Food Lion involved in cyber attack: Issues a statement

Supermarket chain Food Lion recently confirmed that it was the target of a cybersecurity attack noting a "cybersecurity issue" had been detected within its USA division, including brands such as Food Lion, Giant, and The Giant Company.

Food Lion was founded in 1957 in Salisbury by entrepreneurs Wilson Smith, Ralph Ketner, and Brown Ketner, initially operating as Food Town. In 1974, the chain was strategically acquired by the esteemed Belgium-based Delhaize Group.

“This issue and the subsequent mitigating actions have affected certain Ahold Delhaize USA brands and services, including some pharmacies and specific e-commerce operations,” the company stated.

Details of the impact on customers have not been made available.

“We will continue to implement measures to better protect our systems. The security of our customers, associates, and partners is our top priority.”

Food Lion stores have remained open since the attack. The brand's headquarters is in North Carolina, and more than 500 of its locations are in Delaware, Georgia, Kentucky, Maryland, Pennsylvania, South Carolina, Tennessee, Virginia, and West Virginia.

According to company officials, “some systems were taken offline to help protect them following the identification of the cyber attack.”