A large-scale cyberattack targeted connected refrigeration systems across France, forcing temperatures in hundreds of supermarket fridges and freezers to spike overnight and resulting in major food spoilage and localized fires. The Paris prosecutor office confirmed that the incident affected multiple major food retailers nationwide.
Widespread Impact Across Major Retail Chains
Major French supermarket operators reported significant disruptions to their store networks. Carrefour stated that 80 of its locations were hit by the unauthorized temperature manipulation. Monoprix noted that approximately 5 percent of its stores experienced issues, while Les Mousquetaires confirmed that refrigeration units at roughly 150 Intermarche stores were heated to 50 degrees Celsius for six hours.
- Carrefour reported 80 supermarkets impacted by the remote temperature tampering.
- Intermarche stores discarded massive quantities of spoiled food to eliminate health risks.
- Monoprix confirmed that 5 percent of its store network faced operational disruptions.
Intermarche Chief Executive Officer Thierry Cotillard estimated that the unprecedented incident would cause tens of millions of euros in losses across the country within a single day. Retail association representatives emphasized that the disruption highlights critical vulnerabilities within modern retail supply chains and temperature management infrastructure.
Software Vulnerabilities and Official Investigations
Prime Minister Sebastien Lecornu instructed France National Cybersecurity Agency to investigate the incident. Authorities are coordinating with European counterparts as neighboring countries, including Spain, Portugal, Poland, Germany, and Belgium, also report affected systems.
- Danfoss stated that the affected units were operating on outdated firmware versions.
- Cybersecurity firm Claroty had previously published research detailing vulnerabilities in specific refrigeration controllers.
Industry associations have called for complete transparency regarding the firmware vulnerabilities and remote access controls. Retailers continue to assess their digital infrastructure to prevent further disruptions to fresh food supply chains.