EuropeDevelopingDay 1
European supermarket freezer cyber-attacks
Suspected cyber-attacks raised refrigerator and freezer temperatures overnight in dozens of supermarkets in Sweden, Belgium and Luxembourg, including about 40 Delhaize and 15 Carrefour stores in Belgium and seven of.
Updated 13:15 UTC, 2 November 2026 · 6 reports from 6 outlets · 8 confirmed · 24 one-source
Image: The Times of India
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What changed
Last 48 hours, newest first (times UTC)
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Ghost edit Al Jazeera edited "Supermarket fridges in Sweden, Ireland overheat amid suspected cyberattacks": Belgium and Luxembourg dropped from headline; Ireland added; Axfood Gothenburg hack, Kitman CEO Jann Mutso, Estonia added; Sabcobel CEO Stephan Moelans removed.
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Where it stands Suspected cyber-attacks raised refrigerator and freezer temperatures overnight in dozens of supermarkets in Sweden, Belgium and Luxembourg, including about 40 Delhaize and 15 Carrefour stores in Belgium and seven of.
41 earlier changes
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Where it stands European supermarkets were hit by freezer hacking, with temperatures rising overnight in dozens of stores in Sweden, Belgium and Luxembourg, including six Coop stores and dozens of Ahold Delhaize supermarkets.
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Ghost edit BBC World News edited "Supermarket freezers in Belgium, Sweden and Luxembourg hit by suspected cyber-at": Luxembourg added to headline; Carrefour's 15 Belgian stores now "only affected"; Delhaize stores now Belgium and Luxembourg, not Carrefour; cyber agencies monitoring and €100,000 Hoeilaart loss
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Ghost edit The Guardian World edited "Supermarket freezers across Europe hit by second suspected cyber-attack": said" changed to "say" and "that hit French stores in October" changed to "of French stores"; October reference removed.
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Where it stands Freezer and refrigerator temperatures rose overnight in dozens of stores across Sweden, Belgium and Luxembourg, with six Coop stores in Sweden affected.
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Story opened Supermarket freezers in Belgium, Sweden and elsewhere in Europe have been hit by a second suspected cyber-attack.
Two sides
The two media blocs whose accounts of this story differ most, side by side.
Where they part European media centres company statements on containment and named chains, while Asian media foregrounds the mechanics, citing a freezer set to 50 degrees and Belgian units at 70 degrees.
European media
BBCPublic broadcasterThe GuardianNon-profitFinancial TimesPrivate
European media foregrounds the cross-border reach of the incident, naming affected chains and countries from Belgium and Sweden to Ireland. The BBC and Guardian centre company statements, quoting Coop that the 'situation is currently contained and under control' and Delhaize on a 'computer incident' at 40 shops, while the FT frames it as 'freezer hacking'. Reports also cite a store saying temperatures were set to 50 degrees and food thrown away.
Asian media
The Times of IndiaPrivate
The Times of India foregrounds the mechanics of the disruption, describing how a hacker 'changed a freezer setting to 50 degrees Celsius above zero' and how temperatures were 'set to as high as 70 degrees Celsius' in Belgium. It centres a Carrefour Belgium spokesman, Mich Vergauwen, who 'described the incident as a cyberattack', while also counting affected stores across Estonia, Sweden, Belgium and Ireland.
How it’s being told
One card per media bloc. Each summary is written only from that bloc’s own headlines and quotes.
European media
BBCPublic broadcasterThe GuardianNon-profitFinancial TimesPrivate
European media foregrounds the cross-border reach of the incident, naming affected chains and countries from Belgium and Sweden to Ireland. The BBC and Guardian centre company statements, quoting Coop that the 'situation is currently contained and under control' and Delhaize on a 'computer incident' at 40 shops, while the FT frames it as 'freezer hacking'. Reports also cite a store saying temperatures were set to 50 degrees and food thrown away.
US media
The VergePrivate
US media, through The Verge, foregrounds the spread of the attacks, headlining that 'More European supermarkets are getting their freezers hacked'. The single item centres the affected stores as the subject of the hacking, framing the story around the widening reach of the incidents rather than the overnight temperature rise or the specific six Coop stores in Sweden named in the state line.
