Stop & Shop Recently Experienced a Cybersecurity Attack. Here’s How They’ve Made It up to Customers

Stop & Shop was recently the victim of a cybersecurity attack. This attack, which affected at least 27 locations in the Northeast, left many shelves empty for almost two weeks, according to NBC News. Here’s how the grocery chain made it up to customers.

Stop & Shop’s Cybersecurity Attack: What We Know

Officials at Stop & Shop told CT Insider that stores are stocked and “largely recovered” following a computer hack earlier this month that left their pharmacy and food distribution computer networks in ruins and their aisles barren at many locations.

The corporation did not immediately react to a request for clarification, and the statement sent to the outlet does not indicate “unequivocally” that the computer issue has been fixed.

“We recognize the high trust our customers place in us to nourish their families and our communities, and we deeply appreciate their patience as we worked to restock our shelves,” the statement said in part.

The owner of Stop & Shop, Ahold Delhaize USA, claimed in a statement on Nov. 8 that it had discovered a “cybersecurity issue within its U.S. network.” Ahold’s information technology team is still looking into the issue, according to Stop & Shop executives, but they would not elaborate.

On Nov. 23 and 24, Stop & Shop gave away free doughnuts and coffee in almost 200 locations around Massachusetts, Rhode Island, and Connecticut as a way to thank patrons for their patience. It was unclear at first whether the complimentary coffee and snacks were available at all 81 of Stop & Shop’s locations in Connecticut, according to the outlet.

Latest Spate of Bad Press

This security breach is just the latest spate of bad press that Stop & Shop has experienced. To secure the long-term viability of the company, the grocer announced in May that it would shutter an undisclosed number of underperforming grocery locations in the Northeast.

JJ Fleeman, CEO of parent company Ahold Delhaize USA, made the announcement during an investor presentation, emphasizing the necessity for swift decisions as the company concentrated on stronger market sectors. The grocer remains dedicated to making investments in store renovations and keeping prices competitive despite the closures. By the time of the announcement, the company had already renovated more than 190 locations and highlighted its commitment to social responsibility programs, such as lowering waste and assisting in-school food banks.

Stop & Shop’s closures have sparked a range of responses and social media posts. The news has left many local communities in shock, and many are worried about the negative consequences of local retail closures.

Members of the grocer’s forum on Reddit, including an eight-year veteran and a one-year-experienced alleged grocery manager, both voiced their dissatisfaction with the company’s deteriorating working conditions, emphasis on displays over restocking, and high workloads without perks. They pointed out persistent understaffing and careless hiring methods that resulted in untrustworthy workers, and they blasted exorbitant costs, subpar products, and inept management. Both were thinking about quitting at the time because they were worried about the company’s long-term survival.

In Connecticut, Torrington Mayor Elinor Carbone had to contact the corporation for confirmation after discovering the closing of five outlets on social media.

Jennifer Pacillo, a District 1 City Councilor in Worcester, Massachusetts, called on the city to act to keep the Stop & Shop at Lincoln Plaza open. At the time, the loss of a convenience store in their working-class area worried the locals.

Residents of Massachusetts were also worried about having fewer food options as a result of Stop & Shop’s proposal to eliminate eight sites, including the important Brockton store. Customers voiced their displeasure with the closure, emphasizing the store’s significance to the neighborhood. The decision was challenged by Mayor Robert Sullivan, who pointed out that it would require residents to go farther for groceries.

Locations in New York, New Jersey, and Rhode Island have also closed.