Cyberattack Hits Supermarket Refrigeration Systems Across France, Forcing Tons of Food to Be Destroyed

Major French retail chains E. Leclerc, Intermarché, and Cooperative U suffered a widespread cyberattack that disabled refrigeration systems across hundreds of supermarkets. With the cold chain interrupted, stores were forced to discard tons of fresh and frozen food to protect public health.

Cooperative U CEO Dominique Schelcher described the incident as “unprecedented.” At least 300 stores operated by Intermarché and its discount banner Netto, alongside more than 100 Cooperative U locations, were affected by the disruption.

When Connected Infrastructure Meets the Food Supply

Modern grocery networks rely on internet-connected climate and refrigeration management systems to monitor temperatures and reduce energy consumption across regions. While efficient, centralizing physical cooling controls also means that a single software intrusion can simultaneously halt preservation systems in ratusan locations.

Responding to the incident, European Union Agriculture and Food Commissioner Christophe Hansen condemned the attack and warned that the targeting of food supply infrastructure has become a tangible reality, adding that “food security requires greater vigilance at every level.”