By Ashwani Mishra, Editor-Technology, 63SATS Cybertech
On any given morning, executives of India’s grocery delivery startup KiranaPro, would open their dashboard, and get set for another busy day feeding thousands of households.
But on June 3, the screen went dark. The team couldn’t access their Amazon Web Services account. Their servers had been wiped clean — customer data, payment records, even the source code powering their app. Gone.
KiranaPro wasn’t just hacked. It was digitally gutted.
As Deepak Ravindran, founder of KiranaPro later told TechCrunch, the breach likely stemmed from compromised credentials of a former employee. Despite two-factor authentication, hackers accessed KiranaPro’s root AWS and GitHub accounts. The damage was so complete that rebuilding from scratch became the only viable option.
KiranaPro is not alone.
From high-tech logistics platforms to centuries-old cooperatives, grocery chains across the world are under a cyber storm. And this isn’t just an IT problem — it’s a human problem.
It’s the mother waiting for baby formula, the elderly shopper finding empty shelves, the farmer left unpaid because of a logistics freeze.
Cybercrime is no longer confined to the digital world. It’s hitting us where we live, eat, and feed our families.
The Global Grocery Chain Under Cyber Siege
Across the globe, the pattern repeats. In April, Dutch-Belgian retail giant Ahold Delhaize confirmed a breach in its U.S. operations. The cybercriminal group Inc Ransom claimed responsibility and threatened to leak up to 6 terabytes of stolen data. The supermarket giant, known for banners like Food Lion and Giant, faced uncertainty and risk across its American supply chains.
Then came the UK’s Co-op. With over 2,300 food stores, the member-owned retail network had to restrict access to its systems in May after hackers targeted its digital infrastructure. The result: disrupted deliveries, bare shelves, and mounting customer complaints. A spokesperson admitted to the BBC that the attack had led to “significant” data breaches, including theft of customer information.
And the problem is growing. According to market forecasts, the UK’s online grocery market is set to reach £29 billion by 2029. But the very digitization that fuels this growth also opens new doors for ransomware gangs and cyber extortionists.
The Soft Belly of the Supply Chain
The real danger isn’t just individual retailers being attacked — it’s the inter-connectedness of the grocery supply chain. This became painfully clear with the ransomware attack on Blue Yonder, a leading supply chain software provider.
When Blue Yonder was breached earlier this year, the fallout was massive. Clients ranging from Starbucks to Sainsbury’s experienced disruptions. Starbucks had to revert to manual payroll and scheduling. Morrisons couldn’t get fresh produce to shelves. Even manufacturers like BIC faced delays in shipping supplies.
According to the Farm to Table Ransomware Report by Food Ag ISAC, ransomware attacks in the food industry don’t just affect the primary victim. They ripple outward — suppliers, transporters, and even farmers get caught in the fallout. When one node fails, the entire chain wobbles.
Why Grocery Chains Are Prime Targets
Grocery retailers sit on a goldmine of data: credit card numbers, buying patterns, addresses, even health-related purchases. They’re also uniquely vulnerable. Many rely on legacy systems, third-party logistics, and underfunded IT teams. Their margins are tight, making cybersecurity investments a challenge. Add to that the critical need for uninterrupted operations, and you’ve got the perfect recipe for a ransom-ready target.
Cybercriminals know this. That’s why they’re striking now — when AI is still finding its feet and many retailers are struggling to scale securely.
The Road Ahead: Resilience and Readiness
The lesson is clear: Cybersecurity is no longer just a tech issue; it’s a business continuity issue. It’s about ensuring that a grandmother gets her heart medication delivered. It’s about making sure a village grocer in Mysuru can accept payments. It’s about resilience — digital, operational, and human.
Solutions will require more than firewalls and backups. It will take AI-driven cybersecurity, real-time threat detection, and shared intelligence across governments and industries.
Final Aisle Check
As the world races toward digitized grocery systems and frictionless delivery, it must not forget the shadows lurking in its code. Cybercriminals are evolving — and so must we. Whether it’s a local startup like KiranaPro or a multinational like Ahold Delhaize, the battle for food security is now a battle for cybersecurity.
Because the next time your fridge is empty, the reason might not be supply issues or bad weather — it might be ransomware.
Ashwani Mishra is Editor-Technology at 63SATS Cybertech and covers the intersection of cybersecurity, policy, and emerging technologies.
