Supermarkets across Europe, including in Sweden, Belgium, Luxembourg, Ireland, and Estonia, faced operational disruptions on Monday due to cyberattacks that impacted refrigeration systems, leading to significant food spoilage.
In Sweden, Gustaf Nilsson, spokesperson for the ICA Group, reported that “a limited number” of their stores were affected by the incident. One ICA Kvantum store in Sjöbo experienced a severe malfunction, with its fridges and freezers reportedly set to 50 degrees Celsius (122 degrees Fahrenheit), prompting staff to dispose of spoiled products.
The Coop chain confirmed problems with the refrigeration systems at six of its stores in central Sweden, although details were not immediately available. Similarly, the Delhaize chain noted an “IT incident” that impacted several dozen stores, primarily located in Belgium, with a few in neighboring Luxembourg.
Carrefour reported a cyberattack impacting 15 out of its more than 700 stores in Belgium, calling the disruption “extremely limited.” In Estonia, a refrigeration technology firm disclosed that attackers accessed a computer controlling refrigeration systems, also setting temperatures to 50 degrees Celsius. Jann Mutso, the CEO of Kitman Coldtech, noted that the incident was resolved quickly, avoiding major damage.
In Ireland, 13 SuperValu stores were affected. Musgrave Group, the parent company, stated that chilled and frozen products were removed from sale as a safety measure, specifying that only one model of refrigerator was involved in the incident.
These events follow a similar series of cyberattacks last month in France, where attackers gained control of refrigeration systems in hundreds of supermarkets, causing temperatures to rise and leading to widespread food spoilage.
