Hackers Target Supermarket Refrigeration Systems Across France in Cyberattack

Hackers remotely compromised the refrigeration systems of hundreds of supermarkets across France overnight, raising internal temperatures up to 50 degrees Celsius. The cyberattack resulted in massive food spoilage, necessitated discarding perishable goods, and even triggered fires in several retail branches. The Paris prosecutor's office announced the opening of a formal investigation as European authorities report a sharp rise in critical infrastructure cyberthreats.

Three major French retail groups confirmed they were targeted in the incident. Coopérative U reported impacts across more than 100 branches, while Intermarché stated that at least 300 of its stores and affiliated Netto supermarkets sustained damage. According to corporate statements, temperatures in the refrigeration units remained critically elevated for six hours, forcing the complete disposal of stored food to eliminate health risks. Reports indicate Carrefour stores may have also been affected, though official confirmation is pending.

Official Responses and Industry Impact

Dominique Schelcher, CEO of Coopérative U, condemned the breach in a statement on X, writing: "Attacking equipment vital for preserving fresh products and supplying food to the French population is extremely serious and unprecedented. This is completely unacceptable." European Commissioner for Agriculture and Food Christophe Hansen also condemned the attack, emphasizing that food security requires heightened vigilance across all levels.

French authorities have mobilized national cybersecurity resources to trace the origin of the breach. Danfoss, the Danish manufacturer of the targeted refrigeration controllers, acknowledged the incidents in a limited number of systems, noting that the affected units operated on outdated software versions that lacked recent security patches.

"Attacking equipment vital for preserving fresh products and supplying food to the French population is extremely serious and unprecedented. This is completely unacceptable." — Dominique Schelcher, CEO of Coopérative U

Cross-Border Implications and European Security

Simultaneously, Dutch retail conglomerate Ahold Delhaize reported a security incident impacting its computer networks, forcing the temporary shutdown of several systems to prevent further infiltration. While Dutch supermarket branches remained operational, mobile applications and delivery services were disrupted, and electronic shelf labels displayed erroneous data. Reports from Belgium indicate that stores in Belgium and Luxembourg experienced similar technical anomalies.

Cybersecurity experts point to the increasing vulnerability of industrial control systems. As older manufacturing and retail equipment—historically isolated from public networks—becomes interconnected via IoT sensors and remote monitoring tools, the attack surface expands significantly. Industry analysts note that the simultaneous disruption of hundreds of independent units suggests a high level of coordination and technical sophistication.