerStreet1>
            <rptOwnerStreet2>313 IRON HORSE WAY</rptOwnerStreet2>
            <rptOwnerCity>PROVIDENCE</rptOwnerCity>
            <rptOwnerState>RI</rptOwnerState>
            <rptOwnerZipCode>02908</rptOwnerZipCode>
            <rptOwnerStateDescription></rptOwnerStateDescription>
        </reportingOwnerAddress>
        <reportingOwnerRelationship>
            <isDirector>0</isDirector>
            <isOfficer>1</isOfficer>
            <isTenPercentOwner>0</isTenPercentOwner>
            <isOther>0</isOther>
            <officerTitle>SVP, General Counsel, CCO</officerTitle>
            <otherText></otherText>
        </reportingOwnerRelationship>
    </reportingOwner>

    <nonDerivativeTable>
        <nonDerivativeTransaction>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Common Stock</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <transactionDate>
                <value>2017-09-26</value>
            </transactionDate>
            <transactionCoding>
                <transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
                <transactionCode>F</transactionCode>
                <equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
                <footnoteId id="F1"/>
            </transactionCoding>
            <transactionAmounts>
                <transactionShares>
                    <value>83</value>
                </transactionShares>
                <transactionPricePerShare>
                    <value>44.39</value>
                </transactionPricePerShare>
                <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
                    <value>D</value>
                </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
            </transactionAmounts>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>10030</value>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>D</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </nonDerivativeTransaction>
    </nonDerivativeTable>

    <derivativeTable>
        <derivativeTransaction>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Phantom Stock</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <conversionOrExercisePrice>
                <footnoteId id="F2"/>
            </conversionOrExercisePrice>
            <transactionDate>
                <value>2017-09-26</value>
            </transactionDate>
            <transactionCoding>
                <transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
                <transactionCode>A</transactionCode>
                <equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
                <footnoteId id="F3"/>
            </transactionCoding>
            <transactionAmounts>
                <transactionShares>
                    <value>3424</value>
                </transactionShares>
                <transactionPricePerShare>
                    <value>0</value>
                </transactionPricePerShare>
                <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
                    <value>A</value>
                </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
            </transactionAmounts>
            <exerciseDate>
                <footnoteId id="F2"/>
            </exerciseDate>
            <expirationDate>
                <footnoteId id="F2"/>
            </expirationDate>
            <underlyingSecurity>
                <underlyingSecurityTitle>
                    <value>Common Stock</value>
                </underlyingSecurityTitle>
                <underlyingSecurityShares>
                    <value>3424.0</value>
                </underlyingSecurityShares>
            </underlyingSecurity>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>13485</value>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>D</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </derivativeTransaction>
    </derivativeTable>

    <footnotes>
        <footnote id="F1">As described in footnote 3, on September 26, 2017, the reporting person became entitled to receive 3,507 shares of United Natural Foods, Inc. (the &quot;Company&quot;) common stock in settlement of a like number of performance units. The Company retained 83 of these shares on that date to satisfy certain tax withholding obligations in connection with the vesting.</footnote>
        <footnote id="F2">The security converts to common stock on a one-for-one basis subject to the terms of the United Natural Foods, Inc. Deferred Compensation Plan.</footnote>
        <footnote id="F3">On September 21, 2016, the reporting person was granted 3,490 performance units eligible to vest at target levels of performance (with vesting of more or less shares possible based on actual performance)  based on the extent to which certain EPS, Adjusted EBITDA, Adjusted ROIC and total shareholder return performance targets were met for fiscal 2017.  Based upon the Company's performance against the applicable performance targets, 3,507 performance units subject to such criteria vested on September 26, 2017, resulting in the issuance of 3,507 shares of the Company's common stock to the reporting person. The reporting person had previously elected to defer 100% of the shares vested to the Company's Deferred Compensation Plan.</footnote>
    </footnotes>

    <remarks></remarks>

    <ownerSignature>
        <signatureName>Joseph McGrail, Power-of-Attorney, in fact</signatureName>
        <signatureDate>2017-09-28</signatureDate>
    </ownerSignature>
</ownershipDocument>
</XML>
</TEXT>
</DOCUMENT>
</SEC-DOCUMENT>
