Coca-Cola's Fairlife dairy unit hit by ransomware attack, production halted
The company said one of its dairy subsidiaries was hacked and will suspend operations for the foreseeable future. The multinational giant said in a disclosure document submitted to the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission that its Fairlife dairy company was attacked by ransomware and its production system was affected. The company said all Fairlife manufacturing operations in the United States have been "temporarily suspended." Fairlife's operations in Canada are not affected. Coca-Cola is one of the world's largest companies, with products ranging from carbonated drinks to water and dairy products. Fairlife Dairy is one of the company's main brands, with sales expected to be approximately US$4 billion in 2024. Ransomware attacks targeting food and beverage companies can have lasting effects. Similar incidents experienced by Arizona Beverages in 2019 and food distribution giant UNFI last year resulted in production lines being disrupted for weeks and shelves empty. Coca-Cola did not say when the Fairlife system would be restored.