Swedish supermarket hit by cyberattack as fridges remotely set to 50°C

A fresh cyberattack targeting supermarket refrigeration systems has reportedly hit Sweden, raising fears of further food losses as a similar incident spreads across European retail chains.

Several stores belonging to Swedish grocery giant ICA were reportedly affected overnight, with refrigerators and freezers allegedly remotely adjusted to reach temperatures of 50°C.

The incident comes just weeks after hackers targeted hundreds of French supermarkets, causing widespread food spoilage and disruption. Fresh reports from Belgium suggest the problem may be spreading further across Europe.

ICA stores reportedly affected overnight

According to a report shared by InsiderGeo on X, several ICA branches were hit by a cyberattack, with stores in Sjöbo and Tomelilla among those named.

The alleged attack saw refrigeration systems remotely manipulated, potentially causing large quantities of fresh and frozen food to spoil. The social media report said affected stores would remain closed during the morning, with reopening expected at 9am Swedish time.

ICA was also reported to be working to restore normal operations and had apologised to customers for the disruption. However, the number of affected stores, the scale of the damage and the precise cause of the incident have not yet been independently confirmed.

Belgium reports fresh supermarket disruption

The Swedish reports emerged alongside further problems in Belgium, where supermarket refrigeration systems have also reportedly been targeted.

At least 40 Delhaize supermarkets were reportedly affected, while Carrefour Belgium said 15 of its stores had experienced problems with refrigeration equipment, according to Dutch news outlet NL Times on November 2.

The reported incidents involved temperatures rising sharply in refrigeration systems, although the precise extent of the damage and whether the attacks are connected remain unclear.

Delhaize is part of Dutch-Belgian retail group Ahold Delhaize, which also owns Albert Heijn. The latest developments raise concerns about the security of supermarket infrastructure, particularly systems that allow refrigeration equipment to be monitored and controlled remotely.

France attack caused widespread food losses

The first major incident in this series of reported attacks struck France overnight between October 11 and 12.

Hundreds of supermarkets experienced problems after hackers allegedly manipulated connected refrigeration systems, forcing temperatures to climb to as high as 50°C.

Carrefour confirmed that around 80 stores were affected, while Intermarché reported approximately 150 affected locations. Other retailers, including Monoprix and Coopérative U, also reported disruption.

The consequences were substantial, with affected supermarkets forced to discard fresh and frozen products to prevent potential food safety risks. Investigators identified vulnerabilities involving refrigeration management software supplied by Danish manufacturer Danfoss.

The company said some affected systems were running outdated firmware and had reached the end of their supported life, meaning they were no longer receiving security updates.

France’s cybercrime authorities launched an investigation, while the country’s National Cybersecurity Agency was asked to examine the incident.

With further reports now emerging from Sweden and Belgium, questions are mounting over the security of connected refrigeration systems across Europe’s supermarket industry.