Middle East state media
Al JazeeraState media
Al Jazeera foregrounds the temperature rises and the cyberattack framing, centring retailer statements and official confirmation: Coop told Aftonbladet that six stores were affected, and Sweden's cybersecurity centre head John Billow 'confirmed' the centre is responding to multiple incidents affecting store cooling systems. It cites the earlier French case where fridges and freezers reached 'as high as 50 degrees Celsius (122F)', and attributes Belgian and Luxembourg reports to Belga and Sabcobel's chief executive Stephan Moelans.
Asian media
The Times of IndiaPrivate
The Times of India foregrounds the mechanics of the disruption, describing how a hacker 'changed a freezer setting to 50 degrees Celsius above zero' and how temperatures were 'set to as high as 70 degrees Celsius' in Belgium. It centres a Carrefour Belgium spokesman, Mich Vergauwen, who 'described the incident as a cyberattack', while also counting affected stores across Estonia, Sweden, Belgium and Ireland.
Receipts
Every claim with the verbatim sentence it came from. Tap a claim to see its sources.
Confirmed 8
Reported by at least two independent outlets, or by the actor itself.
An Ica Kvantum store in Sweden said its fridges and freezers were hacked overnight and temperatures were raised to 50 degrees Celsius.
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“One Ica Kvantum store in Sweden said on its Facebook page that its fridges and freezers had been hacked overnight, with temperatures remotely raised to 50 degrees Celsius (122 Fahrenheit).”
The VergePrivateAttributesMore European supermarkets are getting their freezers hacked
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“One store in Sjöbo, in the country's south, said on social media that its fridges and freezers had been hacked overnight and their temperatures set to 50 degrees Celsius.”
The Times of IndiaPrivateAttributesFridges hacked, food spoiled: Cyberattack disrupts supermarkets across Europe
Seven out of the 800 Coop stores in Sweden are affected.
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“Seven out of the 800 Coop stores in Sweden are also affected but the"situation is currently contained and under control", the company told the BBC.”
BBCPublic broadcasterAttributesSupermarket freezers in Belgium and Sweden hit by suspected cyber-attack
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“Seven of Sweden’s 800 Coop stores were also affected.”
The Times of IndiaPrivateReportsFridges hacked, food spoiled: Cyberattack disrupts supermarkets across Europe
Around 40 Delhaize supermarkets and 15 Carrefour stores are affected in Belgium.
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“Around 40 Delhaize supermarkets and 15 Carrefour stores were affected in Belgium, while several ICA and Coop shops in Sweden were hit.”
BBCPublic broadcasterReportsSupermarket freezers in Belgium and Sweden hit by suspected cyber-attack
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“Thirteen SuperValu stores were affected, while around 40 Delhaize outlets and 15 Carrefour stores in Belgium reported problems.”
The Times of IndiaPrivateReportsFridges hacked, food spoiled: Cyberattack disrupts supermarkets across Europe
Dozens of supermarkets in Belgium and Sweden are hit by a suspected cyber-attack affecting refrigerators and freezers.
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“Dozens of supermarkets in Belgium and Sweden have been hit by a suspected cyber-attack affecting its refrigerators and freezers.”
BBCPublic broadcasterReportsSupermarket freezers in Belgium and Sweden hit by suspected cyber-attack
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“A suspected cyberattack targeting supermarket refrigeration systems has affected stores in Belgium, Estonia, Sweden and Ireland, forcing retailers to discard large quantities of spoiled food after the temperatures of fridges and freezers were remotely raised.”
The Times of IndiaPrivateReportsFridges hacked, food spoiled: Cyberattack disrupts supermarkets across Europe
Ahold Delhaize said an IT incident hit fridges and freezers in dozens of its supermarkets in Belgium and Luxembourg.
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“The Dutch retailer Ahold Delhaize, which last month reported a cybersecurity incident to police in the Netherlands, said an “IT incident” had hit fridges and freezers in dozens of its supermarkets in Belgium and Luxembourg.”
The GuardianNon-profitAttributesSupermarket freezers across Europe hit by second suspected cyber-attack
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“Dutch retailer Ahold Delhaize said an “IT incident” was responsible for adjusting the temperature of refrigeration units in dozens of its supermarkets in Belgium and Luxembourg.”
The VergePrivateAttributesMore European supermarkets are getting their freezers hacked
Sweden's Coop chain said six of its stores were affected.
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“Sweden’s Coop chain told the daily Aftonbladet on Monday that six of its stores had been affected, while ICA said it was “aware that a limited number of stores were affected by an incident overnight which impacted their refrigeration and freezer systems”.”
