Latest news with #SandyDouglas
The Guardian
25-06-2025
- Health
- The Guardian
Scientists criticise cut in UK funding for global vaccination group
The UK has cut its funding to a leading global vaccination group by a quarter, a move that experts say will directly lead to the avoidable deaths of many thousands of children in developing countries. The Foreign Office billed the £1.25bn commitment over five years to the Global Alliance for Vaccines and Immunisation (Gavi) as a major boost to the group's work as well as to the UK's status as a developer of vaccines. A series of aid agencies praised the decision. It is a larger sum than had been feared by many in the aid world after the decision by UK government to cut its foreign aid commitment from 0.7% of national income to 0.5%, which will then fall to 0.3% in 2027. However, the amount for 2026-29 is 24% lower than the £1.65bn pledged by Boris Johnson for 2021-25 to the Geneva-based public-private organisation, which has vaccinated more than a billion children in developing countries. When inflation is taken into account, it is a 40% cut. The decision was condemned by two leading British vaccine scientists who had pushed for the UK to maintain its support for Gavi, especially in the light of massive US cuts to aid. Dr Sandy Douglas, a senior vaccinologist at Oxford University's Jenner Institute, who led efforts to scale up production of the Covid-19 vaccine, told the Guardian: 'Many thousands of children who could have lived will instead die – it's hugely disappointing to see the UK government backsliding rather than driving progress on global poverty.' A statement from the One Campaign, which works on healthier lives in Africa, said that while the £1.25bn sum would immunise 72 million children and prevent 1.1m deaths, this was 400,000 fewer lives than would have been the case under the same funding level as before. Sir Andrew Pollard, who led the development of the Oxford/AstraZeneca Covid-19 vaccine, said a study this week in the Lancet showing that stalled or falling vaccine coverage worldwide meant 'we are losing ground in our battle against the vaccine-preventable life-threatening microbes that threaten human health'. Pollard, who was speaking in a personal capacity, said: 'Gavi is the key agency in supporting global immunisation and strengthening health-system vaccine delivery – this is the time to redouble our efforts on immunisation and not reduce them. It matters for children living in those countries where Gavi supports vaccine rollout but it also matters to us, as control of global infectious disease is essential for our own health security.' The decision was announced on the same day as the US health secretary, Robert F Kennedy Jr, said Washington would not give any more money to Gavi until it had 're-earned the public trust' over vaccine safety. Kennedy's comments were made in a video address that was to be shown at the ongoing Gavi pledging summit and was leaked to Politico. The US had been expected to at least cut its funding for the alliance, which under Joe Biden was about $300m (£220m) a year. Sign up to Headlines UK Get the day's headlines and highlights emailed direct to you every morning after newsletter promotion Earlier on Wednesday the Gates Foundation, traditionally one of Gavi's biggest donors alongside the UK, said it would commit $1.6bn (£1.17bn) over the next five years. Announcing the UK funding, David Lammy, the foreign secretary, said: 'Gavi's global impact is undeniable. Over 1 billion children vaccinated, over 18 million lives saved, over $250bn injected into the global economy. 'I'm immensely proud of the role the UK has played in reaching these milestones. Our ongoing partnership with Gavi will give millions of children a better start, save lives and protect us all from the spread of deadly diseases.'
