Cyber Attacks on Grocery Stores Threaten Food Security and Supply Chains

We’ve all seen news reports with pictures of empty grocery store shelves and closed checkout lanes. While the cause of these problems has often come from some combination of factors like panic-buying, natural disasters, understaffing, or physical supply chain problems, there are new concerns about the vulnerability of digital systems that increasingly manage everything from inventory to logistics to transportation and more. In the near future, those empty shelves may be caused by something more sinister—cyberattacks.

From Farm to Table: A History of Digital Transformation in the Food Industry

Historically, food safety and security in the United States has focused on the improvement of physical labor conditions, manufacturing plant sanitation, and product quality control. Over the last century, federal agencies like the USDA and FDA have set rigorous standards for food preparation, production, processing, and distribution to prevent contamination and reduce foodborne illnesses and related deaths. In today’s more technology-driven world, “food tech has become its own sector with the rise of big data, AI and the internet of things (IoT).” While this shift has brought innovations such as food product tracking, inventory management efficiency, and streamlined logistics, it has also created new vulnerabilities via cyber hacking.

According to a 2023 report by the Food and Agriculture-Information Sharing and Analysis Center (Food Ag-ISAC), the food and agriculture industry faced 167 ransomware attacks that year. This was the seventh highest out of eleven other sectors featured in the study, trailing critical manufacturing and financial services. The interconnectedness of the food industry’s infrastructure also creates vulnerability, as cyberattacks could quickly spread between systems and even affiliated companies. The food industry is estimated to be worth more than $1 trillion in the U.S., and with over 333 million people relying on the dependability of this market, the stakes are high.

Grocery Stores: The Next Cyber Frontier 

A cyberattack on your local grocery store can create financial losses, threaten food security, and destabilize food supply chains. A successful attack could lead to those empty shelves at the store because companies cannot process deliveries. It could affect your wallet, too, because limited supply could eventually increase food prices. And the integrity of the food supply can be compromised if refrigeration systems are affected, causing food to spoil.

The often-limited cybersecurity resources and reliance of grocery stores on complex IT systems, especially among smaller regional chains, make them a prime target for cybercriminals to unleash attacks in a variety of ways.

Ransomware attacks using malicious software can prevent stores from processing payments, managing inventory, or even opening their electronic doors until they pay their attackers to release these systems. Data breaches can compromise sensitive customer information, eroding trust and increasing legal exposure. Attackers can also target third-party vendors to interrupt the flow of goods to stores. Point-of-sale skimming attacks, where compromised card readers steal payment data, can put customers at financial risk.

In 2023, Dole, a well-known fruit and vegetable distribution company, was forced to pause North American production and shipments, leading to a nationwide lettuce supply shortage. In 2021, JBS, a multi-national food company, was attacked by hackers, resulting in a ransom payout of $11 million.

“Food security is national security, so it’s critical that American agriculture is protected from cyber threats. No longer just some tech issue, cyberattacks have the potential to upend folks’ daily lives and threaten our food supply.” —Rep. Elissa Slotkin, D-Mich.

For consumers, limited access to food can have devastating effects, particularly in vulnerable communities already facing food insecurity. The possible panic-buying and price-gouging that might result could make it harder for families to put food on their tables. Consumers may also resist shopping at stores they perceive as vulnerable, which could result in loss of business and even bankruptcy for the company.

Building a More Secure Food Supply Chain

Protecting our food supply chain from cyberattacks requires proactive and coordinated strategies. At the federal agency level, it remains to be seen what impact the major 2025 federal staffing and funding cuts will have on the ability to introduce or maintain food safety and cybersecurity programs in the U.S.

To combat cyberattack threats, grocery stores must strengthen their cybersecurity infrastructure, including firewalls, intrusion detection systems, and data encryption. Regular vulnerability assessments and penetration testing can help identify weaknesses in systems before attackers can exploit them. Developing incident response plans is also crucial for minimizing the impacts of a successful attack. Outdated legacy systems should be reviewed and reworked as well, with modern technology and advanced cyber threats in mind.

"The legacy systems that many companies rely on today are not built to withstand the complexity and scale of modern cyber threats. Unknown and unresolved issues within the underlying legacy software will continue to expose the companies to catastrophic failure or cyber attacks." —Cory Brandolini, co-founder of Railtown 

Collaboration and information-sharing within the food industry can help stores and suppliers stay ahead of evolving cyber threats. And as knowledgeable employees are typically the first line of cyber defense, comprehensive IT training and awareness programs to educate all staff—and consumers—about phishing scams, social engineering tactics, and other common attacks is a critical aspect of any cybersecurity plan. Protecting these digital systems and mitigating these threats is not only good for business, it is necessary for our communities to survive as we further integrate technology into this industry.

Exploring a Career in Cybersecurity

Addressing the complex challenges of cybersecurity in supply chain management requires well-educated professionals equipped with the specialized knowledge and skills necessary to defend against a multitude of threats. Capitol Technology University's critical infrastructure programs are uniquely designed to meet this demand. Our curriculum delves into the specific vulnerabilities of critical systems, providing students with hands-on experience in areas like network security, penetration testing, and incident response. With resources such as our Cyber Lab and Critical Infrastructure Center (CIC), as well as our expert faculty and partnerships with leading cyber agencies, Capitol Tech empowers graduates to succeed in this diverse and expanding field.

To learn more, contact our Admissions Department or request more information.