Cyber-attack disrupts Co-op deliveries

Hey there, time traveller!
This article was published 04/07/2024 (452 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

A recent cyber-attack on Federated Co-operatives Ltd. has disrupted the supply of some grocery items at the Heritage Co-op store on Richmond Avenue in Brandon.

When contacted by the Sun, Heritage Co-op said it had no comment on the cyber-attack. But during a visit to the store, the Sun observed multiple notices about the cyber-attack posted at various locations and some empty shelves in the store.

One of the notices stated: “Due to circumstances beyond our control, some items are not available. We apologize for the inconvenience.”

Another notice read, “Federated Co-operatives Limited, which supplies your local co-op, is experiencing a cybersecurity incident that is impacting some customer-facing systems at local retail co-ops and card lock fuel locations.

“As a precaution, we have shut down some of our systems and brought in third-party experts. An investigation is underway. We regret that this outage has occurred, and we thank co-op members and customers for their patience as our teams work to resolve the issue.”

Dalhousie University Agri-Food Analytics Lab director Sylvain Charlebois said the incident has highlighted vulnerabilities within the food industry.

“It’s been problematic because several companies have been hit by cyber-attacks recently,” he told the Sun in an interview. “These attacks can compromise the food security of markets, regions, provinces, or even the entire country.”

The university professor said there is a need for increased awareness and preparedness.

“We don’t talk enough about it, and we need to raise awareness. Criminals target the food industry for various reasons — not just money, but also causes.”

In other sectors, he said, attackers might be after money alone, but in the food industry, the motives are often more complex.

In one case in Ontario last year, he said, a hog producer was pressured to apologize for their treatment of animals.

“This issue isn’t going away. There will be more cases in the future, unfortunately. We need to prepare and talk about this issue as much as possible,” he added.

The attack also raised concerns among customers about the potential for their data to be compromised.

Funmilola Omole, a Co-op member, told the Sun she is worried regarding the impact of the cyber-attack.

“I rely on this store for my weekly groceries, and it’s unsettling to think that my personal information could be at risk,” she said. “The lack of clear communication about data compromise from the store is also troubling. Aside from the compromise, it’s also about having consistent access to essential items. I noticed some empty shelves, and I don’t know when things will be back to normal.”

The company said on social media that it has “no evidence at this time that consumer data was compromised,” adding: “If the investigation determines that consumer data was compromised, we will take appropriate action.’”

The attack has also affected fuel services, with modified availability at certain locations. Notices posted on social media provided details: “At Brandon Bulk Cardlock: Fuel is available during staffed operating hours only (Monday to Friday, 8 a.m. to 5 p.m.; closed on weekends). Only regular gas and clear diesel are available, with purchases requiring Cardlock Cards.”

At the Minnedosa cardlock, “Fuel is available during select operating hours only. Only regular gas and clear diesel are available, with purchases requiring Cardlock Cards. Purchases via Cardlock Cards cannot be made at the Strathclair location at this time.”

Meanwhile, Heritage Co-op assured customers that essential food products would continue to be delivered, despite the disruptions.

A social media post read: “Since Federated Co-operatives Limited’s (FCL) cyber incident, our grocery store locations have adapted to ensure the delivery of all essential food products. Our food stores will continue to provide an exceptional shopping experience to our guests. We appreciate your continued support during this time.”

» aodutola@brandonsun.com

» X: @AbiolaOdutola