CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENT OF STOCKHOLDERS' EQUITY - USD ($) shares in Thousands, $ in Thousands	Total	Common Stock	Treasury Stock	Additional Paid-in Capital	Accumulated Other Comprehensive Loss	Retained Earnings	Total United Natural Foods, Inc. Stockholders’ Equity	Noncontrolling Interests
Beginning Balance at Jul. 28, 2018	$ 1,845,955	$ 510	$ (24,231)	$ 483,623	$ (14,179)	$ 1,400,232	$ 1,845,955	$ 0
Beginning Balance (shares) at Jul. 28, 2018		51,025	615
Increase (Decrease) in Stockholders' Equity [Roll Forward]
Cumulative effect of change in accounting principle | Accounting Standards Update 2014-09	277					277	277
Restricted stock vestings and stock option exercises (shares)		434
Restricted stock vestings and stock option exercises	(3,134)	$ 4		(3,138)			(3,134)
Share-based compensation	18,827			18,827			18,827
Other/share-based compensation	403			403			403
Other comprehensive loss	(29,206)				(29,206)		(29,206)
Acquisition of noncontrolling interests	(1,633)							(1,633)
Distributions to noncontrolling interests	(255)							(255)
Proceeds from issuance of common stock, net (shares)		260
Proceeds from issuance of common stock, net	3,021	$ 3		3,018			3,021
Net income (loss)	(304,043)					(303,927)	(303,927)	(116)
Ending Balance at Apr. 27, 2019	1,530,212	$ 517	$ (24,231)	502,733	(43,385)	1,096,582	1,532,216	(2,004)
Ending Balance (shares) at Apr. 27, 2019		51,719	615
Beginning Balance at Jan. 26, 2019	1,483,368	$ 514	$ (24,231)	495,514	(25,863)	1,039,490	1,485,424	(2,056)
Beginning Balance (shares) at Jan. 26, 2019		51,433	615
Increase (Decrease) in Stockholders' Equity [Roll Forward]
Restricted stock vestings and stock option exercises (shares)		26
Restricted stock vestings and stock option exercises	(115)			(115)			(115)
Share-based compensation	4,316			4,316			4,316
Other comprehensive loss	(17,522)				(17,522)		(17,522)
Proceeds from issuance of common stock, net (shares)		260
Proceeds from issuance of common stock, net	3,021	$ 3		3,018			3,021
Net income (loss)	57,144					57,092	57,092	52
Ending Balance at Apr. 27, 2019	1,530,212	$ 517	$ (24,231)	502,733	(43,385)	1,096,582	1,532,216	(2,004)
Ending Balance (shares) at Apr. 27, 2019		51,719	615
Beginning Balance at Aug. 03, 2019	$ 1,510,934	$ 535	$ (24,231)	530,801	(108,953)	1,115,519	1,513,671	(2,737)
Beginning Balance (shares) at Aug. 03, 2019	52,886	53,501	615
Increase (Decrease) in Stockholders' Equity [Roll Forward]
Cumulative effect of change in accounting principle | Accounting Standards Update 2016-02	$ (2,613)					(2,613)	(2,613)
Restricted stock vestings and stock option exercises (shares)		464
Restricted stock vestings and stock option exercises	(1,015)	$ 5		(1,020)			(1,015)
Share-based compensation	15,088			15,088			15,088
Other comprehensive loss	(42,692)				(42,692)		(42,692)
Distributions to noncontrolling interests	(2,525)							(2,525)
Proceeds from issuance of common stock, net (shares)		1,327
Proceeds from issuance of common stock, net	13,882	$ 13		13,869			13,882
Net income (loss)	(323,099)					(326,506)	(326,506)	3,407
Ending Balance at May. 02, 2020	$ 1,167,960	$ 553	$ (24,231)	558,738	(151,645)	786,400	1,169,815	(1,855)
Ending Balance (shares) at May. 02, 2020	54,677	55,292	615
Beginning Balance at Feb. 01, 2020	$ 1,099,094	$ 542	$ (24,231)	535,900	(108,420)	698,269	1,102,060	(2,966)
Beginning Balance (shares) at Feb. 01, 2020		54,175	615
Increase (Decrease) in Stockholders' Equity [Roll Forward]
Restricted stock vestings and stock option exercises (shares)		21
Restricted stock vestings and stock option exercises	(143)	$ 0		(143)			(143)
Share-based compensation	11,137			11,137			11,137
Other comprehensive loss	(43,225)				(43,225)		(43,225)
Distributions to noncontrolling interests	(1,127)							(1,127)
Proceeds from issuance of common stock, net (shares)		1,096
Proceeds from issuance of common stock, net	11,855	$ 11		11,844			11,855
Net income (loss)	90,369					88,131	88,131	2,238
Ending Balance at May. 02, 2020	$ 1,167,960	$ 553	$ (24,231)	$ 558,738	$ (151,645)	$ 786,400	$ 1,169,815	$ (1,855)
Ending Balance (shares) at May. 02, 2020	54,677	55,292	615