Cyber-attacks disrupt supermarket cooling across Europe
Shop fridges and freezers across Europe hit by fresh suspected cyber-attack
Monday, 2 November 2026
Photo by Franki Chamaki on Unsplash
Warm-up
- Have you ever lost food because a fridge failed? What happened?
- Which devices at home can you control remotely?
- What risks can a company face from a cyber-attack?
Vocabulary
- undermine
- to make something weaker or less trusted
- hybrid
- combining different methods, such as digital and physical tactics
- patch
- to fix software by adding a small update
- spokesperson
- a person who officially gives information for an organisation
- disruption
- a serious break in normal activity or services
- evaporator
- the part of a fridge that removes heat to make cold air
- defrost
- to remove ice or switch a device to a warming mode
- cybersecurity
- the protection of computers and networks from attack
Reading
Listen to this story
British EnglishRetailers in Belgium, Estonia, Ireland, Finland, Luxembourg, the Netherlands and Sweden confirmed problems with shop refrigeration, with some units reaching 50C. The EU food and agriculture commissioner, Christophe Hansen, called the repeated cyber-attacks deeply concerning because they could disrupt the food supply chain and undermine consumers’ confidence. The incidents echoed an attack in France last month that hit up to 700 supermarkets and caused food losses estimated in the tens of millions of euros. Authorities fear government‑sponsored hybrid attacks because many devices can be monitored and controlled remotely, a concern sharpened since Russia’s 2022 invasion of Ukraine.
In Sweden, Coop said six shops were hit, and ICA reported a limited number of affected stores. One ICA shop in Sjöbo said its fridges and freezers were set to 50C; another in Stockholm blamed a 2am cyberattack. Sweden’s national cybersecurity centre head, John Billow, said many operational technology devices needed updating or patching. In Belgium and Luxembourg, Ahold Delhaize said dozens of sites were affected; reporters saw empty cases and a notice about cyberattacks. Its spokesperson, Sarah De Meester, said fresh and frozen ranges were temporarily limited. Stephan Moelans of Sabcobel said technicians disconnected affected installations after evaporators were switched to defrost mode. Colruyt, Intermarché and Carrefour Belgium also reported disruption, with about 15 Carrefour shops affected.
Comprehension
- What maximum temperature did some units reach?
- Which seven countries reported refrigeration problems?
- What earlier incident do these events echo, and what losses were estimated?
- Why do authorities fear hybrid attacks on cooling systems?
- Name two specific responses by retailers or technicians mentioned in the text.
Grammar focus
Formal multiword connectors
Fixed formal multi‑word phrases link ideas in serious writing. Use the exact wording; changing a small part makes them wrong. Common sets: notwithstanding the fact that; in the event of; with a view to; on the basis of; insofar as. (Examples constructed.)
- Notwithstanding the fact that technicians were mobilised, fridges failed.
- On the grounds that evaporators were in defrost, installations were disconnected.
Grammar exercise
Circle the correct option in each sentence.
- Teams acted (with a view to / with a view of) limiting losses.
- Stores paused (in the event that / in the event of) outages.
- Officials helped, (insofar as / insofar that) they could.
- Work slowed (on account to / on account of) outages.
- Measures were limited (on basis of / on the basis of) risk.
Discussion
- How vulnerable is the food supply to attacks on cooling systems?
- Should stores connect cooling units to the internet? Why or why not?
- What first steps should retailers take after such an incident?
- How should countries coordinate responses across borders?
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