Forbes
24-06-2025
- Business
- Forbes
Cyberattack Reveals Soft Underbelly Of Supermarket Food Supply
The recent cyberattack on food distributor UNFI has revealed the likelihood of other data ... More vulnerabilities throughout the F&B space. While the nation's food supply faces all sorts of threats, from diseases to tariffs to climate change, we are now faced with what can happen when the food supply is attacked by hackers, and not by directly targeting stores' systems. Instead, a hack of food distributor United Natural Foods (UNFI) hit Whole Foods and others hard, leading to shortages and empty shelves. It exposed the soft underbelly of supermarkets, where software, not just hard goods shortages, can be the target of attacks. Providence, Rhode Island-based UNFI, which operates 52 food distribution centers and offers 250,000 products from more than 11,000 suppliers to 30,000 customer locations, reported "unauthorized activity in our systems." It shut down temporarily after the cyberattack revealed that a computer virus, like any disease, can put the nation's food supply and supermarkets at risk. This disrupted ordering and deliveries, revealing how vulnerable the nation's food infrastructure can still be to cyberattacks. 'Our frozen cooler is empty, our bread hearth is bare, and customers are increasingly upset," a Whole Foods employee in Arkansas who was not authorized to speak on behalf of the company told CNN. UNFI, which noted it has invested in cybersecurity, said this attack revealed vulnerabilities and the need to do more, even as its stock tumbled after the attack. Signs that read, 'We are experiencing a temporary out-of-stock issue for some products' went up in some supermarkets. 'I think a company needs to be both high capability and humble when it relates to cybersecurity,' UNFI CEO Sandy Douglas said. 'And this event is just a demonstrated example of why.' Some supermarkets shifted temporarily to other wholesalers, while Amazon-owned Whole Foods, which operates more than 520 stores in the United States, found some of its shelves temporarily empty. Grocery Dive quoted Gilpin Matthews, co-owner of Darlings Grocery in La Pointe, Wisconsin, as saying that he shifted to Minnesota-based grocery wholesaler Mason Brothers for some products, as well as Sysco, which supplies restaurants. 'Empty shelves don't look good, and if people go in and they can't get the things that they need… they're going to go somewhere else,' Matthews told Grocery Dive. 'We were just scrambling, because we had no notice.' UNFI President and CFO Giorgio Matteo Tarditi said in a Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) filing that the cyberattack 'temporarily impacted the company's ability to fulfill and distribute customer orders.' While some supermarkets found their shelves empty after the cyberattack, others temporarily shifted ... More to other wholesalers. While this attack attracted attention, it came after a string of ransomware and extortion hacks of retailers and supermarkets in the United Kingdom in April, which were widely attributed to the cybercrime organization Scattered Spider. That group with global reach reportedly began focusing on the United States in May, possibly including the UNFI cyberattack. The Rise & Risk of Advanced Technology The latest attack raises issues such as resilience, redundancy, and preparedness of grocery stores, which rely heavily on logistics, delivery, and the technology that allows this to go smoothly. In today's highly competitive market, food and beverage distributors increasingly rely on advanced technology to streamline operations, optimize supply chains, and deliver outstanding customer service. From real-time inventory tracking to predictive ordering and route optimization, nearly every aspect of the modern distribution business is powered by data. As the value and sensitivity of this data grows, so does the importance of securing and protecting it. Technology has become the backbone of food and beverage distribution for distributors who now utilize sophisticated Enterprise Resource Planning (ERP) systems, warehouse management solutions, and Internet of Things (IoT) devices to gather and analyze data at every stage — from procurement to delivery. Advanced technology has helped wholesalers optimize their supply chain and monitor inventory in ... More real-time. These technologies generate a wealth of information on inventory levels, customer orders, supply chain logistics, and regulatory compliance. For instance, real-time temperature and humidity sensors can track perishable goods in transit, while analytics platforms help forecast demand and reduce waste. The resulting data not only drives efficiency but also provides actionable insights that can enhance profitability and customer satisfaction. Single Suppliers or Dozens of Distributors? Relying on single suppliers, which can provide the best rates, also aggregates risk. According to Grocery Dive, Orcas Food Co-op, a UNFI customer in Eastsound, Washington, also obtains products from dozens of local suppliers. 'We're not overly reliant on a single supplier,' an Orcas Food Co-op spokesman told Grocery Dive. 'This is just a good chance to highlight to our members a lot of the other producers we work with directly.' Still, smaller suppliers indicated they were unaware of what was occurring and caught in the middle. By June 10, UNFI reported in a third-quarter earnings call that net sales had increased 7.5% to $8.1 billion and a $7 million net loss. 