Duvel Moortgat, the renowned brewery behind beloved brands like La Chouffe, Maredsous, and Vedett, recently faced disruption in its operations due to a ransomware attack. The incident prompted a temporary halt in manufacturing at its bottling facilities, raising concerns about potential impacts on production and distribution.
A spokesperson for the company disclosed to local media that their automated detection systems promptly flagged the attack, enabling swift response measures. The group responsible for the cyber assault, identified as Stormous, claimed to have extracted 88GB of data and issued a ransom ultimatum threatening data leak if not paid by March 25. The nature of the compromised information remains undisclosed, leaving uncertainties regarding its contents, including the possibility of sensitive brew recipes.
Ellen Aarts, Communications Manager at Duvel Moortgat, assured stakeholders that despite the disruption, distribution would remain unaffected as the brewery’s warehouses were adequately stocked. The company’s IT department immediately initiated protocols upon detecting the ransomware, leading to the cessation of production. Efforts are underway to resume operations swiftly, with hopes pinned on recommencing manufacturing within the next few days.
Social media reactions varied, with some labeling the incident a “national emergency” and urging transparency regarding strategic reserves. Concerns lingered over potential impacts on stock levels, production timelines, and consequent price fluctuations. The extent of the attack’s ramifications on other facets of the business, including the main brewery in Breendock, remains uncertain at this time.
As investigations continue and recovery efforts intensify, stakeholders await further updates from Duvel Moortgat regarding the full scope of the incident and measures undertaken to mitigate its consequences.
