STOCKHOLM, Sweden | November 2, 2026 | Supermarkets in Sweden, Belgium, Luxembourg and Estonia reported widespread refrigeration and freezer disruptions on Monday, with suspected cyberattacks causing food losses and forcing some stores to discard fresh and frozen products, raising concerns about the vulnerability of digitally connected retail infrastructure.
In Sweden, grocery chains ICA and Coop reported overnight problems affecting several stores. ICA confirmed that a limited number of locations experienced disruptions to their refrigeration and freezer systems, while Coop reported problems at six stores in central Sweden.
An ICA Kvantum branch in Sjöbo reported that its refrigerators and freezers had been remotely set to 50 degrees Celsius, or 122 degrees Fahrenheit. The store said it was forced to dispose of affected food products. Other ICA locations also reported refrigeration failures.
Sweden’s National Cybersecurity Centre confirmed that it was working on several incidents involving supermarket refrigeration systems, according to Reuters. However, the full extent of the disruption and whether all affected stores were targeted through the same method remained under investigation.
In Belgium and Luxembourg, supermarket operator Ahold Delhaize confirmed an information technology incident affecting refrigeration systems in several dozen stores. The company said the availability of fresh and frozen products was temporarily reduced, although its distribution centers and deliveries continued operating normally.
Carrefour Belgium reported that a cyberattack targeting refrigeration equipment had affected 15 of its more than 700 stores, describing the impact as limited. Meanwhile, Colruyt Group reported problems involving refrigeration systems at five Spar stores operating under its franchise network.
In Estonia, refrigeration technology company Kitman Coldtech confirmed that attackers had accessed a computer controlling a client’s cooling equipment and raised the temperature to 50 degrees Celsius. Company chief executive Jann Mutso said the incident was addressed within minutes without significant damage. Supermarket operator Selver confirmed that one of its outlets was affected.
The latest incidents follow a major cyberattack in France last month, when hackers reportedly gained remote control of refrigeration equipment at as many as 700 supermarkets and independent stores. French police said the attacks caused substantial losses of chilled and frozen food, with some incidents also resulting in fires.
According to reports cited by The Guardian, the attackers manipulated refrigeration controllers, changing thermostat settings and extending defrost cycles to raise temperatures inside storage units. Several major French retail chains, including Intermarché, Coopérative U, Carrefour, Leclerc and Monoprix, were among those affected.
The attacks exposed security weaknesses in supermarket refrigeration systems that are increasingly connected to the internet for remote monitoring, maintenance and automated fault alerts. In the French incidents, older control systems were reportedly targeted, including equipment supplied by Danish manufacturer Danfoss, which had previously identified security vulnerabilities and recommended software updates to customers.
French authorities opened a formal investigation into the October incidents, while the country’s national cybersecurity agency, ANSSI, was directed to examine the attacks. No group has publicly claimed responsibility, and authorities have not established whether the latest incidents in northern Europe are connected to the French operation.
The disruptions highlight how cyberattacks targeting industrial control systems can extend beyond computers and digital networks, threatening food safety, retail operations and supply chains. Investigations are continuing as affected retailers assess losses and work to restore their refrigeration systems.
Si Venus L Peñaflor ay naging editor-in-chief ng Newsworld, isang lokal na pahayagan ng Laguna. Publisher din siya ng Daystar Gazette at Tutubi News Magazine. Siya ay isa ring pintor at doll face designer ng Ninay Dolls, ang unang Manikang Pilipino. Kasali siya sa DesignCrowd sa rank na #305 sa 640,000 graphic designers sa buong daigdig. Kasama din siya sa unang Local TV Broadcast sa Laguna na Beyond Manila. Aktibong kasapi siya ng San Pablo Jaycees Senate bilang isang JCI Senator.
- Venus L Peñaflor
- Venus L Peñaflor
- Venus L Peñaflor
- Venus L Peñaflor
