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E. Leclerc, Intermarche and Cooperative U confirmed a cyberattack caused refrigerators to overheat across hundreds of stores, forcing them to discard spoiled fresh and frozen food. Paris prosecutors confirmed the attack, which also reportedly sparked fires, and a source said Danfoss refrigeration control systems were targeted, with Danfoss noting most affected equipment was outdated and no longer receiving security updates.
French supermarket chains E. Leclerc, Intermarché and Coopérative U confirmed a cyberattack caused refrigeration systems to malfunction, spiking temperatures and forcing stores to discard spoiled fresh and frozen food. Paris prosecutors confirmed the attack, which also reportedly sparked fires, and a source said Danish manufacturer Danfoss's fridge control systems were targeted, with the company noting many affected units were outdated and no longer receiving security updates.
A cyberattack has reportedly hit Danfoss-made refrigeration controls used by Intermarché, Leclerc and Coopérative U stores in France, forcing fridges and freezers into continuous defrost cycles at around 50°C instead of their normal two-hour daily cycle. Coopérative U president Dominique Schelcher confirmed the attack began overnight Monday, called it 'extremely serious,' and said teams were working to restore systems while an investigation is launched. Electronic shelf pricing and deliveries have also reportedly been disrupted.
Hackers remotely triggered defrost mode on Danfoss-managed refrigeration systems at roughly 150 Intermarché stores Sunday night, raising cooler temperatures to 50°C and spoiling food before staff noticed six hours later. Fewer than 100 Cooperative U stores and some Leclerc locations were also affected, with electronic pricing labels reportedly disrupted too. Early estimates put losses at around 300,000 euros, a figure that could rise as investigations continue.