How Cyberattacks Disrupt Coffee and Tea Supply Chains

As cyber threats grow more sophisticated and widespread, industries with complex, global supply chains are becoming increasingly vulnerable. From logistics to retail, the ripple effects of a single attack can cause significant disruption across entire networks.

It is no surprise, then, that the coffee and tea industries – which rely heavily on
interconnected suppliers, distributors, and digital platforms – are facing heightened risk. Major brands have already felt the impact: Starbucks, for example, experienced fallout when its supply chain software provider, Blue
Yonder, was hit by ransomware.

With millions relying on the seamless operation of these supply chains, cyber
preparedness is no longer a luxury — it is a business imperative.

Digital Threats in Global Supply Chains

Global supply chain cyber attacks are increasing at a breakneck pace, with reports suggesting that, between 2021 and 2023 alone, threats spiked by around 431 percent. That, some argue, is a result of more businesses such as importers and distributors embracing digitisation.

It is well-documented that digitalising processes and streamlining administrative tasks boost productivity and efficiency; however, doing so increases the threat surface across which digital attackers can strike. The more data supply chain businesses create and store, the more there is to risk.

It is a key reason why tea and coffee firms (such as those as large as Starbucks and JDE Peet’s) are left helpless if their software is hacked or brought down by ransomware. Ransomware is particularly threatening, taking hold of networked systems and locking data and operations down until financial ransoms are paid.

What is more, companies in the supply chain are at increased risk regardless of their own cybersecurity practices. Thanks to the complex, interweaving links between food and drink distributors, if one company suffers an attack, there is a chance the threat will travel farther down the line.

It is a reason why so many companies in the tea and coffee supply chains are more proactive than ever about assessing and locking down their operational security. For example, many now adopt regular penetration testing and vendor
reviews to ensure they are as robust as possible against evolving threats.

From Farm to Factory: Where Cyber Risk Creeps In

It is often the risks associated with third-party vendors that concern supply chain companies the most. It is backed up by data — IBM’s new Cost of a Data Breach 2025 report indicates the second highest average breach costs among initial threat vectors was from third-party vendor and supply chain compromise at USD 4.91 million.

Attackers can target third-party vendors in tea and coffee chains, such as distributors and producers, simply through phishing (sending malicious links in seemingly trustworthy emails) and social engineering (for example, by pretending to be trusted contacts to gain passwords and sensitive data).

Beyond this, programmable logic controllers (PLCs) are at risk from bad actors, too. Tea and coffee manufacturers that rely on PLCs to analyse and regulate ingredients are at risk of tampering if their networking and linked systems are not secured effectively enough.

And then, there are risks at the point of tea and coffee cultivation — on farms, for example, where operations rely on Internet of Things (IoT) devices to automate processes such as irrigation and harvesting. Cyber attackers can breach these devices if they are poorly secured, which can lead to operational downtime and disrupt crop cultivation.

IoT hacking is not a niche concern. According to Statista, attacks on these devices have escalated in their millions, annually, within the past decade. However, some of the biggest targets for attackers in food and drink supply chains are logistics and distribution.

Why Logistics and Distribution Are Prime Targets

Logistics and distribution are major targets on the food and drink supply chain largely thanks to the disruption that can be caused if operations are interrupted. An attacker may lock down logistics systems and prevent pickup and delivery, therefore halting the supply chain in its tracks.
For example, a successful attack may mean:
• Farms and distributors are unable to deliver goods on time.
• Stores and markets fall behind on inventory.
• Tea and coffee brands miss sales targets.
• Customers become disappointed by low
supplies and lose trust in brands.
• Goods perish or spoil while waiting for transfer.
This sensitivity is a key deciding factor for ransomware attackers in particular. If they hack logistics and delivery systems, they have the upper hand when it comes to negotiating the release of access and data, putting supply chain firms completely at their mercy.

Cyber Risk Factors in Retail and E-Commerce Channels

Supply chain attackers don’t just focus on physical systems and operations. Tea and coffee brands with online store fronts and omnichannel retail presences are at risk from bad actors breaching systems through poor access controls, flawed coding, and gaps in employee training.

Retailers hold an immense amount of data, from financial records to vendor connections and sensitive inventories. Therefore, they are just as at risk from cyber attacks as logistics and delivery partners.

Retail and e-commerce channels on the chain are wide open to attacks through phishing, IoT attacks, persistent brute-force access attempts, and, again, ransomware. Just because retailers are typically the last link in the chain facing the consumer doesn’t mean they hold the lowest risks or least sensitive data. 

What Industry Stakeholders Can Do to Strengthen Defenses

Strengthening company defences on the supply chain is an ongoing process; therefore, stakeholders must be prepared to support protection and incident response.

Recommended steps to help make cybersecurity more effective include:
• Tightening up access controls (regularly reviewing user permissions and following strong password practices).
Creating a company-wide policy to ensure hardware and software are regularly updated, and that teams understand cybersecurity ramifications.
• Regularly reviewing third-party vendor relationships and security policies.
• Vetting the use of IoT devices and only using necessary connections.
• Retraining teams on the latest security updates, threat vectors, and protection best practices.
• Investing in regular support from cybersecurity professionals (eg, vulnerability scanning and penetration testing).
However, the exact process companies should follow for their own cybersecurity needs may vary, so be sure to keep an open mind when discussing factors with professionals.

Cyber Preparedness Is Now Part of Business Sustainability

Tea and coffee supply chains are just one part of a much larger web, within which we all have parts to play to keep data and processes safe from cyber-attacks.

Although emerging trends and vectors might seem frightening, there are immediate steps to start making cyber preparedness part of businesses’ everyday protocols.

A great first move is to engage help from a professional — but immediate steps should include making sure employees understand what’s at stake.

• Tyler Owen is vice president of product management for Cybersecurity Solutions at VikingCloud. His experience encompasses the entire lifecycle of Information Security
  infrastructure projects, from pre-sales and planning through to
  implementation, daily maintenance, and management. Owen’s
  expertise includes overseeing people, processes, policies,
  budgets, and resources, ensuring comprehensive security
  measures that protect and enhance IT infrastructures.