Published on: July 3, 2024
Federated Co-op Ltd. (FCL), a staple in Western Canada, has announced it is dealing with a significant cybersecurity incident. The company confirmed the breach in a Facebook post on Saturday, stating that the attack has disrupted some of its customer-facing systems and may continue to affect the inventory of certain grocery items.
The first indication of trouble came on Thursday when Co-op informed the public that its stores and cardlock fuel stations were experiencing issues due to an “unplanned IT outage.” This incident has primarily affected Co-op locations in major regions like Saskatoon and Regina, as well as numerous other areas across Saskatchewan.
FCL reported that, as a precautionary measure, it had shut down several systems and enlisted the help of third-party cybersecurity experts to investigate the breach. Despite these measures, many of the company’s services, including its main website and numerous local Co-op websites, remain non-functional.
The cyberattack has forced FCL to temporarily close some of its cardlock fuel stations. However, a follow-up post on Friday afternoon provided a glimmer of hope, with FCL announcing that some cardlock services were back online. Nevertheless, the company has not offered a specific timeline for when all services will be fully restored.
In their communications, FCL emphasized that there is no current evidence suggesting customer data has been compromised. The company assured its members and customers that if this situation changes, appropriate actions will be taken to protect their information.
“We regret that this outage has occurred and we thank Co-op members and customers for their patience as our teams work to resolve the issue,” FCL stated in its Facebook post.
Federated Co-op Ltd. operates numerous stores and gas stations across Canada, with a strong presence in the western provinces. The cyberattack has had a significant impact on these operations, causing disruptions that have been felt by consumers and Co-op members alike.
Local Co-ops across Western Canada have been active on social media, informing customers about the ongoing issues and temporary closures. This transparency has been crucial in managing customer expectations and maintaining trust during this challenging time.