NAIROBI, Kenya—Dozens of supermarkets in Belgium, Sweden and Ireland have been hit by a suspected cyberattack targeting refrigeration systems, forcing stores to discard large quantities of food and disrupting operations.
Around 40 Delhaize supermarkets in Belgium and Luxembourg were affected, while several ICA and Coop outlets in Sweden also reported incidents. In Ireland, 13 SuperValu stores were impacted.
Local media reports indicate that millions of euros’ worth of food may have been lost after hackers allegedly interfered with refrigerator and freezer temperature settings.
The identity of those behind the suspected attack remains unknown. Belgium’s and Sweden’s national cybersecurity agencies said they were monitoring the incident.
The disruption comes weeks after a similar incident affected hundreds of supermarkets in France, raising concerns about the vulnerability of food retailers’ digital systems.
Supermarket freezers reportedly set to 50 degrees
Delhaize, one of Belgium’s largest supermarket chains, confirmed that a computer incident occurred overnight at about 40 stores.
A branch in Hoeilaart, in the Flemish Brabant province, told Belgian newspaper Het Laatste Nieuws that it had lost an estimated €100,000 worth of produce.
The store manager said the figure did not include further losses expected from the disruption and the cost of closing the shop.
French-owned retailer Carrefour also reported an incident affecting 15 of its Belgian stores. The company said it had immediately taken measures to ensure all affected outlets remained open.
In Sweden, ICA confirmed that a small number of stores operating outside its central network had been affected.
“ICA is currently supporting the affected stores in managing the situation,” a spokesperson said.
One ICA outlet in Sjöbo, southern Sweden, reported that its refrigerators and freezers had been hacked overnight, with their temperatures allegedly changed to 50 degrees Celsius.
The store temporarily closed but has since reopened.
Images from another affected branch on Odengatan in Stockholm showed an employee disposing of bags of spoiled food.
Coop says situation contained
Seven of Sweden’s approximately 800 Coop stores were also affected.
The retailer told the BBC that the situation was contained and under control.
The incidents have also affected 13 SuperValu outlets in Ireland, although details of the disruption and financial losses at those stores remain unclear.
Authorities have not identified the perpetrators or established whether the incidents across the three countries were carried out by the same group.
The suspected attacks highlight the potential consequences of cyber intrusions targeting operational technology used to control essential supermarket systems, including refrigeration and food storage.
For retailers, such disruptions can result in significant financial losses, food waste and temporary closures even when payment and checkout systems remain operational.
