Dozens of supermarkets across Belgium, Sweden, and Ireland have been impacted by a suspected cyber-attack that disabled their refrigeration and freezer systems. The incident has led to significant food spoilage and financial losses, with some stores reporting temperatures soaring to 50 degrees Celsius (122 degrees Fahrenheit) in their freezers.

In Belgium, approximately 40 Delhaize supermarkets were affected, with one branch in Hoeilaart estimating losses of €100,000 worth of produce. Carrefour reported that 15 of its Belgian stores experienced the incident, but stated that measures were immediately implemented to keep all shops operational. The cyber-attack follows a similar event last month that disrupted hundreds of supermarkets in France, raising concerns about the vulnerability of food supply chains to digital threats.

Several grocery stores under the ICA and Coop brands in Sweden also reported disruptions. An ICA store in Sjöbo, southern Sweden, posted on social media that its refrigerators and freezers had been "hacked overnight" and the temperature set to 50 degrees Celsius. While the store has since reopened, employees were seen discarding bags of spoiled food. Seven out of 800 Coop stores in Sweden were affected, but the company stated the situation is contained.

In Ireland, thirteen SuperValu shops have also been impacted by the refrigeration failures. The full extent of the financial damage across all affected countries is still being assessed, but local media reports suggest millions of euros worth of food has been lost. National cyber-security agencies in Belgium and Sweden confirmed they are monitoring the situation.

Delhaize, a major supermarket chain in Belgium, confirmed a "computer incident" occurred overnight affecting its stores. The manager of the affected Hoeilaart branch told local media that the €100,000 loss estimate did not include potential further losses from the shop's closure.

An ICA spokesperson confirmed that a "small number" of stores operating outside the central ICA network were affected, and the company is providing support to those locations. Employees at an ICA branch in Stockholm were photographed disposing of spoiled food.

Coop Sweden indicated that while seven of its stores were impacted, the situation has been brought under control. The precise nature of the cyber-attack, including the method used to compromise the refrigeration systems and the perpetrators, remains unclear.

Both Belgian and Swedish national cyber-security agencies are actively investigating the incidents. The repeated targeting of supermarket cold chains highlights a growing concern for businesses reliant on stable temperature control for perishable goods and underscores the need for enhanced cybersecurity measures.