Cyber Press reported on Friday that NovaBev Group, the parent company behind the major Russian vodka brand Beluga, suffered an “unprecedented” ransomware attack that negatively affected its IT infrastructure. NovaBev shared that the hackers demanded a payment, but the company did not comply with the cybercriminals’ demands.
According to The Spirits Business, NovaBev Group is also the company behind popular Russian wine shops, WineLab. The attack led to disruptions with over 2,000 WineLab shops throughout Moscow, St. Petersburg and other locations. The outlet reported that WineLab is considered one of the top three retail spots in Russia’s alcohol industry.
“The company maintains a principled position of rejecting any interaction with cybercriminals and refuses to fulfill their demands,” a statement read according to The Spirits Business. ” The IT team is working around the clock to resolve the situation. To speed up the process, external experts have been involved in the investigation. Every effort is being made to resume operations as soon as possible.”
The retailer, WineLab, disclosed on its socials that in-store and online shopping were limited due to the disruption.
In the United States, a recent cyber attack made headlines at CNN, and it involved the Amazon-owned retailer, Whole Foods. The retailer’s distributor, United Natural Foods, faced a particularly disruptive cyberattack in June. The attack led to supply disruptions and left customers faced with empty shelves. The news organization reported that the cyberattack led the distributor’s stock to drop 17% since it shared the attack took place.
Perhaps one of the most devastating cyberattacks in recent history involved another vodka brand, Stoli, which worked with brands like Kentucky Owl in its portfolio. Reuters reported that the cyberattack was so damaging, it contributed to two American-based arms of the vodka company in Dallas filing for bankruptcy protection in December 2024.
Though cybercrime is nothing new and continues to be a persistent threat to businesses, particularly those that rely on supply chains like food and beverage, NovaBev shared in a press release that tactics of hackers are “becoming more aggressive.” The company acknowledged the disruptions and apologized to customers and other businesses.
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