Main US grocery distributor warns of disruption after cyberattack

United Pure Meals (UNFI), a serious distributor of groceries to Entire Meals and different retailers, mentioned on Monday that it was hit by a cyberattack, warning of disruptions to its potential to satisfy and distribute buyer orders. 

UNFI mentioned in a Monday submitting with the U.S. Securities and Change Fee that it grew to become conscious of unauthorized entry to its IT programs final Thursday, and started shutting down parts of its community. The submitting added that the corporate has “applied workarounds for sure operations so as to proceed servicing its clients the place potential,” however famous that the intrusion has prompted ongoing disruptions to its enterprise operations.

The Windfall, RI-based firm is without doubt one of the largest grocery distributors in North America, promoting contemporary produce, items and meals merchandise to greater than 30,000 shops and grocery store places throughout the U.S. and Canada.

UNFI additionally serves because the “major distributor” to Entire Meals, the Amazon-owned grocery chain. Final 12 months, the 2 firms prolonged their long-running contract till Could 2032. 

When reached by TechCrunch, UNFI spokesperson Kristen Jimenez wouldn’t describe the character of the cyberattack or say if the intruder had demanded a ransom from the corporate.

“We’re assessing the unauthorized exercise and dealing to revive our programs to securely deliver them again on-line,” mentioned Jimenez, including that the incident was reported to legislation enforcement.

A spokesperson for Entire Meals didn’t instantly return a request for touch upon Monday. 

The incident at UNFI is the most recent in a string of cyberattacks affecting the broader retail and grocery provide chain in latest months. Following the information breaches at U.Okay. retail giants Marks & Spencer and the Co-op, Google warned that hackers had been additionally focusing on U.S. retailers, although it didn’t identify the affected firms.

When requested, UNFI didn’t say when it expects to get better its programs.

Are you aware extra in regards to the cyberattack at UNFI? Are you a company buyer affected by the disruption? You may securely contact this reporter through encrypted message at zackwhittaker.1337 on Sign.