A suspected cyberattack targeting supermarket refrigeration systems has disrupted operations in seven European countries, forcing several stores to remove fresh and frozen food products from their shelves after temperatures in refrigerators and freezers reportedly rose sharply.
The incident has affected supermarkets in Belgium, Luxembourg, Sweden, Ireland, the Netherlands, Estonia and Finland, with around 40 Delhaize stores in Belgium and Luxembourg reportedly experiencing disruptions.
Other affected retailers include Carrefour and Spar in Belgium, ICA and Coop in Sweden, and SuperValu in Ireland. Musgrave, the company behind SuperValu, confirmed that 13 of its stores were affected by a cyber-related incident involving a particular model of refrigeration equipment.
In some affected locations, freezer temperatures reportedly climbed as high as 50 degrees Celsius, raising concerns over food safety and resulting in the disposal of large quantities of perishable products.
In Sweden, an ICA supermarket reportedly discovered that its refrigeration systems had been tampered with overnight, forcing staff to discard spoiled food. Some stores temporarily closed while efforts were made to restore their cooling systems.
Meanwhile, Belgian authorities and cybersecurity agencies are monitoring the situation as investigations continue. A refrigeration company operating some of the affected systems said the attackers switched refrigeration units into defrost mode, causing temperatures to rise.
The incident comes weeks after a similar cyberattack affected hundreds of supermarkets in France, resulting in significant food losses and disruption.
Authorities have yet to publicly identify those responsible or establish whether the latest incidents across Europe are connected.
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