13 SuperValu stores hit by suspected cyber attack

Refrigeration systems at thirteen SuperValu stores across Ireland have been affected by a suspected cyber attack, resulting in fresh produce to have to be thrown away.

Musgrave, which owns SuperValu confirmed in a statement that this cyber incident is limited to a specific model of refrigeration.

It said its monitoring systems alerted them to the issue and immediate action was taken.

As a precaution, chilled and frozen products in the affected stores have been removed from sale, and all other products remain available as normal.

It said customer safety is its first priority, and that customers could be confident that products on sale in its stores had been stored at safe temperatures.

It said its investigations were ongoing.

A number of stores including the SuperValu in Bray Co Wicklow did not open on time today as planned while staff dealt with the issue.

SuperValu says its working with cybersecurity specialists to resolve the issue and restore normal operations as quickly as possible.

Targeting supermarkets 'very telling'

A spokesperson for EU Agriculture and Food Commissioner Christophe Hanson said that Commissioner Hansen has said multiple times that food security is an integral part of security.

"The empty shelves in the supermarkets targeted are very telling in that regard. We are aware of these incidents," the spokesperson added.

"These incidents show that cyberattacks can disrupt services, affect businesses and directly affect citizens' daily lives. The EU has several tools in place to respond to such incidents."

The spokesperson said: "The Commission will continue to work with Member States to strengthen cybersecurity across the Union, including under the Cyber Resilience Act, the Cyber Solidarity Act and NIS2."

'Unprecendented'

Last month major French supermarket chains said they were hit by a cyberattack that caused their refrigerators to shoot up in temperature in hundreds of stores, forcing spoiled food to be thrown away and raising concerns about food security.

Top retailers E Leclerc, Intermarche and Cooperative U confirmed they had suffered a cyberattack that Cooperative U's chief executive described as "unprecedented".

Meanwhile, Ahold Delhaize said today that an "IT incident" hit fridges and freezers in dozens ‌of ⁠its supermarkets in Belgium and Luxembourg, a spokesperson said.

The supermarket ‌chain realised there were ⁠temperature increases ‌in the cooling systems, ⁠she ‌said.

The company is investigating the incident.

The ⁠retailer last month reported ⁠a cybersecurity incident to Dutch police.