Major U.S. Grocery Chain Braces for Shortages as Tech Outage Disrupts Supply Chains

Whole Foods Warns of Shortages After Cyberattack Hits Key Supplier

Whole Foods has alerted customers to potential food shortages after a cyberattack disrupted operations at United Natural Foods (UNFI), its primary supplier. The incident forced UNFI to shut down parts of its systems, impacting product deliveries to over 500 Whole Foods stores across the U.S.

[IMAGE 1: Empty shelves at a San Diego Whole Foods location with a sign reading, “Temporary out of stock issue.”]

UNFI detected unauthorized network activity on June 5, prompting system closures to contain the breach. In an internal memo obtained by TechCrunch, Whole Foods warned employees of delayed deliveries and sparse inventory, with staff instructed to cite a “nationwide technology outage” when addressing customer concerns.

Shoppers nationwide shared images of bare shelves, highlighting shortages of essentials like water, eggs, and dairy. Ed Clearly, a Florida resident in Pennsylvania, posted on X: “Whole Foods shelves today were as empty as before a hurricane.”

[IMAGE 2: Shelves stripped of produce and packaged goods in Pennsylvania, shared by Ed Clearly.]

Julie Chang, a San Diego shopper, tweeted: “One of the largest U.S. food distributors was cyberattacked. Troubling how fragile our supply chain is.” Similar scenes were reported in Illinois, Colorado, and Florida.

Whole Foods spokesperson Nathan Cimbala apologized for the inconvenience, stating the company is “working to restock shelves quickly.” UNFI, which supplies 30,000+ stores across North America, confirmed gradual system restoration and expects improved capacity “over coming days.”

[IMAGE 3: A worker restocking sparse shelves in a San Diego store, uploaded by Julie Chang.]

UNFI—the largest distributor of natural foods in the U.S. and Canada—signed an eight-year contract extension with Whole Foods in May 2024. The breach highlights vulnerabilities in critical food supply chains, with the company noting temporary disruptions in SEC filings but assuring no long-term operational damage.

[IMAGE 4: A UNFI warehouse handling bulk deliveries, emphasizing its role in grocery distribution.]

While recovery efforts continue, stores have posted signs acknowledging the shortages. Whole Foods directed further inquiries to UNFI, which stated it is prioritizing restoring services. Shoppers are urged to check store updates for restocking progress.

Image credits: Daily Mail, TechCrunch, social media/X.

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