UNFI Integration Guide

Integrate your UNFI account with Helm to automate order processing, synchronise inventory, and streamline fulfilment for natural, organic, and specialty food distribution

What is UNFI

UNFI (United Natural Foods, Inc.) is one of North America’s largest distributors of natural, organic, and specialty foods, serving retail stores, foodservice operators, and eCommerce sellers with a comprehensive product portfolio and supply chain solutions

Connecting UNFI to Helm enables efficient multi-channel order management, accurate stock synchronisation, and seamless fulfilment across various food categories

PROS ✅

CONS ❌

Access to a broad range of natural and specialty food products

Requires a valid API URL and API Key issued by UNFI

Real-time syncing of orders and stock levels

Product data may require compliance with food safety and labelling standards

Supports complex order types and multi-warehouse fulfilment

Onboarding may include distributor approvals and integration setup

Step-by-Step Setup

From your Helm dashboard:

  1. Navigate to Settings > My Store

  2. Click Add New Sales Channel

  3. Select UNFI from the list of available integrations

  4. Click Install

  5. Enter the required details:

FIELD

DESCRIPTION

Sales Channel Name

Enter a name such as UNFI US or UNFI Organic Food Distribution

Sales Channel Logo

Upload the UNFI logo or your own branded icon

API URL

Enter the full API endpoint provided by UNFI (e.g. https://api.unfi.com)

API Key

Paste the API key issued through your UNFI vendor or integration portal

  1. Click Continue

Interaction Settings

Configure how Helm interacts with UNFI:

INTERACTION SETTINGS

DESCRIPTION

Sync Inventory

Automatically import product listings and details from UNFI

Sync Stock Levels

Synchronise stock quantities between Helm and UNFI

Use Channel Names

Display product names from UNFI on Helm order screens

Max Stock Levels

Set a cap on stock levels to control availability

Stock Buffer

Reserve stock quantities to prevent overselling

Auto Merge Orders

Merge orders from the same store or customer

Order Importing Type

Define the date/time from which order importing should start

Final Steps

  • Click Save once all settings are configured

  • Set the channel to Is Active at the top of the screen

Your UNFI integration is now live - and you’re ready to Take the Helm

Common Issues

ISSUE

SOLUTION

Invalid API URL

Verify the URL includes HTTPS and the correct API endpoint

Invalid API Key

Confirm the API key is active and correctly copied

Orders Not Importing

Ensure the channel is active and order sync settings are properly configured

Stock Not Syncing

Make sure stock sync is enabled and product SKU mappings are accurate

If you experience issues and need assistance, contact Helm Support