A major cyberattack has disrupted refrigeration systems at supermarkets across several European countries, causing temperatures inside refrigerators and freezers to rise sharply. The incident, reported on November 2, affected grocery stores in Sweden, Belgium, Luxembourg and Ireland, with at least one IKEA outlet also reporting disruption. In some stores, freezer temperatures reportedly climbed to 50°C, forcing retailers to discard large quantities of frozen and perishable food products.
In Sweden, supermarket chains ICA and Coop confirmed that several outlets were affected. One ICA franchise store in Stockholm reported that its freezers had reached 50°C following a suspected cyberattack around 2 am. Coop also reported disruptions at seven of its stores. In Belgium, five Spar outlets and 15 Carrefour stores were affected, while refrigeration systems at 13 SuperValu stores in Ireland were also impacted. A Belgian butcher estimated losses of approximately €15,000 due to spoiled meat.
Cybersecurity experts believe hackers may have remotely manipulated refrigeration control systems, highlighting the growing risks associated with digitally connected equipment. The incidents have raised concerns about the security of essential infrastructure and food supply chains across Europe. The latest attack comes just weeks after a similar incident in France, where hackers reportedly targeted cooling systems at hundreds of supermarkets, resulting in fires and significant food losses. No group has claimed responsibility for the latest attacks, and authorities have not yet identified the perpetrators or established whether the incidents are connected.
