Massive Cyberattack Hits French Supermarkets, Destroying Millions in Food

A widespread cyberattack targeted hundreds of supermarkets across France, resulting in the destruction of large quantities of fresh and frozen food, French media reported Monday evening.

The attackers reportedly gained remote access to outdated temperature control systems manufactured by Danish company Danfoss. They activated a continuous defrosting mechanism, causing temperatures inside refrigeration units to rise to as high as 50 degrees Celsius (122 degrees Fahrenheit). The attack disrupted supermarket operations and caused substantial financial losses.

Around 150 Intermarché Stores Affected

The cyberattack occurred overnight between Sunday and Monday, affecting approximately 150 branches of the Intermarché supermarket chain. In some locations, refrigeration units reportedly operated at dangerously high temperatures for around six hours, leaving large quantities of perishable food unsuitable for consumption.

Due to concerns about public health and food safety, products exposed to the heat were discarded. Employees arriving at work in the morning described waves of hot air coming from the freezers, while footage circulating online showed empty supermarket shelves and refrigeration units displaying temperatures exceeding 26 degrees Celsius (79 degrees Fahrenheit).

The incident highlighted the vulnerability of older refrigeration control systems to cyberattacks, particularly when essential equipment can be accessed and manipulated remotely.

Additional Supermarket Chain Reports Significant Damage

The Coopérative U supermarket chain also reported being affected by the attack. The company's CEO, Dominique Schelcher, strongly condemned the incident, describing it as an unprecedented threat to essential food preservation infrastructure.

"An attack on equipment essential for preserving fresh products and ensuring the food supply to the French public is extremely serious and unprecedented," Schelcher wrote on X.

According to reports, damage at individual stores is estimated at tens of thousands to hundreds of thousands of euros, while total losses across the affected supermarket chains could reach millions.

The Paris prosecutor's office confirmed that the incident involved a large-scale cyberattack. French Prime Minister Sébastien Lecornu subsequently instructed the country's national cybersecurity agency, ANSSI, to investigate the incident and coordinate its findings with other European countries.

Cybersecurity Incident Disrupts Retail Services in the Netherlands and Belgium

Meanwhile, international retail group Ahold Delhaize reported a separate network security incident that disrupted online services across several of its supermarket and pharmacy chains in the Netherlands and Belgium.

In the Netherlands, the disruption affected Albert Heijn, Etos, and Gall & Gall, while Delhaize services in Belgium were also impacted. As a precautionary measure, the company disconnected certain systems to prevent further problems, although its physical stores remained open.

The disruptions affected websites, mobile applications, delivery services, and customer support operations. Some electronic price labels also displayed incorrect information, creating additional operational difficulties.

Although the incidents occurred around the same time, no connection between the cyberattacks in France and the security disruptions in the Netherlands and Belgium has been established.

Growing Concerns Over Cybersecurity in the Retail Sector

The reported incidents illustrate how cyberattacks can affect far more than digital services. When critical infrastructure such as refrigeration equipment is compromised, the consequences can include extensive food waste, financial losses, and potential risks to public health.

The attacks also raise concerns about the continued use of outdated control systems in essential retail operations, particularly those responsible for preserving perishable goods.

As investigations continue, authorities are working to determine the full extent of the damage and whether the incidents affecting multiple European countries are connected. The events underscore the importance of protecting both digital networks and the physical systems that supermarkets depend on to maintain their daily operations.