Dozens of supermarkets in Belgium and Sweden have been affected by a suspected cyber-attack that targeted their refrigeration systems, leading to thousands of euros worth of food spoilage. In Belgium, approximately 40 Delhaize supermarkets and 15 Carrefour stores experienced disruptions.
Several ICA and Coop stores in Sweden were also impacted, with one ICA branch in Sjöbo reporting that its freezers had been set to 50 degrees Celsius (122 degrees Fahrenheit) overnight. The store has since reopened to customers.
Delhaize, a major Belgian supermarket chain, confirmed a "computer incident" occurred overnight at 40 of its locations. Carrefour, a French-owned chain, stated it was analyzing the situation at 15 of its Belgian stores. An ICA spokesperson in Sweden noted that a "small number" of ICA stores operating outside the central network were affected, and the company is providing support.
Seven out of Sweden's 800 Coop stores were also affected, but the company reported the situation was contained and under control. This incident follows a similar attack last month that disrupted hundreds of French supermarkets. The perpetrators behind the latest attacks remain unclear.