The GuardianNon-profitAttributesSupermarket freezers across Europe hit by second suspected cyber-attack
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“Privately held retailer Coop told Swedish daily Aftonbladet that six of its stores had been affected by similar incidents.”
Al JazeeraState mediaAttributesFreezers in Sweden, Belgium overheat following possible cyberattacks
Supermarket chains in Sweden, Belgium and Luxembourg said refrigerator and freezer temperatures rose overnight in dozens of stores.
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“Supermarket chains in Sweden, Belgium and Luxembourg have said the temperatures of their refrigerators and freezers in dozens of stores rose overnight, prompting fears of a cyber-attack similar to one that caused millions of euros of food losses in France.”
The GuardianNon-profitAttributesSupermarket freezers across Europe hit by second suspected cyber-attack
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“Possible cyberattacks have triggered rising temperatures in grocery store refrigeration systems across Sweden, Belgium and Luxembourg.”
Al JazeeraState mediaReportsFreezers in Sweden, Belgium overheat following possible cyberattacks
European supermarkets were hit by freezer hacking.
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“European supermarkets hit by freezer hacking”
Financial TimesPrivateReportsEuropean supermarkets hit by freezer hacking
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“Grocery stores across Europe have been hit by another wave of suspected cyberattacks, reporting sudden changes in the temperatures of their fridges and freezers.”
The VergePrivateReportsMore European supermarkets are getting their freezers hacked
One source 24
Only one outlet so far. Shown, never hidden — treat with care.
A hacker accessed a computer controlling refrigeration at one Selver supermarket in Estonia and set a freezer to 50 degrees Celsius above zero.
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“In Estonia, a hacker accessed a computer controlling refrigeration at one Selver supermarket and changed a freezer setting to 50 degrees Celsius above zero.”
The Times of IndiaPrivateReportsFridges hacked, food spoiled: Cyberattack disrupts supermarkets across Europe
Carrefour Belgium spokesman Mich Vergauwen described the incident as a cyberattack with no other explanation.
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“Carrefour Belgium spokesman Mich Vergauwen described the incident as a cyberattack, saying there was no other explanation, but added that its impact had been limited.”
The Times of IndiaPrivateAttributesFridges hacked, food spoiled: Cyberattack disrupts supermarkets across Europe
Some Belgian refrigeration units were reportedly set as high as 70 degrees Celsius, causing an estimated €100,000 of food loss at one Delhaize branch.
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“In Belgium, some refrigeration units were reportedly set to as high as 70 degrees Celsius, causing an estimated €100,000 worth of food to be discarded at one Delhaize branch alone, according to local media reports.”
The Times of IndiaPrivateAttributesFridges hacked, food spoiled: Cyberattack disrupts supermarkets across Europe
Thirteen SuperValu stores in Ireland were affected by the suspected cyberattack.
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“Thirteen SuperValu stores were affected, while around 40 Delhaize outlets and 15 Carrefour stores in Belgium reported problems.”
The Times of IndiaPrivateReportsFridges hacked, food spoiled: Cyberattack disrupts supermarkets across Europe
A suspected cyberattack targeted hundreds of French supermarket refrigerators last month, with food spoilage estimated at millions of Euros.
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“This latest incident follows an apparent cyberattack that targeted hundreds of French supermarket refrigerators last month, with the resulting food spoilage estimated to be worth millions of Euros, along with a string of US military base freezer malfunctions also suspected to be the result of a cyberattack.”
The VergePrivateReportsMore European supermarkets are getting their freezers hacked
The full scale of the incident has not been confirmed.
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“The full scale of the incident has yet to be confirmed.”
The VergePrivateReportsMore European supermarkets are getting their freezers hacked
Coop says unauthorized actors accessed and tampered with cooling systems at a small fraction of its stores.
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“In a statement to Business Insider, a spokesperson at Swedish supermarket chain Coop also confirmed that “unauthorized actors were able to access and tamper with the cooling systems at a small fraction of our stores.””
The VergePrivateAttributesMore European supermarkets are getting their freezers hacked
Supermarket chains in Belgium, Sweden, Luxembourg and Estonia were affected.
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“Major supermarket chains across Belgium, Sweden, Luxembourg, and Estonia were affected according to local reports shared by Bloomberg and Reuters.”
