All posts tagged: chain

KFC Japan, major sushi chain fear shortages after cyberattack

KFC Japan, major sushi chain fear shortages after cyberattack

TOKYO: A cyberattack against a major frozen food maker in Japan has prompted businesses such as Kentucky Fried Chicken and a popular sushi chain to warn of possible shortages and even store closures. Nichirei, Japan’s top frozen food supplier, said on Wednesday (Jul 15) that it “came under a cyberattack”, disrupting subsidiaries’ operations including making deliveries to clients. The company did not share details of the attack, which Nichirei first disclosed in a statement on Monday that mentioned “system failures caused by unauthorised access”. The disruption could affect large parts of Japan’s food sector as Nichirei also provides temperature-controlled logistics services to a wide range of businesses. Supermarkets have already been hit by shortages, local media said, reporting that pastry chefs and elderly care centres have also been impacted. Kura Sushi Inc, a popular rotary sushi chain with nearly 700 locations in Japan and abroad, said on Wednesday that its stores in the country’s west were experiencing shipment delays for some products. Kentucky Fried Chicken Japan warned on Tuesday that its restaurants could face shortages …

Forget typosquatting; slopsquatting is the software supply chain threat created by AI coding tools

Forget typosquatting; slopsquatting is the software supply chain threat created by AI coding tools

Slopsquatting represents an emerging supply chain threat made possible by AI hallucinations. As developers increasingly rely on AI coding assistants, they unknowingly grant cybercriminals access to their software from day one.  Understanding what slopsquatting is Slopsquatting is a new type of supply chain attack that uses large language model (LLM) hallucinations to inject malicious code into development workflows. The term combines “AI slop” and “typosquatting,” a deceptive practice where attackers register misspelled or lookalike versions of popular domains to prey on users who enter URLs incorrectly. This novel attack vector exploits LLMs’ tendency to generate fictitious software package names, which threat actors can then register and populate with malicious code. During AI-assisted coding, the model may generate fake open-source packages — bundled collections of files, programs and installation tools. This alone is not necessarily harmful. However, if an attacker registers that fake package name, they can inject malware that gets incorporated directly into a developer’s codebase. How AI creates a supply chain risk Traditionally, AI safety risks stem from hallucinations, which can adversely affect users …

Bloom Energy Defends Supply Chain, Calls Hunterbrook Report “False And Misleading”

Bloom Energy Defends Supply Chain, Calls Hunterbrook Report “False And Misleading”

Bloom Energy is responding forcefully against allegations made by short seller Hunterbrook Capital, rejecting the firm’s claims about its accounting, supply chain and growth prospects a day after a report sent shares sharply lower. The clean energy company said Thursday that Hunterbrook’s assertions regarding its financial reporting and access to critical raw materials are “false and misleading,” according to a statement reported by Bloomberg. The response comes after Hunterbrook published an investigation on July 8 that questioned Bloom’s independence from Chinese suppliers and argued that the company’s long-term manufacturing ambitions may be constrained by global scandium availability. Hunterbrook disclosed that it stands to benefit if Bloom’s shares decline through a short position. Bloom specifically defended its financial reporting, saying allegations concerning its accounting are contradicted by its audited financial statements. The company also disputed Hunterbrook’s central thesis surrounding scandium oxide, the specialty material used in Bloom’s solid oxide fuel cells. Bloom said it has sufficient scandium oxide supply to meet both current production needs and its existing customer backlog. It added that its scandium supply is …

Popular UK hotel chain adds one surprising thing to their showers | UK | News

Popular UK hotel chain adds one surprising thing to their showers | UK | News

The hotel chain is trialling waterproof notepads in their showers (Image: Getty) Travelodge is trialling waterproof notepads in their bathrooms – as half of Brits claim the best ideas strike while they’re in the shower. The hotel chain aims to ensure guests’ good ideas don’t go down the drain with their suds after a whopping 48% of people admitted inspiration strikes while they’re in the buff. With creativity striking the majority up to four times per day, Brits say their lightbulb moments are also likely to come during more unexpected moments. This includes when they’re falling asleep (34%), during or after exercising (10%) and even while tending to the garden (15%). But while creative inspiration (55%), personal decisions (54%) and problem-solving (53%) are among the thoughts most likely to come to mind while showering, 65% say they forget their idea before they’re able to jot it down. This is particularly relevant for Britain’s business travellers. In 2025, an estimated 5.1million business trips took place, with 60% revealing the ability to capture ideas as they occur …

Norway World Cup fan issues brutally honest review of beloved US coffee chain

Norway World Cup fan issues brutally honest review of beloved US coffee chain

Stay ahead of the curve with our weekly guide to the latest trends, fashion, relationships and more Stay ahead of the curve with our weekly guide to the latest trends, fashion, relationships and more Stay ahead of the curve with our weekly guide to the latest trends, fashion, relationships and more The World Cup has brought in millions of international travelers to the U.S., many of whom are experiencing American culture for the first time — but some are not impressed with their findings. As tourists flock to major cities like Boston, Houston and New York City for the 2026 Fifa World Cup, foreign visitors have gone viral for their heartwarming reactions to American culture, whether it be euphoria over Waffle House trips or amazement at the sizes of U.S. stadiums. However, some soccer fans have been let down by the new experiences — as demonstrated in a recent video on Instagram by sports broadcaster Maggie Gray, who asked Norwegian fans what surprised them the most about America while outside of MetLife Stadium in New …

