Supermarkets in Belgium, Sweden and Ireland have been hit by suspected cyberattacks targeting their refrigeration and freezer systems, forcing retailers to discard food products worth thousands of euros.
The BBC reported on Monday, November 2, 2026, that dozens of supermarkets in Belgium and Sweden had experienced disruptions to their cooling systems, while 13 SuperValu outlets in Ireland were also affected.
The incidents reportedly involved unauthorised interference with supermarket refrigeration systems, with some refrigerators and freezers recording temperatures as high as 50 degrees Celsius, rendering stored food products unsuitable for sale.
In Belgium, approximately 40 Delhaize supermarkets and 15 Carrefour outlets were affected.
Delhaize, one of the country’s major supermarket chains, reportedly confirmed to Belgian media that a computer-related incident had occurred overnight in 40 of its stores.
Carrefour also said it was investigating the incident affecting 15 of its outlets.
In Sweden, supermarket operators ICA and Coop reported similar disruptions to their refrigeration and freezer systems.
An ICA spokesperson confirmed that a small number of stores operating outside the company’s central network had been affected.
“ICA is currently supporting the affected stores in managing the situation,” the spokesperson said.
One of the affected ICA branches in Sjöbo, southern Sweden, also announced on social media that its refrigerators and freezers had been hacked overnight, causing temperatures to rise to 50 degrees Celsius.
The BBC further reported that seven of Coop’s approximately 800 Swedish stores were affected, although the company said the situation had been contained and was under control.
In Ireland, 13 SuperValu stores were reportedly affected, raising further concerns about the security of supermarket refrigeration infrastructure across Europe.
The latest incidents followed a similar cyberattack on hundreds of supermarkets in France last month, in which hackers reportedly manipulated refrigeration systems, causing temperatures to rise and large quantities of food to become unsuitable for sale.
The French incident affected major retail chains, including Intermarché, Coopérative U, Carrefour, Monoprix and E.Leclerc.
Earlier BBC reports indicated that hackers gained control of software regulating refrigeration temperatures, with some affected units reportedly heating up to 50 degrees Celsius.
The incidents have highlighted potential vulnerabilities in supermarket refrigeration systems, many of which are connected to the internet to facilitate remote monitoring, maintenance and temperature regulation.
Danish engineering company Danfoss, whose software was reportedly involved in the French incident, said some affected refrigeration units were older models whose security software could no longer be updated to address identified risks.
The growing incidents have intensified concerns about the cybersecurity of essential commercial infrastructure, particularly systems responsible for preserving food and maintaining safe storage conditions.
Although the identities of those behind the latest suspected attacks remain unknown, the incidents have renewed calls for stronger protection of internet-connected equipment and improved cybersecurity measures across the retail sector.
Investigations into the incidents are ongoing.
