Science & Tech · Cybersecurity · 2 hrs ago
Albert Heijn systems remain offline after cybersecurity incident
Albert Heijn has taken several IT systems offline after a cybersecurity incident, disrupting its more than 1,200 Dutch supermarkets.
Electronic price labels may show outdated prices, and the websites and apps of Albert Heijn, Etos and Gall & Gall are unavailable.
Home deliveries have stopped, and work has paused at some distribution centres.
The disruption also affects websites and ordering services at some other supermarket chains owned by parent company Ahold Delhaize in the United States and Europe.
A cybersecurity expert says the response resembles steps a company might take during a ransomware attack, but Albert Heijn and Ahold Delhaize have not explained what happened.
It is not known whether customer or company data was stolen, or how long the disruption will last.
If it continues, fresh products could run out first, followed by longer-lasting goods, with supplies varying between stores.
Albert Heijn’s websites, apps and home delivery remain affected after the supermarket group shut down several IT systems following a cybersecurity incident.
Electronic shelf labels cannot be updated, and work has stopped at some distribution centres.
The disruption is also affecting Ahold Delhaize businesses in other countries.
The company has not said what caused the incident or how long the disruption will last.
Cybersecurity expert Christo Butcher said the broad shutdown could indicate the company has not yet located where attackers entered its systems.
- Who
- Albert Heijn and its parent company, Ahold Delhaize, are affected.
- What
- Several IT systems were shut down after a cybersecurity incident, disrupting services and operations.
- When
- The disruption began on Monday; the article was published on 12 October 2026.
- Where
- Albert Heijn stores and services in the Netherlands are affected, along with Ahold Delhaize businesses in other countries.
- Why
- The systems were shut down as a preventive measure after a cybersecurity incident. Its nature is not stated.
This story does not have two clearly opposing sides.
Albert Heijn put up notices in its stores and shut down several IT systems as a preventive measure.
Albert Heijn’s sites and apps, and those of Etos and Gall & Gall, went offline, while home deliveries were unavailable.
Albert Heijn chief executive Margaret Versteden-van Duijn told NOS that the company did not know how long the disruption would last.
- Albert Heijn stores
- More than 1,200
- Affected Dutch companies
- Albert Heijn, Etos and Gall & Gall
- Disrupted operations
- Home delivery and work at some distribution centres
- Ahold Delhaize businesses
- Websites of five US supermarket chains were taken offline
- Customer purchase records
- Albert Heijn’s privacy terms say records may be kept for up to 27 months
What people are saying
We do not yet know how long this will take.
This response from Albert Heijn looks like what you would do in a ransomware attack. At least, the symptoms look that way.
Taking these kinds of systems offline has an enormous impact. You don’t do that just like that.
Pulling the plug completely is very effective, but has an even greater impact than limiting it to some of your systems.
Sources
Related news
Cyberattack defrosts refrigerators at French supermarket chains
Ledger confirms tampered wallets linked to CryptoBilis fund thefts
Malware incident at contractor may expose 8.7 million karaoke records
Critical SonicWall flaw faces exploitation days after patch
Canadian cybersecurity executive arrested on federal extortion charges
Identity systems are a key part of cyber recovery planning
Canadian cybersecurity executive arrested in FBI ShinyHunters investigation
Pentagon data breach affected more than 3 million people
Cyberattack disrupts refrigeration systems at French supermarkets
Attacks disrupt Yandex services and its data centers in Russia
Ricardo users receive phishing messages after data leak
