A ready meals firm that delivers hundreds of 'meals on wheels' to vulnerable and elderly people in Buckinghamshire has been hit by an international cyber attack. 

Apetito this week said its IT and computer systems have been affected by the attack, which is causing problems with deliveries in the short term.

The company said it has been subjected to a highly sophisticated criminal cyber-attack which has breached its extensive IT security systems.

It said: “Such attacks are increasingly common in both business and the public sector. The purpose of the attack is illegal activity designed to extort money from the company.”

Apetito has apologised to customers and assured them that no credit card details have been stolen as they are not kept on its computer system.

In a statement, the company’s CEO Paul Freeston said: “Our Crisis Management and IT teams (assisted by specialist external partners) are working all hours to bring critical systems back into operation as soon as possible. However, we expect substantial disruption in the coming days while we address these issues.

“We appreciate that this situation will cause very substantial inconvenience for our customers and we will do everything we can to resolve matters as soon as possible.”

The attack means they have been having to run a reduced production programme, and have only been able to make a "limited number of deliveries using our manual contingency systems". 

Apetito prepares and provides ready meals for thousands of customers throughout the UK, who can order online or choose from a brochure.

They also provide a hot 'meals on wheels' service delivered direct to people’s homes by a fleet of van drivers, as well as providing meals for care homes, hospitals, local authorities, schools and children’s nurseries throughout the country.

The company added: “We expect local MOW deliveries made by Apetito to continue using our emergency procedures.

“This means that most MOW customers should receive a meal – although it may not be the meal they chose.”

Apetito services provides MOW services in Hampshire, West Sussex, Gloucestershire, Warwickshire, Buckinghamshire, Bedfordshire, Milton Keynes, and the London boroughs of Richmond and Hillingdon.