Following a cybersecurity incident, MCB has shut down its IT systems as a preemptive measure and is working to restore them while its staff is fulfilling orders with pen and paper.
Matthew Clark Bibendum or MCB is a distributor of alcoholic beverages and soft drinks in the UK and Ireland best known for Irish ciders Bulmers and Magners and Scottish beer Tennent’s. Owned by C&C Group, MCB distributes its two flagship products to more than 40 countries.
The company found out about the attack on Friday, April 16. In a statement issued on April 18, constituent businesses Matthew Clark and Bibendum notified customers they were temporarily supporting suppliers and customers manually.
“MCB responded quickly, enacting its cybersecurity response plan and shutting down all of its IT systems,” reads the company’s statement.
The attacks didn’t directly impact its parent company:
“The issue has not affected the IT systems of the wider C&C Group, which continue to operate as normal”, continues the statement.
MCB has expanded its call center to support fulfilling orders manually.
The company has notified the relevant authorities and the Information Commissioner’s Office about the incident and started the process of informing customers and suppliers.
“MCB is in the process of informing its customers and suppliers of the incident and the actions the Company is taking and has notified the relevant authorities, including the Information Commissioner’s Office.”
Bristol-based Matthew Clark supplies UK and Irish hospitality customers with alcoholic and non-alcoholic drinks from more than 4,000 product lines. London-headquartered Bibendum Wine is one of the UK’s leading premium wine and spirits distributors that supplies both the hospitality and retail sectors in the UK and Ireland.
While Dublin-based, C&C Group operates nearly 20 brands and supplies over 35,000 UK and Ireland pubs, bars, restaurants, and hotels with alcohol and soft drinks.