'In the near term, we are focused on diligently managing through the cyber incident we announced yesterday to rapidly and safely restore our capabilities,' CEO Sandy Douglas said, 'while helping our customers with short-term solutions wherever possible.' Stronger cybersecurity measures and the implementation of penetration testing can help companies be ... More more proactive about the safety of their data. UNFI, whose slogan is 'Better Foods. Better Future.' may face lawsuits in case the company is in any way culpable. Law firm Levi & Korsinsky said it is investigating UNFI to see if federal securities laws were violated. UNFI disclosed in a June 9 SEC filing that after becoming aware of unauthorized activity in its systems, it "promptly activated its incident response plan and implemented containment measures, including proactively taking certain systems offline, which has temporarily impacted the Company's ability to fulfill and distribute customer orders." Craving More Cyber Controls This recent attack demonstrates the need for tighter cybersecurity controls, while many companies have not even had a penetration assessment. Having redundancy with suppliers is also another mitigating factor. Finally, proper insurance coverage may ease the pain. Every company should take proactive and meaningful measures to avoid cyberattacks, or it could face the problems illustrated in this situation. With increased reliance on digital tools comes an increased risk of cyberattacks, data breaches, and system disruptions. Food and beverage distributors often handle sensitive information, such as proprietary recipes, supplier contracts, payment details, and customer data. A security breach could disrupt business operations, damage trust, and lead to regulatory penalties. Therefore, data security has become a top priority. Distributors are adopting multi-layered cybersecurity strategies, including data encryption in transit and at rest, regular security audits, and robust access controls. Diseases, tariffs, climate change, and now hackers, all pose a threat to the nation's food supply. Cloud service providers used by distributors are often required to comply with industry-standard certifications (such as ISO 27001 or SOC 2) to ensure the integrity and confidentiality of stored data. The nature of the food and beverage industry often involves complex supply chains with multiple partners and vendors. As technology continues to evolve, so will the ways food and beverage distributors use —and protect — data. Artificial intelligence and machine learning are poised to bring even more advanced analytics and automation to the industry, underscoring the need for robust data security frameworks. In summary, technology and data are critical drivers for food and beverage distribution success. Still, their full potential can only be realized if distributors prioritize data security and protection at every level. By taking a proactive approach, these businesses can safeguard their operations, build trust, and deliver greater value to their partners and customers.
Yahoo
13-06-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Whole Foods' distributor supplying stores on 'limited basis' after cyberattack
Whole Foods and other U.S. grocers are only being partially stocked as a major food distributor continues to grapple with a recent cyber attack, a recent earnings call revealed. North American wholesale distributor United Natural Foods confirmed this week that it was forced to take some of its systems offline after noticing unauthorized activity. At a financial quarter meeting Tuesday, June 10, CEO Sandy Douglas said the wholesale distributor is only supplying customers on a "limited basis" amid the crisis. "We are partnering with customers across the country and across our formats in various short term mode to serve their needs as best as we possibly can," Douglas told investors. "Any way that we can help them meet their needs, we're doing." The company is working with the FBI and other authorities to determine how to resume services and why the technology defenses failed, according to Douglas. "We just got penetrated, so we will be continuing to look at every aspect of our defense, every aspect of how our tools are working, and what may be necessary to bolster it going forward, because it's clearly an area that requires a tremendous amount of focus from companies today," he said. Users on social media have reported shelves being empty at some Whole Foods locations with signs apologizing for the inconvenience and promising to resupply soon. A Whole Foods spokesperson told USA TODAY on Monday, June 9 that the supermarket chain is working to restock its shelves as fast as possible and said it apologizes for any inconveniences. When asked why the company hesitated to inform investors about the cyberattack and system shutdown, Douglas denied there being a delay. Douglas clarified company officials noticed unauthorized activity in its systems on June 5 and investigated whether it was isolated. By the afternoon of June 6, the company made the decision to lock its systems down. On June 9, it filed a Form 8-K with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) to inform shareholders before the market opened. "So there is no way that we could have communicated any faster, and there was no trading," Douglas added. He also he was unable to confirm whether the shutdown has required customers to break contracts, adding "I wouldn't be able to factually answer that question, even if I was inclined to disclose it." "The focus is making sure we serve the customers and have them be able to do whatever they need to do the best they can in this environment," he said. This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Why Whole Foods' distributor is supplying on a 'limited basis' Sign in to access your portfolio
