UNFI EDI Requirements
UNFI is the largest natural/organic/specialty distributor in North America and the primary distributor for Whole Foods (through May 2032) — the gateway to the natural channel. It uses the core EDI documents plus grocery UCS variants (875/880) depending on division (legacy Supervalu “conventional” vs natural).
Required EDI documents
| Document | Name | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| EDI 850 | Purchase Order | or 875 by division |
| EDI 875 | Grocery Products PO (UCS) | catch-weight, sell-by, lot data |
| EDI 855 | PO Acknowledgment | |
| EDI 856 | Advance Ship Notice (ASN) | most compliance-sensitive |
| EDI 810 | Invoice | or 880 by division |
| EDI 880 | Grocery Products Invoice (UCS) | grocery |
| EDI 846 | Inventory Advice | |
| EDI 820 | Remittance | UNFI-sent |
| EDI 824 | Application Advice | UNFI-sent |
| EDI 860 | PO Change | optional |
| EDI 997 | Functional Acknowledgment |
Labeling & packaging
- GS1-128 (UCC-128) carton labels with an SSCC-18 matching the ASN (SSCC mismatch is the #1 ASN error).
- Reported carton label fields: description, sell-by/use-by/pack date, case pack, UPC/supplier item code, net weight; barcode on the longest side.
- Pallets: GMA 4-way 40“x48”, shrink-wrapped, no overhang; pallet/freight label bottom-left under stretch wrap on two opposite sides. GS1 Company Prefix required.
Connection & portal
- AS2 (preferred for high volume), VAN, and SFTP supported; SPS Commerce is repeatedly named the primary facilitator.
- Portals: myUNFI / suppliers.unfi.com for item setup, promotions, invoice tracking, and deduction management.
Onboarding & testing
Reported ~2–6 weeks. Test the 850/855/856 (with SSCC-18)/810/997, then UNFI certifies. New-vendor application via the Supplier Portal/category manager (needs UNFI ISA qualifier/ID and GS1 IDs).
Compliance & chargebacks
- • Fill rate is the primary metric (~95%+); reported ~3% on the value of shorted goods below threshold, with corrective action / delisting risk if issues persist (~2+ weeks).
- • Deduction model (UNFI pays net of deductions); reported barcode/label non-compliance up to $500/PO. Dispute window typically 30–60 days.
Worth knowing
- • Primary distributor for Whole Foods through May 2032 — selling to UNFI is often the path onto Whole Foods shelves.
- • Two legacy sides (natural/organic vs Supervalu/conventional) with different divisional setups. A Supplier Success Agreement reportedly waives certain fees.
How EndlessEDI helps with UNFI
EndlessEDI supports UNFI’s core and grocery UCS (875/880) flows with SSCC-matched ASNs, and keeps fill-rate-critical orders accurate — the same connection that gets most brands onto Whole Foods shelves.
Explore EndlessEDIUNFI EDI FAQ
What EDI documents does UNFI require?
Core documents are the 850 (or 875 grocery), 855, 856, 810 (or 880 grocery), 846, and 997, with UNFI sending the 820 and 824. Which PO/invoice variant you use depends on the UNFI division.
Is selling to UNFI how I get into Whole Foods?
Often, yes. UNFI is Whole Foods’ primary distributor through 2032, so for many brands trading EDI with UNFI and shipping to UNFI DCs is the practical path onto Whole Foods shelves.
What is UNFI’s main compliance metric?
Fill rate (reported ~95%+). Falling below the threshold is reported to incur roughly a 3% deduction on the value of shorted goods, with corrective-action or delisting risk if it persists.
EDI requirements and penalty schedules change and vary by program. Figures marked “reported” come from third-party sources, not the retailer’s published fee schedule — always confirm against the retailer’s current routing guide and your vendor agreement.
