Cyber-attack defrosts refrigerators in two French supermarket chains

An estimated 150-200 Intermarché shops were targeted, along with almost 100 Cooperative U outlets

French supermarket chains Intermarché and Cooperative U have been hit by an “unprecedented” cyber-attack that caused their refrigerators to defrost, the two retailers have said.

An estimated 150-200 Intermarché shops were targeted, along with almost 100 Cooperative U outlets, in the attack, they said on Monday.

Paris prosecutors confirmed the attack, which reportedly also hit other major chains, and said it had prompted outbreaks of fire.

According to BFM TV, France’s largest supermarket chain E. Leclerc was also affected, with hackers “managing to remotely trigger the forced defrosting of the refrigeration systems in numerous stores”. E. Leclerc did not immediately confirm the information.

Those branches that were affected would have to “throw away all of the products” that are fresh and frozen, Intermarché said.

The chief executive of Cooperative U, Dominique Schelcher, described the attack as “unprecedented” and confirmed it had affected refrigeration systems since Sunday night.

“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,” he wrote on X.

He added that the company’s teams are “fully mobilised” to restore the situation as quickly as possible.

“An investigation will be necessary to shed full light on this attack,” he added.

The office of the Paris prosecutor confirmed to AFP that an investigation has been opened into “the large-scale cyber-attack affecting the refrigerators of several major food retail chains across France”.

The probe will help “identify the victims and establish the link with the damage they reported in terms of foodstuff losses and the outbreak of fires”, the prosecutor’s office said.

Intermarché condemned the food waste and financial losses resulting from the attack, without providing figures, and warned there could be issues with insurance policies which do not “cover this type” of in-store incident.

BFM TV said temperatures were “altered remotely, resulting in the destruction of stocks of fresh and frozen products”.

The incident comes against the background of growing concern over the potential havoc that can be caused in Europe in all sectors by cyber-attacks by malicious actors.

President Emmanuel Macron, a strong supporter of Ukraine in its fight against the Russian invasion, last month ordered measures to protect France’s critical infrastructure from Russian “hybrid attacks”.