Media: supermarket chain in the Netherlands is experiencing a shortage of fresh food

Buyers of the Netherlands' largest supermarket chain Albert Heijn may not find fresh vegetables and fruits on the shelves on Tuesday: due to a technical glitch, five of its six distribution centers have stopped working, so deliveries are not in full volume, Hart van Nederland portal reported.

The Dutch-Belgian international retail group Ahold Delhaize, which owns the Netherlands' largest supermarket chain Albert Heijn, as well as Etos cosmetics stores and Gall&Gall alcoholic beverages stores, experienced a technical failure on Monday due to a cybersecurity incident.

Due to a glitch, delivery of products from stores in this group is unavailable, and incorrect prices for products are displayed in applications.

“Due to serious problems with the IT system at the supermarket chain, some shelves have begun to become empty... It is especially difficult to find fresh products such as vegetables and fruits,” the portal reported on Tuesday.

Utrecht store employee Chris said his branch had not received a new shipment of vegetables and fruits, and the shortage was already becoming noticeable. According to Albert Heijn, frozen foods, bread and products with a long shelf life should remain more accessible. Physical stores are open, but online ordering and delivery are not yet available.

Problems also arise at the checkouts. The prices on the price tags often do not coincide with the real ones, so employees manually apply new labels, the CNV union reported.