The Friday Checkout: Ahold Delhaize’s digital disaster is a customer retention nightmare

[Viable Food News Desk]

Publisher: Grocery Dive
Published: October 16, 2026
Source: Read at Grocery Dive
Category: Food Access

A cybersecurity incident has disrupted the websites of Ahold Delhaize's five U.S. supermarket chains. Customers can place online orders only through DoorDash, Instacart and Uber Eats. The outage also blocks access to loyalty accounts through the company's websites and apps, restricting shoppers' ability to redeem rewards. Ahold Delhaize's U.S. digital sales rose more than 14% in its most recent quarter, while comparable-store sales grew less than 1%.

Why this matters: For independent grocers, the incident shows that online ordering and loyalty access are part of the customer relationship. A disruption can push shoppers toward third-party delivery platforms or rival stores.

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