Supermarket fridges fail across several European countries; some firms and EU official cite cyberattack

Supermarkets in Belgium, Luxembourg, Estonia, Sweden, Finland and Ireland reported failures or abnormal temperature rises in their fridges and freezers on Monday, 2 November 2026. Food was spoiled or discarded as a result. The incidents followed a similar incident affecting supermarket refrigeration in France in October.

Ahold Delhaize said an overnight "IT incident" hit fridges and freezers in its stores in Belgium and Luxembourg. Carrefour stores in Belgium and Spar stores were also affected. Swedish grocer ICA said a limited number of its stores were affected. Swedish grocer Coop said six of its stores were affected. At least one ICA store said its refrigeration temperature had been set remotely to 50°C.

John Billow, head of Sweden's National Cybersecurity Center, told Reuters the centre was investigating the incidents.

Further reported details

• Reuters quoted a spokesperson for Belgium's prosecutor's office as saying a criminal investigation had been opened, according to DW.
• Carrefour Belgium reported disruption in about 15 of its 700 Belgian stores, according to France 24.
• A Colruyt Group spokesperson said five Spar shops had their fridge systems attacked, France 24 reported.
• An Ikea Belgium spokeswoman said its Mons store was affected, according to France 24.
• Irish broadcaster RTE reported that 13 supermarkets in Ireland were affected, according to DW.
• Le Monde reported that supermarkets in the Netherlands were also affected.
• DW reported the October incident in France took place on 12 October and that systems were set to defrost. France 24 reported that police said hackers raised temperatures as high as 50°C at hundreds of French supermarkets.

What is disputed

The cause of Monday's incidents is not officially established. Carrefour Belgium, Ikea Belgium, individual ICA stores and Commissioner Hansen described them as a cyberattack or deliberate act. Coop, Kesko and Ahold Delhaize did not attribute them to a cyberattack.

What each side says

• Hansen called the incidents "a deliberate attempt to disrupt Europe's food supplies", according to DW. He also said "food security is not currently at risk ... the food waste and impact on businesses are real", according to France 24.
• "It's a cyberattack, there is no other reason," Carrefour Belgium spokesman Mich Vergauwen said, according to France 24.
• Coop spokesman Carlos Cancino told AFP, according to DW: "I haven't received any information that this is a cyberattack."
• "We are currently investigating the cause, and interference via the network has not yet been ruled out," Kesko security head Petri Kayhko told AFP, according to France 24.

The reports reviewed by Vocemundi do not identify who carried out the incidents or how systems were accessed. They do not give a total number of affected stores.

Analysis

The incidents raise questions about the security of connected refrigeration equipment in food retail. If investigators confirm a cyberattack, attention may turn to shared vendors, service providers or outdated devices; Sweden's cybersecurity centre has already urged operators to update exposed systems. If no common cause is found, assessments may differ by country. Officials say food security is not currently at risk, though businesses report losses. Key open points include who is responsible, whether Monday's events are linked to the October incident in France, and what official investigations conclude.

Produced by the Vocemundi newsroom with AI assistance.