In brief
Supermarket chains across Europe experienced refrigeration failures after a cyber incident. The disruption led to the removal of perishable products from 13 stores in Ireland, multiple locations in Sweden, thirty-plus stores in Belgium and Luxembourg, and raised concerns about food safety and cybersecurity. Authorities have yet to determine a connection or identify the perpetrator.
On Monday, a cyber incident disrupted refrigeration systems at 13 stores operated by Irish supermarket chain SuperValu, according to a report from London and Helsinki. The incident forced those outlets to remove chilled and frozen food items as a precautionary measure, though other products remained available.
A spokesperson for Musgrave Group, the owner of SuperValu, said that the problem was limited to a specific model of refrigeration equipment. He noted that the company’s monitoring systems detected the anomaly and that they had taken immediate action. The store chain is collaborating with equipment suppliers and cybersecurity specialists to investigate the incident and restore normal operations.
"Our monitoring systems alerted us to the issue and we took immediate action," a company spokesperson said. He added that other products remained available as normal.
In Sweden, grocery retailer Axfood reported that the freezer systems at a distribution centre handling home deliveries had been hacked. Other Swedish chains, including ICA and Coop, also experienced overnight refrigeration problems. Cooper stated that six of its stores were affected, while ICA confirmed disruptions at a limited number of locations. One ICA store even reported that its refrigeration and freezer temperatures had been set to 50 degrees Celsius following a suspected cyberattack.
Broader European disruptions
Belgium and Luxembourg saw similar incidents involving supermarket chain Delhaize, owned by retail group Ahold Delhaize. Delhaize said an IT incident had compromised refrigeration systems at dozens of its stores. Belgian retailer Colruyt Group also reported that five Spar stores experienced attacks on their refrigeration systems.
These new breaches follow a major cyberattack in France in October, when hackers gained control of refrigeration systems at hundreds of supermarkets. French police reported that the intrusion caused temperatures to rise sharply, leading to significant food losses and, in some cases, fires.
Authorities in the affected countries have so far not established whether the latest incidents are connected or who may be responsible. No single organization has claimed responsibility for the attacks.
The disruptions have highlighted vulnerabilities in the food retail infrastructure, raising questions about the resilience of critical systems that safeguard perishable foods. The removal of chilled items from shelves has created uncertainty for shoppers and suppliers alike, while supermarkets face potential losses from spoiled inventory.
In response, supermarket chains across Europe have intensified monitoring of their refrigeration units and are working closely with cybersecurity specialists to prevent further disruptions. The delayed operation of affected equipment continues to be investigated, and additional safeguards are expected to be installed in the coming weeks.
While the incidents have temporarily affected a wide range of supermarkets, the impacts remain largely contained, with efforts underway to restore normal refrigeration functions and restore confidence in the safety of perishable foods.
