Hackers Disrupt French Supermarket Refrigeration Systems Nationwide

Hundreds of French supermarkets discarded perishable goods after a cyberattack disrupted refrigeration systems at stores operated by Cooperative U, Leclerc, Les Mousquetaires, and Intermarche, with hackers remotely altering equipment and causing freezer units to warm across the country.

Retailers told DW that more than 400 stores were affected, with some refrigeration units heated to 50 degrees Celsius for more than six hours overnight. Paris prosecutors confirmed the attacks and said fires were reported at some locations.

Intermarche said affected stores had to remove spoiled inventory after the refrigeration failures.

"Throw away all fresh and frozen products." said Intermarche, supermarket chain.

Leclerc said a supplier's refrigeration equipment was targeted, affecting operations in several stores.

"A cyberattack affected one of its refrigeration equipment suppliers," said Leclerc, supermarket chain.

"Repercussions on the operation of refrigeration systems in several stores." said Leclerc, supermarket chain.

The French supermarket chain said the incident was linked to a supplier of refrigeration equipment. The systems involved were reportedly supplied by Danish company Danfoss.

"Aware of incidents in France affecting a limited number of refrigeration management systems," said Danfoss, refrigeration equipment supplier.

"Were running outdated firmware." said Danfoss, refrigeration equipment supplier.

Danfoss said the affected units used older software versions and advised customers to update supported systems and replace legacy solutions.

"Long advised customers to keep supported systems updated with the latest firmware and to migrate legacy systems to current-generation solutions." said Danfoss, refrigeration equipment supplier.

Prime Minister Sebastien Lecornu's office said it identified a software weakness involving a Danish company and assigned France's cybersecurity agency ANSSI to investigate.

"A vulnerability in software supplied by a Danish company and has contacted the vendor." said Sebastien Lecornu's office.

The prime minister's office also said it was coordinating with European counterparts because other countries could be affected. Security concerns were reported in Belgium, Luxembourg, and the Netherlands.

"Security issues" said Ahold Delhaize, supermarket chain.

Cooperative U CEO Dominique Schelcher said the attack targeted systems important for preserving food and maintaining supply chains. He described the incident as unprecedented in a statement on X.

"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." said Dominique Schelcher, Cooperative U CEO.

European Union Food and Agriculture Commissioner Christophe Hansen also responded to the incident, saying food security needed greater attention after the attack.

"Food security requires more attention at all levels," said Christophe Hansen, EU Food and Agriculture Commissioner.

Hansen also condemned the use of food-related systems as a target during the cyberattack.

"Exploitation of food" said Christophe Hansen, EU Food and Agriculture Commissioner.