Empty shelves plague some Whole Foods after distributor knocked offline

CNN ^ | 6/10/25 | Matt Egan

[CFW]

Whole Foods employees say a major cyberattack on a leading distributor has left some store shelves and freezers empty.

“Our frozen cooler is empty, our bread hearth is bare and customers are increasingly upset,” one barista and bakery employee at a Whole Foods located in Arkansas told CNN.

The employee, who requested anonymity because she was not authorized to speak to the media, complained there is a “complete lack of transparency” about the disruption and that “nearly every department has been heavily impacted.”

United Natural Foods, the primary food distributor to Whole Foods, disclosed the damaging cyberattack and disruption to its business on Monday, sending its stock plunging 7%. UNFI (UNFI) shares sank more than 10% on Tuesday, leaving it down about 17% since disclosing the cyberattack

It’s unclear how widespread the supply disruptions to Whole Foods are, but an update from UNFI on Tuesday suggests significant problems. The company said it’s currently shipping to customers only on a “limited basis.”

Whole Foods would not provide details on how many of its locations have been impacted by the cyberattack. However, a Whole Foods spokesperson told CNN that the Amazon-owned grocery store is working to restock shelves as quickly as possible and apologized to customers for any inconvenience.

The Whole Foods barista from Arkansas shared photos with CNN that showed thinly stocked shelves.

“We’ve spent time deep-cleaning our freezers – an unusual task – simply because our normally overstocked freezers are now completely bare,” the Whole Foods employee said.

Another Whole Foods employee who spoke to CNN on condition of anonymity said her California location has been unable to accept or process orders. “We’ve had quite a few customer complaints,” the employee told CNN.

Multiple customers and apparent employees on social media reported empty shelves and delivery problems

[CFW]

It's interesting. I did a search to see if this had been posted, and came up with this article from 2018.

"Pictures show empty shelves at Whole Foods stores across the country, thanks to their new policy"

Shortages at Whole Foods

[ProtectOurFreedom]

Wow, ONE distributor gets hit with a cyberattack and the retailer shelves are empty a couple days later.

This perfectly demonstrates how fragile our entire production, distribution, warehousing and retail systems are.

If you want a REAL fright on this, read "One Second After." An EMP devices shuts down all manufacturing, electricity, natural gas, pharmaceuticals, and most transportation. Complete chaos ensues shortly afterward, then the marauding bands of criminals quickly get established to help themselves to anything you laid in for your family. Talk about UGLY real fast.

In this scenario, people actually WELCOME the federales to restore order in society, but it takes forever.

[faithhopecharity]

Damn!
we are hoping that the cops catch whoever is doing these attacks

the harm done by Communist China or local Useful Idiots, or Moslem terrorists, or “regular” criminal gangsters, or kids playing at the keyboard of mama’s basement computer....the harms are quite widespread....not to mention they’re screwing around with our country’s food distribution system too.

[Fledermaus]

There is so much merchandise in one Whole Foods I have a hard time believing it could be wiped out in 2 days.

If it’s Amazon owned, why not just use Prime? 😆

[CFW]

I remember watching One Second After. Just-in-time inventory is not a great business and food distribution plan when every business is depending on computers to manage their inventory. Cyber-attacks can shut it all down in a matter of a couple of days.

[Zathras]

“Whole Paycheck”

[SaveFerris]

Not Quite Whole Foods?

[ProtectOurFreedom]

The whole store wasn’t wiped out. It sounds like specific items this supplier provides. But, still, it shows the fragility of the food distribution system.

[Adder]

Something similar happened to The Fresh Market. Not sure if it’s the same distributor, but they were out of a lot of stuff because of a distributor or a computer glitch. I got both tales.
So no BOGO bacon and no $4/lb chicken breast this week. Among other shortages but those were what I wanted.

[KC_Conspirator]

I hope they recover quickly. I shopped there a few times. There is a reason they call it Wholepaycheck.

[KC_Conspirator]

Yep

[Mr Radical]

Same thing happened just recently here in Britain: retailers Marks & Spencer and the Co-op were hit by ransom-hackers. Their distribution was severly disrupted for weeks which resulted in a halt in online sales as wells as gaps on the food shelves. Wonder if it is the same people responsible.