If you work with United Natural Foods Inc. (UNFI) as a supplier (natural CPG manufacturer or brand), you’ve likely heard about changes coming to how deductions are processed starting February 1, 2026. It may be confusing at first, but for CPG brands it actually promises to be a cleaner, more predictable approach for accounting purposes.
Here’s a clear, brand-focused breakdown of what’s changing, why it matters, and how to prepare.
UNFI is shifting how SSA (Simplified Supplier Approach) allowances are collected for Natural suppliers. Instead of deducting SSA on every single invoice, UNFI will now issue a single, consolidated monthly deduction per region (East & West).
Under the new model, SSA will no longer appear as an off-invoice deduction on every invoice. Instead, you’ll see one monthly consolidated deduction, e.g.:
SSA0226ERemit (East region - February 2026)
SSA0226WRemit (West region - February 2026)
The money, rate, and calculation remain the same; only the timing and presentation change. This is essentially a timing shift and a simplification. No change in cost - but a cleaner accounting process compared to the old model, where SSA was taken at the time each invoice was submitted.
Although it might seem like just a technical shift, this change actually fixes some longstanding pain points that many suppliers experience when processing UNFI payments:
When SSA deductions were applied per invoice, mismatches between invoice and deduction often led to rejects and manual interventions. Consolidation reduces that risk.
Fewer deductions per invoice means your EDI transmissions are simpler and easier to reconcile.
Instead of reconciling SSA line by line, you now deal with a single monthly deduction, reducing accounting overhead.
One deduction with clear backup is easier to document for audits than many small adjustments scattered across dozens of invoices.
Plus, this aligns with UNFI’s broader efforts to streamline supplier fees. The SSA itself - which, again stands for Simplified Supplier Approach - was designed to roll multiple fees and allowances into a transparent, predictable percentage fee tied to purchase volumes. This makes billing simpler, even if it wasn’t universally embraced at launch.
Here’s where the change does have an impact: cash flow timing shifts by ~2–6 weeks.
Previously, SSA was deducted at invoice submission. Now, the deduction hits within two weeks after month-end.
For brands running tight on cash, this shift matters. You might need to plan your cash-flow timing differently to accommodate slightly delayed deductions that previously would have hit sooner.
This change only affects UNFI Natural suppliers enrolled in SSA. It does not apply to:
Conventional suppliers
ClearVue, ESA, or SGP programs
Promo, freight, or spoilage allowances
It's best to confirm with your UNFI Supplier Relationship Manager (SRM) whether your account is flagged as "Natural + SSA" so you’re in scope for this change.
To be ready for the transition, here’s a simple checklist:
Remove SSA allowance codes from your EDI (e.g., H000 on 810 invoices, 50 on 880 invoices).
Confirm with your UNFI SRM that your account is transitioned.
Audit your first post-transition invoices to make sure SSA is not being applied off-invoice anymore.
If SSA does continue appearing after February 1, 2026, email supplierdeductiondisputemgmt@unfi.com
At first glance, suppliers might be tempted to panic when seeing unfamiliar deduction codes. But this isn’t a new charge - just a new structure for how the charge posts and gets documented.
Think of it like moving from dozens of small daily charges to a single monthly bill.
While UNFI is easing how SSA shows up, impacted suppliers still face challenges with deductions from other distributors and retailers, especially when deduction codes appear with little explanation or breakdown. UNFI’s practice of complex deduction logic has drawn criticism in the past for obscuring the impacts on supplier cash flow and margins.
So even as SSA moves to a monthly consolidated format, sound deduction management and auditing remains essential for maintaining healthy margins.
UNFI’s SSA deduction change is:
A cleaner accounting experience
The same money you already expect
A timing shift that matters for cash flow
A win for reconciliation and audit processes
With the right preparation and system updates, this shift should smooth your workflow, not disrupt it.
Have more questions about UNFI deductions? Contact us - the Promomash team is always here to help you and your brand stay ahead of trade and deduction operational change at every step.