Cyberattack Hits Supermarkets Across Nine European Countries

A suspected cyberattack has disrupted supermarket refrigeration systems across nine European countries, forcing retailers to discard food after hackers reportedly manipulated temperatures in refrigerators and freezers.

The affected countries are Belgium, Estonia, Finland, Ireland, Italy, Luxembourg, the Netherlands, Portugal and Sweden. Several retailers reported that temperatures rose overnight on Monday, November 2, damaging or putting fresh and frozen products at risk.

Belgium was among the hardest-hit countries, with several supermarket chains reporting problems. Carrefour Belgium said about 15 of its 700 stores were affected, while Delhaize, Colruyt and Intermarché also reported refrigeration disruptions. Four Delhaize outlets in Luxembourg were affected.

In Ireland, Musgrave Group, which operates SuperValu stores, said 13 outlets were impacted. Sweden’s Coop confirmed that six of its approximately 800 stores experienced the incident, while supermarket chain ICA also reported refrigeration problems at some locations.

In Portugal, the Mosqueteiros group confirmed that seven Intermarché stores were affected. The company said the incident appeared to have targeted an external service provider responsible for managing refrigeration systems.

Reports from Italy also indicated that at least four Coop supermarkets in Sicily and another business in Tuscany were affected. In Estonia, a supermarket refrigeration unit was reportedly manipulated to reach temperatures as high as 50 degrees Celsius.

European Commissioner for Agriculture and Food, Christophe Hansen, warned that the incidents raised concerns about the security of the region’s food supply chain.

He said the European Union was taking the attacks seriously, describing them as a deliberate attempt to disrupt food distribution and undermine consumer confidence.

The latest incident follows a similar cyberattack in France in October, when refrigeration systems in hundreds of grocery stores were disrupted, resulting in substantial food losses.

No group has claimed responsibility for the attacks, and investigators have not established whether the incidents are connected.

Authorities and affected retailers are continuing investigations, while cybersecurity concerns have intensified over vulnerabilities in remotely managed refrigeration systems used by supermarkets.