** Shares of grocery wholesaler United Natural Foods UNFI.N up ~7% at $26.38 premarket
** Co posts surprise Q1 profit of 16 cents/share, compared with analysts' estimates of a loss of 2 cents/share, as per data compiled by LSEG
** Reports quarterly net sales of $7.87 bln vs estimates of $7.61 bln, owing to 2% rise in wholesale unit volumes
** Raises FY25 annual sales forecast, betting on positive volume trends
** Expects annual net sales to be between $30.6 bln and $31 bln vs prior forecast range of $30.3 bln to $30.8 bln
** Sees fiscal 2025 adj. EPS in the range of 40-80 cents vs prior forecast of 20-80 cents
** Up to last close, stock up about 52% YTD
(Reporting by Anuja Bharat Mistry in Bengaluru)
((AnujaBharat.Mistry@thomsonreuters.com))