PROVIDENCE, R.I., Aug. 4 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- United Natural
Foods, Inc. (Nasdaq: UNFI) today announced that the hydrogen fuel
cell technology project at its Sarasota,
FL distribution center has been successfully completed and
is fully operational. Designed to improve efficiency,
productivity and reliability, 65 GenDrive™ fuel cell powered lift
trucks have been mobilized at the Sarasota distribution facility. The
conversion of UNFI's Sarasota lift
truck fleet to hydrogen fuel cells is expected to reduce carbon
emissions by approximately 132 metric tons annually, an amount
equivalent to the annual emissions of 35 automobiles, and is
expected to create annual energy savings of approximately 640,000
kilowatt hours. The project was previously announced on
March 12, 2010.
Tom Dziki, Senior Vice President
of Sustainable Development, commented, "We're pleased to
successfully complete this project, which retrofitted 36 existing
lift trucks to hydrogen fuel cell technology and added 29 new
hydrogen fuel cell-powered lift trucks to our fleet. We are
happy to be pioneering the use of this technology in Florida as hydrogen fuel cells not only
provide greater productivity and lower operating costs but will be
an important component of a clean energy future."
As background, a hydrogen fuel cell produces energy by combining
hydrogen and oxygen in an electrochemical reaction that yields
electricity, heat and water. Hydrogen is non-toxic,
non-poisonous, the lightest of all gases and the most abundant
element in the universe.
UNFI partnered with a number of companies to successfully
implement the roll-out, including Plug Power Inc., (Nasdaq: PLUG),
Air Products and Chemicals, Inc. (NYSE: APD) and Abel Womack, Inc.
About United Natural Foods
United Natural Foods, Inc. (http://www.unfi.com) carries and
distributes more than 60,000 products to more than 17,000 customer
locations nationwide. The Company serves a wide variety of retail
formats including conventional supermarket chains, natural product
superstores, independent retail operators and the food service
channel. United Natural Foods, Inc. was ranked by Forbes in 2005 as
one of the "Best Managed Companies in America," ranked by Fortune
in 2006 – 2010 as one of its "Most Admired Companies," winner of
the Supermarket News 2008 Sustainability Excellence Award, and
recognized by the Nutrition Business Journal for its 2009
Environment and Sustainability Award.
For more information on United Natural Foods, Inc., visit the
Company's website at www.unfi.com.
"Safe Harbor" Statement under the Private Securities
Litigation Reform Act of 1995: Statements in this press release
regarding the Company's business that are not historical facts are
"forward-looking statements" that involve risks and uncertainties
and are based on current expectations and management estimates;
actual results may differ materially. The risks and uncertainties
which could impact these statements are described in the Company's
filings under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended,
including its annual report on Form 10-K filed with the Securities
and Exchange Commission on September 30,
2009 and its quarterly reports on Form 10-Q filed
thereafter, and include, but are not limited to, the Company's
ability to successfully deploy its operational initiatives in the
Canadian market; the Company's dependence on principal customers;
the Company's sensitivity to general economic conditions, including
the current economic environment, changes in disposable income
levels and consumer spending trends; increased fuel costs; the
Company's sensitivity to inflationary pressures; the relatively low
margins and economic sensitivity of the Company's business; the
ability to identify and successfully complete acquisitions of other
natural, organic and specialty food and related product
distributors; and management's allocation of capital and the timing
of capital expenditures. Any forward-looking statements are made
pursuant to the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995
and, as such, speak only as of the date made. The Company is not
undertaking to update any information in the foregoing reports
until the effective date of its future reports required by
applicable laws. Any projections of future results of operations
are based on a number of assumptions, many of which are outside the
Company's control and should not be construed in any manner as a
guarantee that such results will in fact occur. These projections
are subject to change and could differ materially from final
reported results. The Company may from time to time update these
publicly announced projections, but it is not obligated to do
so.
SOURCE United Natural Foods, Inc.
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