More than 100 Hannaford stores were hobbled by a technology glitch that prevented customers from purchasing items by debit or credit card Tuesday.

According to Caren Epstein, corporate spokeswoman for the regional grocery chain, a problem with service provider Verizon affected computer-based operations from 7 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. throughout the chain’s 122 stores in five states.

Epstein said the company would be meeting with Verizon officials later in the week “to express our displeasure.”

“Clearly, this is not an acceptable situation,” said Epstein. She said the problem was explained to her as trouble on the data circuit, a “bad card in a switch.”

Peter Reilly, Verizon’s spokesman in Maine, said he couldn’t comment on the situation.

The glitch affected stores differently since some had backup systems and others had alternate lines they could use. Epstein said the company would use the malfunction as a learning experience to review and upgrade its redundancy systems.

Hannaford has not calculated the cost of the glitch. Epstein said it’s difficult to gauge how many shoppers simply left the stores when they realized they couldn’t use cards to purchase their groceries. The malfunction also meant stores couldn’t use their computer systems to order products for inventories.

“It’s safe to say we’re concerned because of the inconvenience to the customer and from a business perspective of lost sales,” she said.