Cyberattacks Disrupt Supermarket Refrigeration Across Europe

Supermarkets in at least nine European countries reported cyber incidents affecting refrigeration systems on 1 November 2026, with food stocks destroyed or removed from sale. Retailers in Belgium, Estonia, Finland, Ireland, Italy, Luxembourg, the Netherlands, Portugal and Sweden reported incidents. The cause and perpetrators have not been confirmed.

The attacks appear similar to October’s incidents involving refrigeration-system providers Danfoss and Copeland in France, when hackers reportedly altered temperatures in internet-connected refrigerators; some units were said to have been set as high as 50°C.

In Ireland, SuperValu confirmed that a “specific model” of refrigerator was affected and removed chilled and frozen products from 13 stores as a precaution. In Sweden, a store reportedly said its fridges and freezers had been hacked and set to 50°C. The Swedish National Cyber Security Centre said it was monitoring incidents and was in contact with affected businesses and counterparts across Europe. Ikea confirmed that an attack caused freezer temperatures to rise at its outlet in Mons, Belgium.

In the UK, NCSC chief executive Richard Horne said the agency knew of “a couple of instances” in which vulnerable technology had been exploited, and that potentially affected companies had been alerted.

EU Agriculture and Food Commissioner Christophe Hansen called the incidents a deliberate attempt to disrupt the food supply chain, though no threat actor has claimed responsibility. He said the attacks would be discussed at the next meeting of the European Commission’s Security College, including retailers’ contingency plans and ability to respond.