The VergePrivateAttributesMore European supermarkets are getting their freezers hacked
The cyberattack on refrigeration systems at hundreds of French supermarkets raised fridge and freezer temperatures to as high as 50 degrees Celsius.
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“The cyberattack on refrigeration systems at hundreds of supermarkets in France raised the temperature of fridges and freezers to as high as 50 degrees Celsius (122F), spoiling food and causing fires at several stores.”
Al JazeeraState mediaReportsFreezers in Sweden, Belgium overheat following possible cyberattacks
Ahold Delhaize reported a cybersecurity incident to Dutch police last month.
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“Ahold Delhaize reported a cybersecurity incident to Dutch police last month.”
Al JazeeraState mediaReportsFreezers in Sweden, Belgium overheat following possible cyberattacks
Temperatures rose overnight at dozens of Ahold Delhaize stores in Belgium and Luxembourg.
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“Meanwhile, the Belga news agency reported overnight temperature increases at dozens of Ahold Delhaize stores in Belgium and Luxembourg, which were blamed on a cyberattack, quoting refrigeration company Sabcobel’s chief executive Stephan Moelans.”
Al JazeeraState mediaAttributesFreezers in Sweden, Belgium overheat following possible cyberattacks
Freezer temperatures at several Swedish stores rose suddenly overnight, according to ICA and Coop.
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“The temperature of freezers at several Swedish stores rose suddenly overnight, store operators ICA and Coop said.”
Al JazeeraState mediaAttributesFreezers in Sweden, Belgium overheat following possible cyberattacks
Sweden's national cybersecurity centre is responding to multiple incidents affecting store cooling systems.
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“The head of Sweden’s national cybersecurity centre, John Billow, confirmed on Monday to the Reuters news agency that the centre is responding to multiple incidents affecting store cooling systems.”
Al JazeeraState mediaAttributesFreezers in Sweden, Belgium overheat following possible cyberattacks
John Billow heads Sweden's national cybersecurity centre.
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“The head of Sweden’s national cybersecurity centre, John Billow, confirmed on Monday to the Reuters news agency that the centre is responding to multiple incidents affecting store cooling systems.”
Al JazeeraState mediaReportsFreezers in Sweden, Belgium overheat following possible cyberattacks
An IVA branch in Sjöbo, southern Sweden, says its refrigerators and freezers were hacked overnight and the temperature set to 50 degrees.
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“One of the IVA branches located in Sjöbo, southern Sweden, wrote on social media:"Our refrigerators and freezers have been hacked overnight and they have set the temperature to 50 degrees."”
BBCPublic broadcasterAttributesSupermarket freezers in Belgium and Sweden hit by suspected cyber-attack
Carrefour says it is "currently analysing" the incident at 15 of its Belgian stores.
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“Carrefour, a French-owned supermarket, said it was"currently analysing" the incident at 15 of its Belgian stores.”
BBCPublic broadcasterAttributesSupermarket freezers in Belgium and Sweden hit by suspected cyber-attack
Delhaize says a "computer incident" occurred overnight at 40 shops.
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“Delhaize, one of Belgium's biggest supermarket chains, told Belgian media a"computer incident" had occurred overnight at 40 shops.”
BBCPublic broadcasterAttributesSupermarket freezers in Belgium and Sweden hit by suspected cyber-attack
One ICA store in Sweden says its freezer temperatures were set to 50 C (122F).
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“Thousands of euros worth of food has had to be thrown away, according to local media reports, with one ICA store in Sweden saying temperatures for its freezers had been set to 50 C (122F).”
BBCPublic broadcasterAttributesSupermarket freezers in Belgium and Sweden hit by suspected cyber-attack
Thirteen SuperValu shops in Ireland are impacted by the incident.
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“Thirteen SuperValu shops have also been impacted in Ireland.”
BBCPublic broadcasterReportsSupermarket freezers in Belgium and Sweden hit by suspected cyber-attack
The Paris prosecutor's office opened a formal probe into the French attack, citing damage including food losses and fires.
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“The Paris prosecutor’s office has opened a formal probe into the French attack, saying damage included “food losses and fires”, and the prime minister, Sébastien Lecornu, instructed France’s national cybersecurity agency ANSSI to investigate.”
The GuardianNon-profitAttributesSupermarket freezers across Europe hit by second suspected cyber-attack
Hackers remotely overrode freezer settings, pushing temperatures from as low as -27C to well over 50C.
