Supermarkets in four European countries are dealing with serious refrigeration disruptions after suspected hackers gained access to digital cooling systems and changed freezer temperatures, putting fresh and frozen food supplies at risk.
The European supermarket cyberattacks have affected grocery stores in Sweden, Belgium, Luxembourg and Estonia, with some retailers reporting damaged food stocks and others rushing to prevent losses. The incidents emerged on Monday, November 2, and have raised concerns about the growing security risks facing businesses that depend on internet-connected equipment.
The attacks appear to follow a similar incident in France last month, where hackers reportedly interfered with refrigeration systems across several major supermarket chains.
European Supermarket Cyberattacks Disrupt Refrigeration Systems
In Sweden, supermarket operators ICA and Coop confirmed that some of their stores experienced problems with refrigeration and freezer equipment following overnight incidents.
ICA, one of the country’s major privately held grocery retailers, said a limited number of its locations were affected. The company explained that the incident disrupted systems responsible for keeping food products at the required temperatures.
Coop also reported problems at six of its stores. According to information provided to Swedish newspaper Aftonbladet, the affected outlets experienced similar refrigeration disruptions.
One Swedish supermarket disclosed on social media that its refrigerators and freezers had been set to 50 degrees Celsius. Such temperatures are far above the levels required to preserve perishable food, raising concerns about the safety of products stored inside the affected equipment.
Sweden’s National Cybersecurity Centre confirmed that it was working on several incidents involving refrigeration systems in grocery stores across the country.
The situation has also spread beyond Sweden. In Belgium and Luxembourg, dozens of refrigerators and freezers at Delhaize supermarket locations reportedly experienced sudden temperature increases.
Delhaize confirmed that its cooling systems had been affected, while butcher shop De Laet & Van Haver also reported unusual temperature changes in its refrigeration equipment.
Carrefour Belgium separately disclosed that 15 of its stores had experienced disruptions by Monday morning, adding another major retailer to the list of businesses dealing with the incidents.
Estonia has also reported a related security breach. Refrigeration company Kitman Coldtech said hackers targeted cooling systems belonging to an unnamed supermarket chain. However, the company explained that a quick response helped prevent damage to the food supplies.
France Experienced Similar Attacks in October
The latest European supermarket cyberattacks have renewed attention on a similar incident that affected French retailers in October.
Several major supermarket operators in France reported that hackers had interfered with their refrigeration equipment, causing temperatures to rise and threatening stored food products.
Carrefour said approximately 80 of its supermarkets experienced disruptions. Monoprix, which operates about 490 stores in France, also reported that five per cent of its locations were affected.
Les Mousquetaires, the retail group that owns Intermarché, disclosed that refrigeration units in around 150 of its stores had experienced temperature increases.
The company explained that some refrigerators were heated to 50 degrees Celsius and remained at that level for approximately six hours overnight.
Following the incident, the retailer discarded all affected food products to eliminate potential health risks to customers. The decision reflected concerns that food exposed to unsuitable temperatures could become unsafe for consumption.
France’s National Cybersecurity Agency is investigating the October incident. French authorities have also been coordinating with cybersecurity counterparts in other European countries because the problem could extend beyond national borders.
Retailers Face Growing Cybersecurity Concerns
The incidents have highlighted a potential weakness in the digital infrastructure supporting modern supermarket operations.
Many retailers depend on connected refrigeration equipment to monitor temperatures, manage cooling systems and identify technical problems remotely. Although these technologies make store operations more efficient, unauthorised access could allow attackers to interfere with essential equipment.
A successful intrusion into such systems can create problems beyond temporary technical disruptions. Supermarkets may face financial losses from discarded products, interruptions to normal business activities and additional expenses associated with investigating and securing affected equipment.
Food safety is another major concern because refrigeration plays an important role in preserving perishable products and maintaining appropriate storage conditions.
The latest incidents also demonstrate why businesses must protect equipment that may not traditionally be considered part of their main computer networks.
Retailers across Europe could face increased pressure to review remote access arrangements, strengthen system security and improve their ability to detect unusual changes in equipment settings.
Although authorities have confirmed investigations into the reported incidents, the identities of those responsible and the full extent of the latest damage remain unclear.
For now, affected retailers must focus on restoring normal operations, protecting food supplies and preventing further disruptions as investigations continue.