Fusion energy supply chain spending jumps 24%

Fusion energy supply chain spending jumps 24%

The global fusion energy supply chain expanded significantly in 2025, with industry spending rising 24% year-on-year as fusion developers increase investment and suppliers strengthen their capabilities to support the path toward commercial fusion power. According to The Fusion Industry Supply Chain 2026 report from the Fusion Industry Association (FIA), private fusion companies reported a combined supply chain spend of $538m in 2025. That figure is expected to increase by a further 27% in 2026, reaching an estimated $681m. The report, unveiled at the inaugural Fusion Supply Chain Trade Show in New Mexico, draws on interviews and survey responses from 25 fusion companies and 67 suppliers, providing one of the most comprehensive assessments of the growing fusion energy supply chain. Commenting on the significant industry investment, Andrew Holland, CEO of the FIA, said: “Our fourth annual report sees considerable progress in the relationship between fusion developers and their supply chain. “We see signs of the ‘chicken and egg’ gridlock raised in previous reports easing, as supplier relationships improve and new and existing suppliers invest in scaling …

Popular fast food chain unveils Spider-Man pizza with ‘webbed’ pepperoni topping

Popular fast food chain unveils Spider-Man pizza with ‘webbed’ pepperoni topping

Stay ahead of the curve with our weekly guide to the latest trends, fashion, relationships and more Stay ahead of the curve with our weekly guide to the latest trends, fashion, relationships and more Stay ahead of the curve with our weekly guide to the latest trends, fashion, relationships and more Fast food chains are getting ready for the upcoming release of Spider-Man: Brand New Day with special offerings — including a “webbed” pepperoni pizza. The fourth installment in the Tom Holland-led superhero film series, out in theaters July 31, sees the British actor return opposite Zendaya as lovers Peter Parker/Spider-Man and MJ. To celebrate the new film, Little Caesars has officially launched its Webberoni Pizza, featuring a “web” of shredded pepperoni and a toasted two-cheese blend on top, in U.S. restaurants. The 14-inch pizza is inspired by Spider-Man’s signature web-slinging superpowers and will be served in boxes featuring the superhero. According to a Monday press release from Little Caesars, the Webberoni Pizza starts at $8.99 and will only be available for a limited time, …

Swedish World Cup fan goes viral for praising Texas gas station chain that sold him fabulous cowboy hat

Swedish World Cup fan goes viral for praising Texas gas station chain that sold him fabulous cowboy hat

Stay ahead of the curve with our weekly guide to the latest trends, fashion, relationships and more Stay ahead of the curve with our weekly guide to the latest trends, fashion, relationships and more Stay ahead of the curve with our weekly guide to the latest trends, fashion, relationships and more One Swedish World Cup fan is going viral for his enthusiastic remarks about a Texas gas station staple, where he purchased his new fashion statement. As Sweden prepares to take on the Netherlands in the second game of the group stages in Houston, thousands of international fans, who have traveled to support their home teams, are lovingly embracing American culture. Ahead of Saturday’s match, local outlet KHOU 11 News Houston spoke with one Swedish man proudly wearing a brown cowboy hat amid the festivities. Asked if he picked up the cowboy hat in America or back in Sweden, the man revealed: “No, from Buc-ee’s, from Buc-ee’s. So go Buc-ee’s — great place. I love the beef jerky, we love the cowboy style. You’re great.” Buc-ee’s …

Chick-fil-A dethroned in fast food rankings as popular sandwich chain surges

Chick-fil-A dethroned in fast food rankings as popular sandwich chain surges

Stay ahead of the curve with our weekly guide to the latest trends, fashion, relationships and more Stay ahead of the curve with our weekly guide to the latest trends, fashion, relationships and more Stay ahead of the curve with our weekly guide to the latest trends, fashion, relationships and more Chick-fil-A has lost its top spot as America’s favorite fast food chain, with popular sandwich shop Jersey Mike’s taking its place. Last year’s American Customer Satisfaction Index’s annual Restaurant and Delivery Study awarded the chicken spot the winning customer satisfaction score of 83 out of 100, which was calculated by thousands of random customers rating their experiences at different restaurants. The 2025 ranking marked Chick-fil-A’s 11th year as the top-rated quick-service restaurant. Although Chick-fil-A received a score of 83 again this year, its winning streak has officially come to an end. In fact, Jersey Mike’s Subs, which was not included in last year’s ranking, is now the top-rated quick-service restaurant, thanks to its customer satisfaction score of 84. The ranking recognized the brand for …

Struggling Pizza Hut restaurant chain sold for .7 billion

Struggling Pizza Hut restaurant chain sold for $2.7 billion

Pizza Hut is getting a new home. Yum Brands, based in Louisville, Ky., announced Tuesday that it has sold the struggling pizza chain in two separate sales totaling $2.7 billion. LongRange Capital, a private equity firm based in Stamford, Conn., acquired Pizza Hut’s U.S. operation for $1.5 billion, Yum Brands said in a statement. The company’s mainland China business was separately purchased by Yum China Holdings Inc. for $1.2 billion, the statement said. The sale includes nearly 20,000 Pizza Hut restaurants, including 6,400 in the United States, and is expected to close in the third quarter. Yum Brands first indicated a possible sale of the chain in November, saying in a statement that it would be reviewing strategic options following a decline in sales from the previous year. In February, it announced the closure of 250 Pizza Hut locations in the U.S. “Under LongRange and Yum China, Pizza Hut will be well-positioned for future growth with ownership that brings deep expertise in the restaurant industry,” Yum Brands Chief Executive Chris Turner said in Tuesday’s statement. …