Fridges turned up as suspected cyber attack disrupts supermarkets across Europe

Disruptions across several countries

Retail chains in Belgium, Ireland, Luxembourg and Sweden were reported to have been affected by an IT incident. Swedish grocers ICA and Coop reported similar temperature increases, and one store explicitly attributed its problem to a cyber attack.

In Ireland, refrigeration equipment at 13 SuperValu stores was affected in what was described as a suspected cyber attack. An Estonian supermarket chain was also affected, with temperatures reportedly set to 50°C, technology supplier Kitman Coldtech told public broadcaster ERR.

Belgian stores report attacks

Stephan Moelans, chief executive of Belgian refrigeration company Sabcobel, said the incident affecting systems it operates for Delhaize was a cyberattack. He said the units’ evaporators had been switched into defrost mode. Moelans’ office declined to comment when contacted by reporters.

A Colruyt Group spokesperson said refrigeration systems at five shops had been attacked. The group operates Spar stores in Belgium through a franchise system.

ICA store later reopened

An ICA store in Sweden said on social media that its refrigerators and freezers had been hacked overnight and set to 50°C. The store later said it had reopened. An ICA spokesperson said a limited number of stores had been affected overnight, disrupting refrigeration and freezer systems.