Food producer Dole confirms ransomware attack

Fresh fruit and vegetables producer Dole confirmed late Wednesday that it had been hit by a ransomware attack, following a report that a cyber incident forced it to shut down some production facilities.

The confirmation followed a CNN report that an attack had forced several of the company’s production plants in North America to close temporarily.

A memo obtained by the broadcaster, written by Dole’s senior vice president Eanuel Lazopoulos, told retailers that Dole was “in the midst of a Cyber Attack and [we] have subsequently shut down our systems throughout North America.”

The company's website states it owns three salad processing plants in the United States.

CNN reported that the incident had impacted shipments to grocery stores. It spoke to stores in New Mexico and Texas who said they were unable to stock Dole salad kits as a result of the attack.

Dole did not respond to CNN’s reporting about the extent of the impact on its operations, but a statement from its North America headquarters said it was “limited.”

The company added it is “continuing to investigate the scope of the incident” and “has notified law enforcement about the incident and are cooperating with their investigation.”

Dole, one of the world’s largest food producers, is an Irish multinational listed on the New York Stock Exchange, with its global headquarters in Dublin and its American headquarters in North Carolina.

The company’s public relations team in Ireland told The Record the company wouldn’t be adding anything further when asked whether there was any impact on operations beyond North America.

The company's share price was up 1.29% in pre-market trading.