Ahold Delhaize Takes Systems Offline After Cyber Incident Hits US, Europe

Ahold Delhaize announced on Monday that it was implementing precautionary measures following a cybersecurity incident. The Dutch multinational retailer stated that teams are working to assess and mitigate the issue, which has impacted operations across the United States, the Netherlands and Belgium. The company emphasized that protecting its infrastructure remains a top priority for all stakeholders.

The retailer confirmed that it took some systems offline to help protect them from further compromise. While physical stores remain open and continue serving customers, significant disruptions occurred in other areas. Distribution centers experienced interruptions, online grocery orders were suspended, and in-store pricing systems displayed outdated information. It remains unclear whether these operational failures resulted directly from the incident or from the defensive measures taken by the company.

Operational Impact Across Regions

In the Netherlands, subsidiary brands Albert Heijn, Etos and Gall & Gall faced service issues starting Sunday afternoon. According to The Record, Albert Heijn’s website, mobile app and customer service channels were unavailable. Grocery deliveries were suspended entirely, and electronic shelf labels in stores showed incorrect promotional prices. The brand stated it had disconnected systems to secure its IT environment but did not provide a timeline for restoring full services.

Belgian operations under the Delhaize brand also encountered difficulties. VRT News reported that customers could not place new orders or contact customer service representatives. However, the company’s website and application remained accessible to users during this period. The lack of communication regarding delivery status caused concern among housebound customers who were awaiting scheduled shipments without any estimated time of arrival information.

US Retailer Response

In the United States, brands including Food Lion and Stop & Shop were affected by the incident. Food Lion staff discussed the situation on social media, with managers characterizing the event as an IT outage rather than a security breach. Stop & Shop customers complained about the lack of information regarding their deliveries. One customer noted they were worried about a delivery scheduled for Thursday, highlighting the uncertainty surrounding the restoration of services.

Ahold Delhaize operates across nine countries and employs more than 400,000 people. The company did not explain the nature of the current incident. It also did not disclose whether customer or employee data had been compromised. This event follows a previous cyberattack in 2024 that affected prominent supermarkets in the US. During that earlier incident, more than 2.2 million people had their information stolen from the retailer’s systems.

What should you do?

What to do and how to stay safe: Ahold Delhaize

• Monitor official company communications for updates on service restoration and data privacy.
• Avoid clicking links in unsolicited emails claiming to resolve delivery or account issues.
• Review recent financial statements for any unauthorized transactions or charges.
• Once the vendor provides an update, check for patches or security recommendations.

Step-by-step guide: Mobile Device Security: How to Protect Data Beyond Passwords

General security guidance from the Threat Times newsroom. It is not confirmed advice from the organisations named in this story.

Frequently asked questions

Did Ahold Delhaize confirm if customer data was stolen?

The company did not disclose whether customer or employee information was compromised during this specific incident.

Which countries are affected by this cyber incident?

The incident has impacted operations in the United States, the Netherlands and Belgium.

Are physical grocery stores still open?

Yes, Ahold Delhaize stated that its stores remain open and are serving customers.