Astral Foods, South Africa’s largest chicken producer, suffered a cyberattack on March 16, 2025, that resulted in significant operational disruptions. The cyberattack caused delays in poultry processing and deliveries, leading to a loss of approximately 20 million rand ($1.1 million) in revenue. Although the company swiftly implemented disaster recovery protocols, the downtime impacted their ability to meet customer demands and resulted in a backlog. Despite the setback, Astral Foods confirmed that all business units were operating normally after recovery.
The company also warned investors about a potential 60% decline in profits for the first half of the fiscal year.
Several factors contributed to this expected drop, including the cyberattack, lower poultry prices, and rising production costs. Consumer spending constraints and climate-related issues, such as last year’s drought, have further strained the poultry industry. In addition, the high costs of feed and production, coupled with the effects of the cyber incident, have compounded the financial challenges faced by Astral Foods.
Despite the financial losses, Astral Foods assured its stakeholders that no sensitive data was compromised in the attack.
The company thanked its customers, employees, and service providers for their support during the recovery process. Going forward, Astral plans to reinforce its cybersecurity infrastructure to prevent future incidents and mitigate risks. The company’s proactive recovery efforts helped avoid further damage, although the financial impact remains substantial.
Looking ahead, Astral Foods remains optimistic about long-term recovery, focusing on managing costs and improving operations. The company is committed to strengthening its cybersecurity measures, ensuring business continuity, and addressing market challenges. As digital infrastructure becomes increasingly critical, Astral Foods emphasizes the importance of cybersecurity resilience to safeguard against evolving threats.
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