Texas Pete Hot Sauce Maker Hit by Play Ransomware Attack

What happened

Texas Pete hot sauce maker hit by Play ransomware attack when the Play ransomware gang claimed responsibility for breaching Garner Foods, the U.S. manufacturer behind the popular Texas Pete brand, on January 2, 2026, posting the victim on its dark‑web leak site and threatening to publish stolen data unless a ransom demand is met. Allegedly compromised information includes confidential business files, client documents, payroll records, IDs, financial details, and other sensitive material, with hackers giving the company a short deadline to negotiate or face public exposure. 

Who is affected

This attack primarily affects Garner Foods, a nearly century‑old food manufacturer based in Winston‑Salem, North Carolina, whose Texas Pete sauces and other products are sold nationwide in supermarkets, convenience stores, and food service channels. Beyond the company itself, employees, business partners, and customers could see effects from data leakage, operational disruption, or supply chain impacts if ransomware activity extends into connected systems or distribution networks. 

Why CISOs should care

Ransomware continues to target non‑traditional critical sectors like food manufacturing, underscoring how attackers are expanding beyond classic IT and finance targets into industries foundational to daily life and commerce. The Play gang ranks among the most active ransomware groups globally, and its ability to breach corporate environments, including ERP systems that integrate HR, finance, and supply chain functions, shows how pervasive risk has become. CISOs must view ransomware not just as an IT issue but as a potential disruptor of operations, brand trust, and supply chain stability. 

3 practical actions

1. Harden Endpoint and Network Defenses: Deploy strong endpoint detection and response (EDR) tools, network segmentation, and multi‑factor authentication to reduce the likelihood of initial access and lateral movement by ransomware actors.

2. Backup & Recovery Readiness: Maintain isolated, immutable backups with tested recovery procedures to ensure rapid restoration of systems and data without paying ransoms.

3. Supply Chain Risk Management: Integrate ransomware threat intelligence into third‑party risk assessments, and coordinate incident response planning with partners whose operations may be affected by your organization’s outage or data exposure.