PARIS: Hundreds of supermarkets across France have been hit by a cyberattack that disrupted refrigeration systems, forcing retailers to discard fresh and frozen food and raising concerns over food safety and supply security.
Major supermarket chains E. Leclerc, Intermarché and Coopérative U confirmed the incident to Agence France-Presse, with Coopérative U’s chief executive describing the attack as “unprecedented.”
According to the retailers, at least 300 Intermarché and Netto stores, more than 100 Coopérative U outlets and several E. Leclerc branches were affected. Other retail chains may also have been targeted, although some have yet to confirm any disruption.
French television channel BFM TV reported that hackers remotely activated forced defrosting functions in refrigeration systems at numerous stores, causing temperatures to rise and putting perishable food stocks at risk.
Intermarché said affected outlets would have to dispose of fresh and frozen products, while E. Leclerc confirmed that an attack on one of its refrigeration equipment suppliers had affected the operation of cooling systems at several stores.
Danish equipment supplier reportedly targeted
A source familiar with the matter said the attackers targeted refrigeration control systems manufactured by Danish company Danfoss.
The company told media that most of the affected equipment belonged to older product lines that no longer receive software or security updates. It identified the AK-SM800 and AK-SC355 refrigeration regulator systems among the equipment affected, noting that one version of the AK-SM800 was running outdated firmware.
Danfoss said it had previously advised supermarkets to upgrade from the older systems but did not disclose how many units had been compromised.
A source close to French Prime Minister Sébastien Lecornu said the country’s cybersecurity agency had identified a vulnerability in software supplied by a Danish company and contacted the vendor.
The agency is also coordinating with European counterparts to determine whether businesses in other countries have been affected and to identify additional French companies that may be at risk.
Investigation launched
The Paris prosecutor’s office confirmed that an investigation had been opened into what it described as a large-scale cyberattack targeting refrigeration systems at several major food retailers.
Investigators will seek to identify the affected businesses and establish links between the cyberattack, reported food losses and fires, according to the prosecutor’s office.
Dominique Schelcher, chief executive of Coopérative U, said the attack had affected refrigeration systems since Sunday night. He condemned the targeting of equipment essential to preserving food and maintaining supplies, describing the incident as extremely serious.
He said the company’s teams were working to restore normal operations as quickly as possible and that a thorough investigation would be required to establish the full circumstances.
Intermarché also condemned the incident, citing food waste and financial losses but providing no estimate of the damage.
Growing concerns over cyber threats
The attack has renewed concerns about the vulnerability of essential commercial infrastructure to increasingly sophisticated cyber threats.
Refrigeration equipment, once largely isolated from the internet, is now frequently connected through sensors and remote monitoring systems, allowing operators to manage equipment digitally but also creating potential entry points for attackers.
Antoine Hautin of cybersecurity consultancy Almond told media that the apparent ability to affect hundreds of refrigeration units simultaneously indicated a considerable level of technical sophistication.
The incident comes amid broader European concerns about cyberattacks targeting critical infrastructure. French President Emmanuel Macron has previously called for stronger protections against what France describes as Russian “hybrid attacks,” particularly amid Russia’s war against Ukraine.
Authorities are continuing to assess the scope of the supermarket incident, including the potential financial losses, food waste and risk of similar attacks affecting other businesses.
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