Hundreds of French supermarkets were hit by a coordinated cyber attack that seized control of refrigeration software, forcing fridges and freezers to heat up - in some cases to about 50°C (120°F) overnight for roughly six hours - and spoiling fresh and frozen food worth millions of euros. More than 100 Coopérative U stores and at least 300 outlets of Intermarché and its Netto brand were affected, with grocery staff reporting waves of hot air when opening units and photographs showing freezer displays around 26.5°C. Retailers said they discarded all compromised food to avoid health risks; two supermarkets in Alsace reported combined losses of €270,000, suggesting national damages could be far higher.
French authorities have opened a probe into what they called a large-scale cyber-attack on major food retailers’ refrigeration systems. Coopérative U mobilized refrigeration specialists to restore temperatures and demanded an investigation, while the European commissioner for food warned that the weaponisation of food supply systems is now a reality and requires greater protection. Reports indicate other chains including Carrefour, E.Leclerc and Monoprix may also have been hit, but investigators are still determining the full scale and origin of the intrusion.
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