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“Hackers had remotely overridden the settings on thousands of freezers, fridges and chiller cabinets, pushing them from as low as -27C to well over 50C.”
The GuardianNon-profitReportsSupermarket freezers across Europe hit by second suspected cyber-attack
French police said in October that hackers seized control of cooling units at up to 700 supermarkets.
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“French police said in October that hackers had seized control of cooling units at up to 700 supermarkets in a large-scale attack that led to heavy losses of chilled and frozen foods and underlined the vulnerability of internet-connected systems.”
The GuardianNon-profitAttributesSupermarket freezers across Europe hit by second suspected cyber-attack
Stephan Moelans said Sabcobel began mobilising technicians at 1am and spent all night and morning disconnecting affected installations from the grid.
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““We started mobilising technicians at 1am,” Stephan Moelans, the chief executive of Sabcobel, which specialises in refrigeration system installations, told the paper.”
The GuardianNon-profitAttributesSupermarket freezers across Europe hit by second suspected cyber-attack
Ahold Delhaize spokesperson Sarah De Meester said temperatures in the cooling systems had increased and the incident was being investigated.
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“A company spokesperson, Sarah De Meester, said the supermarket chain had established that temperatures in the cooling systems had increased, adding that the incident was being investigated.”
The GuardianNon-profitAttributesSupermarket freezers across Europe hit by second suspected cyber-attack
Ask about this story
Line, our AI correspondent, answers only from the receipts on this page. Every sentence links to the claim behind it.
Ghost edits
Changes outlets made to their articles after publishing, caught by re-reading them.
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Before
Freezersin Sweden,Belgiumoverheatfollowing possiblecyberattacksAfterSupermarket fridges in Sweden, Ireland overheat amid suspected cyberattacks
Belgium and Luxembourg dropped from headline; Ireland added; Axfood Gothenburg hack, Kitman CEO Jann Mutso, Estonia added; Sabcobel CEO Stephan Moelans removed.
Removed
Possible cyberattacks have triggered rising temperatures in grocery store refrigeration systems across Sweden, Belgium and Luxembourg.AddedSuspected cyberattacks have triggered temperatures to rise in grocery store refrigeration systems in a growing number of countries across Europe.
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BeforeSupermarket freezers in
BelgiumandSwedenhit by suspected cyber-attackAfterSupermarket freezers in Belgium, Sweden and Luxembourg hit by suspected cyber-attack
Luxembourg added to headline; Carrefour's 15 Belgian stores now "only affected"; Delhaize stores now Belgium and Luxembourg, not Carrefour; cyber agencies monitoring and €100,000 Hoeilaart loss added.
Removed
Around 40 Delhaize supermarkets and 15 Carrefour stores were affected in Belgium, while several ICA and Coop shops in Sweden were hit.AddedAround 40 Delhaize supermarkets in Belgium and Luxembourg were affected, while several ICA and Coop shops in Sweden were hit.
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HeadlineSupermarket freezers across Europe hit by second suspected cyber-attack
said" changed to "say" and "that hit French stores in October" changed to "of French stores"; October reference removed.
Removed
Chains in Sweden, Belgium and Luxembourg said fridge temperatures rose overnight, similar to hack that hit French stores in October Supermarket chains in Sweden , Belgium and Luxembourg have said the temperatures of their refrigerators…AddedChains in Sweden, Belgium and Luxembourg say fridge temperatures rose overnight, similar to hack of French stores Supermarket chains in Sweden, Belgium and Luxembourg have said the temperatures of their refrigerators and freezers in…
All sources
6 reports from 6 outlets — with who owns each outlet and who pays for it.
Al Jazeera State media
QatarOwner: Al Jazeera Media NetworkPaid by: funded by the State of Qatar
BBC Public broadcaster
United KingdomOwner: BBC — public corporation under Royal CharterPaid by: TV licence fee
Financial Times Private
United KingdomOwner: Nikkei Inc.Paid by: subscriptions + advertising
The Guardian Non-profit
United KingdomOwner: Guardian Media Group, owned by the Scott Trust LimitedPaid by: reader contributions + subscriptions + advertising; Scott Trust endowment
The Times of India Private
IndiaOwner: Bennett, Coleman & Co. Ltd (The Times Group)Paid by: advertising + circulation
The Verge Private
United StatesOwner: Vox MediaPaid by: advertising + subscriptions
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8 confirmed · 24 one-source6 outletsUpdated