UNFI Cyberattack Disrupts Grocery Supply Chains, Forcing Retailers to Seek Alternatives United Natural Foods, Inc. (UNFI), a major grocery wholesaler, remains offline following a cyberattack on June 6 that forced the company to shut down its electronic ordering systems. With no timeline for full restoration, UNFI is relying on manual processes to fulfill orders, leaving many retailers scrambling to secure alternative suppliers. Independent grocers and co-ops that depend on UNFI for organic and specialty products have faced significant disruptions. Darlings Grocery in La Pointe, Wisconsin, which sources about two-thirds of its inventory from UNFI, turned to Minnesota-based Mason Brothers and foodservice distributor Sysco to restock shelves but with limited success. Co-owner Gilpin Matthews noted that the lack of advance notice left stores with empty shelves, risking customer loss. Similarly, Orcas Food Co-op in Washington state, while less reliant on a single supplier, had to pivot to local vendors to maintain inventory. Larger chains also felt the impact. Whole Foods Market, UNFI’s most prominent customer, experienced delivery delays, though a spokesperson declined to comment on the extent of the disruption. Meanwhile, Charley Family Shop ‘n Save in Pennsylvania mitigated shortages by partnering with North Carolina-based MDI and local suppliers, while LaBonne’s Markets in Connecticut faced temporary stockouts of UNFI-sourced items but managed to place an order over the weekend. UNFI stated it has made "significant progress" in restoring systems but has not provided a recovery timeline. The company confirmed that Cub Pharmacy locations, which also experienced prescription fulfillment issues, have resumed normal operations. The incident underscores the vulnerability of supply chains to cyber threats, particularly for retailers dependent on a single distributor.