Refrigeration disruptions hit a handful of K grocery stores in Finland

Yle reports that temperature problems affected refrigeration equipment overnight at a few smaller K grocery stores in Finland. Kesko is investigating the cause and has not ruled out interference through a network.

Some stores received automatic alerts, while staff at others discovered the problems when they arrived in the morning. Kesko security manager Petri Käyhkö said the disruption was limited to a few stores whose refrigeration equipment was not covered by centralised protection. Measures have been taken to address the situation.

Disruptions to grocery stores’ refrigeration equipment have also been reported in several European countries. Sweden’s ICA chain says it was targeted by hacking, as were some Coop stores in Sweden and stores belonging to several chains in Belgium, Luxembourg and Estonia.

Kesko says it has prepared for a range of possible situations and regularly practises response plans. The company has focused in recent years on the security of stores’ building systems, and says critical systems are covered by ongoing maintenance agreements. Its ICT environment and key services are monitored around the clock.

S Group said it had not observed similar disruptions to refrigeration equipment over the past weekend. Risk management manager Janne Ahtoniemi said the group’s store systems are maintained and updated under agreements with equipment suppliers and service providers, and that security requirements are reviewed regularly.

Ahtoniemi said Finnish organisations face routine cyberattack attempts, which are handled as part of normal security work. Measures include separating automation networks from other networks, strong user authentication, secure remote access and continuous monitoring for irregularities.