Supermarket Freezers Across Europe Hit by Second Suspected Cyber-Attack

 Image via [RTÉ](https://www.rte.ie/news/business/2026/1102/1597612-13-supervalu-stores-hit-by-suspected-cyber-attack/). The incident mirrors a similar attack in France last month, which caused widespread disruption and significant financial losses. Retailers in Belgium, Estonia, Ireland, Finland, Luxembourg, the Netherlands, and Sweden reported issues with their refrigeration systems, with some confirming that the problem was due to a cyber attack. In Ireland, Musgrave Group confirmed that all 13 SuperValu stores affected had fully resolved the issue, with refrigeration systems returning to normal. Carrefour Belgium reported disruptions at 15 out of its 700 stores, while Delhaize supermarkets in Belgium and Luxembourg saw around 40 locations affected. The incidents followed an earlier attack in France that targeted hundreds of stores, causing widespread disruption. Sabcobel, a Belgian company manufacturing some of the affected refrigerators, stated that the attack involved switching evaporators to defrost mode, leading to unexpected warming. The company emphasized that physical modifications, not just software updates, are necessary to secure these systems against future attacks. This method was likely used again, echoing the approach seen in last month's French incident. In Flanders, northern Belgium, a Delhaize branch in Hoeilaart told news website Het Laatste Nieuws it had lost €100,000 (£83,500) worth of produce. In Sweden, a Coop store reported that seven out of 800 locations were affected, though the situation was described as contained. The incident has prompted calls for increased cybersecurity measures across the food supply chain, particularly in protecting operational technology used in refrigeration systems. The Paris prosecutor’s office has launched a formal inquiry, and Prime Minister Sébastien Lecornu directed France’s national cybersecurity agency, Ansii, to examine the case. Belgium and Sweden’s national cyber-security agencies are also monitoring the situation, while the UK’s National Cyber Security Centre is collaborating with international partners to understand the details of the attack. Experts warn that the attacks represent a growing threat to critical infrastructure, including food storage and distribution networks. Patrick Lamplmair of the cybersecurity firm Tributech said cyber-attackers would keep going 'until it stops working' because the method was 'cheap and the damage is immediate'. Many refrigeration systems had known and as yet unfixed flaws, he said. The EU food and agriculture commissioner, Christophe Hansen, called the repeated cyber-attacks deeply concerning, describing them as a deliberate attempt to disrupt the food supply chain and undermine consumer confidence. However, the exact method used in the French attack is not specified in this report, as noted by RTÉ. Sources: [RTÉ](https://www.rte.ie/news/business/2026/1102/1597612-13-supervalu-stores-hit-by-suspected-cyber-attack/) · [The Guardian](https://www.theguardian.com/world/2026/nov/02/supermarket-freezers-across-europe-hit-by-second-suspected-cyber-attack) · [BBC](https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/cq1kd1nee80eo)