The Kenai and Soldotna Safeway stores closed unexpectedly Wednesday morning because of some issues in a system update overnight, according to the company.

Tairsa Worman, the public affairs manager for Safeway, said in an email that stores were back in business by Wednesday afternoon.

“A system update performed last night caused some technical delays that required temporarily closing some stores,” she said via email. “All stores are now operating normally and have reopened for business.”

KTUU reported that “many” Safeway-Carrs stores had closed because of the technical issues, including locations in Anchorage.

Employees from both the Kenai and Soldotna Safeways confirmed the stores were closed Wednesday morning. Community members also posted in local Kenai Peninsula Facebook groups about the closure.

Worman did not elaborate on the technical issue itself, nor did she comment on how many stores across the state were temporarily closed.

Reach reporter Camille Botello at camille.botello@peninsulaclarion.com.