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Cyber attack disables hundreds of French supermarket freezers

Capitalbrief • October 12, 2026

The news: Major French supermarket chains were hit by a cyberattack on Monday that caused refrigeration systems to defrost, spoiling large amounts of food.

The attack affected 150 to 200 Intermarché stores and 100 Cooperative U outlets, according to AFP .

The Paris prosecutor’s office has opened an investigation into the hack, which it said also caused fires.

Dominique Schelcher, chief executive of Cooperative U, confirmed the attack in a social media post , calling it an unacceptable and unprecedented attack on French food supplies.

BFM TV reported that E. Leclerc was also affected, with hackers able to remotely trigger forced defrosting of refrigeration systems.

The context: The incident comes amid growing concern cybersecurity threats, including AI-enabled cybercrime and Russian hybrid warfare.

French President Emmanuel Macron last month ordered measures to protect the country’s critical infrastructure from Russian “hybrid attacks”.

What was said: “Targeting equipment essential to the preservation of fresh products and to the food supply of the French people is of extreme gravity and is unprecedented,” Schelcher said.

The sources: AFP , Dominique Schelcher

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This article is one source in a clustered incident — the cluster page carries the summary, timeline and every other outlet covering it.

Cyberattack Heats French Supermarket Refrigerators to 50°C, Spoiling Food A cyberattack on October 11-12, 2026, targeted refrigeration systems in French supermarkets, causing temperatures to rise to 50°C and spoiling food across hundreds of stores. Major chains affected include Intermarché, Coopérative U, and E.Leclerc, with losses estimated in the millions of euros. The attack exploited vulnerabilities in outdated software from Danish manufacturer Danfoss, which has been publicly documented. Reports indicate that approximately 150-200 Intermarché stores and nearly 100 Coopérative U outlets were impacted, leading to significant food waste. French authorities have opened an investigation into the incident, which has raised concerns about food security and the vulnerability of critical infrastructure. The identity of the attackers remains unknown. 20 sources 70

Cyber attack disables hundreds of French supermarket freezers

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Extracted Entities

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Companies (3)