Major Rhode Island Corporation Consolidates, Moves Headquarters to Downtown Providence

Major Rhode Island Corporation Consolidates, Moves Headquarters to Downtown Providence

As GoLocal reported Monday, Rhode Island-based UNFI is laying off 121 employees.

Now, there is more news.

The company has announced that it is moving its corporate headquarters from the American Locomotive Works property to 15 Park Row West, or what was once dubbed the American Express building.

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The new corporate space is located at the base of the State House, next to the Amtrak Station.

 

Rhode Island Move

United Natural Foods, Inc. claims it is the largest publicly traded wholesale distributor delivering healthier food options to people throughout the United States and Canada. The company employs more than 25,000.

“Earlier in the fall, we informed R.I.-based associates of our plans to relocate UNFI’s corporate headquarters to a new office space in downtown Providence in summer 2025. While we are a fully remote organization, all associates from our Providence (313 Iron Horse Way) and Lincoln (1 Albion) offices will be able use the new space at 15 Park Row West, Providence, RI, for work, meetings, and collaboration. The new space will also be available for those associates who travel to the area,” said Charles Davis, a spokesperson for UNFI, in an email to GoLocal.

In 2008, it was big news when UNFI announced it was moving to Providence from Connecticut.

“UNFI comes to Providence, Rhode Island with strategic growth plans which could see the Company expand its' headquarters workforce to approximately 240 associates over the next three years. ‘We are very pleased to welcome United Natural Foods to Rhode Island. The relocation of UNFI's corporate headquarters to Providence is expected to bring good, high wage jobs to Rhode Island with more job growth opportunity to follow in the months and years to come. This is exactly the kind of economic growth Rhode Island needs to build a more prosperous future for our state,’ said then-Governor Donald L. Carcieri.

‘We are thrilled to welcome UNFI to the City of Providence. UNFI's relocation to the American Locomotive Works development on Valley Street is a big win for the state and for our Capital city. The company brings another boost of activity and development to a neighborhood that is day by day transforming itself into new hub of economic activity. We look forward to UNFI's continued growth and supporting the company's expansion in the months and years to come,’ said then-Providence Mayor David N. Cicilline.

Now, UNFI is laying off and consolidating as part of its restructuring.

The stock has jumped from a 52-week low of $8.58 a share to a close on Tuesday of $25.09 — a 192% increase.