Yahoo
13-06-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Cyberattack cripples Whole Foods distributor, leaving shelves bare
June 12 (UPI) -- A cyberattack has crippled distribution channels for one of the nation's top organic food distributors, leading to empty shelves at grocery stores nationwide. Rhode-Island-based United Natural Foods Inc., a major supplier to Whole Foods, became aware of the attack on June 5th, a filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission said. UNFI said the breach affected its ability to fulfill customer orders. "It's affecting operations in a very, very significant way," an employee at a Sacramento Whole Foods told NBC News. "Shelves don't even have products in some places. The shipments we receive are not what we need, or we did need it but it's too much of one product because UNFI can't communicate with stores to get proper orders." A spokesperson for Whole Foods apologized and said the company is working to restock the shelves as quickly as it can. In a statement, UNFI acknowledged the ransomware attack. "We have identified unauthorized activity in our systems and have proactively taken some systems offline while we investigate," UNFI said in the statement. "As soon as we discovered the activity, an investigation was initiated with the help of leading forensics experts and we have notified law enforcement. We are assessing the unauthorized activity and working to restore our systems to safely barring them back online." UNFI said it is working closely to keep its customers updated amid the confusion and distribution disruptions. At a quarterly earnings meeting Tuesday, UNFI CEO Sandy Douglas told investors that it is supplying customers on a "limited basis." "We are partnering with customers across the country and across our formats in various short term modes to serve their needs as best we possibly can," he said. "Any way that we can help them with their needs, we're doing." Douglas said the company is working with the FBI and other authorities to track the source of the breach and why UNFI's security systems failed. The UNFI security breach comes amid a series of cyberattacks on retailers in recent weeks that have crippled the operations of several high profile retailers with ransomware.
UPI
13-06-2025
- Business
- UPI
Cyberattack cripples Whole Foods distributor, leaving shelves bare
Half a decade ago, shoppers were met with long lines, empty shelves, food and water shortages due to the coronavirus pandemic at the Whole Foods Market in downtown Los Angeles in 2020. Now the company is dealing with similar problems because of a cyberattack on a distributor. File Photo by Jim Ruymen/UPI | License Photo June 12 (UPI) -- A cyberattack has crippled distribution channels for one of the nation's top organic food distributors, leading to empty shelves at grocery stores nationwide. Rhode-Island-based United Natural Foods Inc., a major supplier to Whole Foods, became aware of the attack on June 5th, a filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission said. UNFI said the breach affected its ability to fulfill customer orders. "It's affecting operations in a very, very significant way," an employee at a Sacramento Whole Foods told NBC News. "Shelves don't even have products in some places. The shipments we receive are not what we need, or we did need it but it's too much of one product because UNFI can't communicate with stores to get proper orders." A spokesperson for Whole Foods apologized and said the company is working to restock the shelves as quickly as it can. In a statement, UNFI acknowledged the ransomware attack. "We have identified unauthorized activity in our systems and have proactively taken some systems offline while we investigate," UNFI said in the statement. "As soon as we discovered the activity, an investigation was initiated with the help of leading forensics experts and we have notified law enforcement. We are assessing the unauthorized activity and working to restore our systems to safely barring them back online." UNFI said it is working closely to keep its customers updated amid the confusion and distribution disruptions. At a quarterly earnings meeting Tuesday, UNFI CEO Sandy Douglas told investors that it is supplying customers on a "limited basis." "We are partnering with customers across the country and across our formats in various short term modes to serve their needs as best we possibly can," he said. "Any way that we can help them with their needs, we're doing." Douglas said the company is working with the FBI and other authorities to track the source of the breach and why UNFI's security systems failed. The UNFI security breach comes amid a series of cyberattacks on retailers in recent weeks that have crippled the operations of several high profile retailers with ransomware.
