Ahold Delhaize Cyber Attack: How It Happened and What It Means for Retail Security
In late 2024, Ahold Delhaize, the giant of global retail, behind popular grocery stores like Albert Heijn, Etos, Gall and Gall, Stop & Shop, as well as Food Lion, found itself in the spotlight due to the reason that no business wants to be in: a massive cyberattack. The incident began in a quiet way, but quickly escalated to become one of the largest and most important breaches of data in the history of retail that exposed personal information of employees, as well as disrupting service across the U.S. and the Netherlands.
If you’re a consumer or cybersecurity enthusiast or business owner worried about the security of your data, this article is worth reading.
Ahold Delhaize Cyber Attack: What Happened?
The Ahold Delhaize cyberattack was exposed after a hacker group believed to be linked to Russia, claiming to be INC Ransom, the group claimed responsibility. On November 20, 2024, hackers hacked into Ahold Delhaize’s U.S.-based servers and allegedly stole more than six trillion bytes of sensitive information. The data included names, salary amounts, or even the bank account numbers of employees.
To prevent the breach from spreading to stop the breach, the company deliberately shut down some of its systems. In the end, stores such as Stop & Shop and Hannaford were affected by problems with delivery, outages at pharmacies, as well as website crashes, which caused a great deal of discontent for customers.
Learn further on Ransomware-related attacks as well as how they function.
Retail Chain Disruption: Stop & Shop, Hannaford, and More
Of the retailers that were affected by the cyberattack, U.S. chains were the worst hit. Services such as Instacart delivery times were delayed, and Stop & Shop pharmacies could not refill prescriptions because of disconnected systems. Hannaford’s website showed a technical error message that lasted for several days: “Sorry! We’re experiencing technical problems on our server .”
This issue was not only technological; it affected real people from families who waited for food items and patients who required medication.
Was Customer Data Stolen in the Ahold Delhaize Cyber Attack?
According to the company’s most recent announcement, no customer data has been verified as compromised. The majority of the data exposed comprised employees’ records, particularly those who were employed during April 2021. This includes businesses like:
Albert Heijn
Etos
Gall & Gall
Ahold Delhaize Coffee Company
The security threat makers warned that if their ransom demands were not fulfilled, they’d reveal the stolen data publicly.
Find out the ways that the data breach affects people.
What Caused This? Common Security Vulnerabilities Revealed
Cybersecurity experts believe that ransomware, phishing, or social engineering techniques may have been used, even though Ahold Delhaize has not disclosed the precise vulnerability that was exploited. Attackers frequently utilize these entry points to get inside systems.
Advice: Always keep your system software up to date and teach your staff how to spot phishing emails. The risk of cyberattacks can be considerably decreased by doing these two actions alone.
Find out more about phishing and how to avoid it.
The Effect of the Ahold Delhaize Cyberattack on Business
In addition to endangering data, the attack interfered with vital company operations:
Stopping online orders
Impact on inventory management
Shaken customer trust
This hack is currently regarded as the largest data breach the store has had in years, and it may result in millions of dollars in legal fees, regulatory penalties, and harm to the retailer’s brand.
Safeguarding Your Company: A Comprehensive Security Manual
You’re not alone if this tale makes you concerned about the cybersecurity of your own company. Here’s a straightforward, step-by-step method to help you avoid making the next big story:
Make a Cybersecurity Assessment
Examine your present IT policy and infrastructure.
Put multi-factor authentication (MFA) into practice.
Unauthorized users find it more difficult to access systems as a result.
Patch and Update Systems. Systems that are frequently unpatched are a hacker’s paradise.
Educate Your Group
One of the main reasons for breaches is human error. Organize frequent cybersecurity awareness events.
Invest in firewalls and endpoint protection.
To limit access to data, use a zero-trust architecture.
Have a Plan for Reaction
Be ready for anything. A plan guarantees that you’re prepared to move quickly.
Examine cybersecurity frameworks such as ISO 27001 or NIST.
New Approaches to Cybersecurity: Blockchain and AI
AI and blockchain are being used by corporations such as Microsoft and IBM to identify dangers before they become more serious. Real-time threat detection, behavioral analytics, and encrypted communication platforms might help Ahold Delhaize and other retail chains stay ahead of the competition.
Find out how AI contributes to cybersecurity.
Concluding Remarks: Why This Breach Is Important
The Ahold Delhaize cyberattack is a corporate cautionary tale as much as a tech narrative. It demonstrates that even the biggest, most reputable companies are susceptible, and that harm can spread across nations and continents if they are unprepared.
Just like a DDoS attack can overwhelm a website and shut it down, the Ahold Delhaize cyber attack shows how serious cyber threats can disrupt big businesses and put sensitive data at risk — learn more here.
Indeed, Ahold Delhaize acknowledged in late 2024 that a ransomware cyberattack had infected its U.S.-based networks, impacting employee data and business activities across all of its businesses.
What is the Ahold Delhaize controversy about?
The extent of the stolen data, which allegedly includes employee bank account information and salary, and the delayed recognition of the breach are the main causes of the scandal, which raises questions around data protection and corporate transparency.
Which retailer was the target of an online attack?
Ahold Delhaize is the parent company of several retailers that were affected, including Stop & Shop, Hannaford, Food Lion, and The Giant Company.
Was there a hack at Giant Food?
Ahold Delhaize’s Giant Food brand was impacted by the larger cyberattack. System delays and disruptions were observed, but the entire scope of the incident is still being investigated.
Who is Ahold Delhaize’s CEO?
Frans Muller is the CEO of Ahold Delhaize as of 2025. He has been in charge since 2018 and is in charge of managing the company’s worldwide retail strategy and digital transformation.
Which grocery store was compromised?
Ahold Delhaize’s supermarkets, such as Gall & Gall, Etos, Stop & Shop, and Albert Heijn, were impacted. Employee data was compromised, but consumer data hasn’t been shown to have been stolen.