PARIS: A cyberattack targeting refrigeration systems at French supermarkets reportedly caused refrigerators and freezers to overheat, spoiling fresh and frozen food and producing smoke in some stores.
According to Reuters, refrigeration units at several major chains, including Carrefour, Monoprix, Intermarché and Coopérative U, reportedly reached temperatures of up to 50°C overnight.
Dominique Schelcher, chief executive of Coopérative U, confirmed that the attacks had affected refrigeration facilities at several stores.
“Attacking equipment that is essential to the preservation of fresh products and the food supply of the French people is extremely serious and unprecedented,” Schelcher said in a LinkedIn post, describing the incident as unacceptable.
Around 180 Stores Report Damage
Les Mousquetaires, the group that owns Intermarché, told CNBC that the incident affected about 180 stores and could result in losses of several million euros.
The company said the attack targeted a service provider responsible for managing refrigeration systems at some outlets. As a precaution, affected fresh and frozen food displays were taken out of service.
Intermarché and Netto removed and disposed of potentially affected products to protect consumers, according to a company spokesperson.
The spokesperson added that overheating had produced smoke in some stores, but no fires had been reported. The company is awaiting assessments from a court-appointed bailiff and insurance experts to establish the extent of the damage.
Cybersecurity Concerns Extend Across Europe
Felix Aime, a senior cyber threat intelligence analyst at Sekoia Threat Detection and Research, told Reuters that the incident had also affected several other European countries, including Spain, Portugal, Poland, Germany and Belgium.
Ahold Delhaize, the owner of Stop & Shop and the Dutch supermarket chain Albert Heijn, separately reported a security issue within its network and took some systems offline. The company said its stores remained open.
European Commissioner for Agriculture and Food Christophe Hansen condemned the attack in a post on X, warning that food security required greater attention.
The incident has raised concerns about the vulnerability of essential services and food supply chains when businesses rely on connected systems managed by third-party providers.
AI Adds to the Cybersecurity Challenge
The attack comes amid wider concerns about cybercrime and the potential use of artificial intelligence to increase the scale and speed of malicious operations.
British online fashion retailer ASOS recently reported a security breach that exposed some customers’ personal information. Separately, a small power plant in the United Kingdom was shut down for four days in July following a cyberattack suspected of being linked to Iran.
Bjorn R. Watn, Interpol’s global chief information security officer, told CNBC that AI could help attackers target multiple victims simultaneously.
“It’s an evolution and not a revolution,” Watn said, describing the changing cybersecurity landscape.
The French supermarket incident highlights the importance of securing operational technology, strengthening oversight of external service providers and preparing contingency plans for disruptions affecting critical equipment.
Authorities and companies are still assessing the full impact of the attack, including the financial losses and the extent of the disruption across affected stores.
