Cyberattack Disrupts French Supermarket Refrigeration

A cyberattack remotely triggered the defrosting of refrigeration systems at numerous French supermarket stores, damaging fresh and frozen food stocks and prompting a police investigation. Intermarche said that 150 to 200 of its shops were targeted, while Cooperative U reported almost 100 affected outlets. France’s largest supermarket chain, E. Leclerc, was also reported by BFM TV to have been hit, though it had not immediately confirmed the report to AFP. Claims that Carrefour Market and Monoprix were affected had likewise not been confirmed by those companies. The attack reportedly began on Sunday night. Cooperative U chief executive Dominique Schelcher called it “unprecedented” and “unacceptable,” saying the company’s teams were working to restore operations. He said an investigation would be needed to establish what happened. The Paris prosecutor’s office confirmed that it had opened an investigation into a large-scale cyberattack affecting refrigerators at several major food retailers. Investigators will seek to identify the victims and determine how the reported food losses and fires are linked to the incident. Intermarche condemned the resulting food waste and financial losses, but did not provide figures. It also warned that insurance policies might not cover this kind of in-store incident. A report by BFM TV said hackers had remotely changed temperatures, destroying stocks of fresh and frozen products. The incident comes amid broader European concerns about the potential damage cyberattacks can cause across sectors. The article also notes that President Emmanuel Macron recently ordered measures to protect French critical infrastructure from Russian “hybrid attacks.”

French supermarket chains Intermarché and Coopérative U reported that a cyberattack affected hundreds of their stores and caused refrigeration units to defrost. Intermarché said between 150 and 200 of its shops were targeted, while Coopérative U reported that almost 100 outlets were affected. The article says other major retail chains were reportedly hit as well, but does not identify them or provide details about the scale of their losses. Paris prosecutors confirmed that an attack had taken place. They also indicated that it had prompted outbreaks of fire, although the report does not specify where the fires occurred, what caused them, whether anyone was injured, or how much damage resulted. The retailers’ statements and prosecutors’ confirmation are attributed to Agence France-Presse (AFP). The report offers no information about the attackers, their motives, the systems compromised, the duration of the disruption, or whether stores had to discard food. It also does not state whether the incident was ongoing or describe any recovery measures. Its central point is that a cyberattack disrupted refrigeration at a substantial number of French supermarket outlets and was associated with fires, according to statements from the companies and prosecutors. The article is a brief factual account rather than an investigation or an assessment of broader consequences.

French supermarket chains Intermarche and Cooperative U reported that a cyberattack caused refrigeration systems in stores to defrost, putting fresh and frozen food stocks at risk. The retailers said approximately 150 to 200 Intermarche shops and nearly 100 Cooperative U outlets were targeted. Paris prosecutors confirmed an investigation into a large-scale attack affecting refrigerators at several major food retailers. The probe will seek to identify victims and establish connections between the attack, reported food losses and fires. French media reported that other chains may also have been affected. BFM TV said E. Leclerc, France’s largest supermarket chain, was among them, with hackers reportedly able to trigger refrigeration systems remotely; E. Leclerc did not immediately confirm the report. A specialist retail news site also named Carrefour Market and Monoprix, but those companies had not confirmed involvement. Intermarche said affected stores would have to discard fresh and frozen products. The company condemned the resulting food waste and financial losses, and cautioned that insurance policies might not cover this kind of in-store incident. Cooperative U chief executive Dominique Schelcher called the attack “unprecedented” and “unacceptable,” saying the company’s teams were working to restore normal operations. He said an investigation was necessary to establish the full facts. The incident comes amid wider European concern about cyberattacks on critical infrastructure. The article notes that French President Emmanuel Macron ordered measures in September to protect the country’s critical infrastructure from Russian “hybrid attacks,” against the backdrop of France’s support for Ukraine.