Cyberattack Defrosts Refrigerators in Hundreds of French Supermarkets
A large-scale cyberattack forced refrigeration systems to shut down in up to 200 Intermarché stores, nearly 100 Coopérative U outlets and dozens of Carrefour locations, prompting investigations and product losses.
Major French grocery chains Intermarché, Coopérative U and Carrefour reported that a cyberattack overnight caused refrigeration units to defrost in dozens of stores. The incident affected an estimated 150-200 Intermarché shops and almost 100 Coopérative U outlets, while Carrefour said 80 of its 6,000 stores were hit but the majority remained unaffected.
Paris prosecutors confirmed the attack and said it also triggered fire outbreaks at some locations. The prosecutor’s office opened an investigation to identify victims, assess food-stock losses and determine any link to the reported fires.
"Targeting equipment essential to the preservation of fresh products and to the food supply of the French people is extremely serious and is unprecedented. It is unacceptable," wrote Dominique Schelcher, chief executive of Coopérative U, on X.
Intermarché said affected branches would have to discard all fresh and frozen products, while Coopérative U indicated its teams are fully mobilised to restore operations. Carrefour noted that the disruption was limited to a small fraction of its stores.
BFM TV reported that temperatures were altered remotely, leading to the destruction of stock. The incident follows recent French government measures aimed at protecting critical infrastructure from cyber threats.