Fridges in French supermarkets hit by cyber attack

What the report says

Hundreds of supermarkets in France were disrupted by a cyber attack that affected the software controlling refrigeration systems, according to BBC World News. The incident caused fridges and freezers in some stores to overheat overnight, spoiling fresh and frozen food and leading to losses estimated by media reports to reach millions of euros.

BBC reported that Coopérative U said more than 100 of its stores were targeted, while at least 300 outlets belonging to Intermarché and its Netto brand were also affected. Intermarché said some of its units reached about 50C for several hours, and affected stock was discarded over food-safety concerns. Reports from French media suggested staff encountered hot air when opening freezer cases, and one broadcaster showed an ice-cream freezer reading well above normal temperatures.

The Paris prosecutor’s office has opened an investigation into what it described as a large-scale cyber-attack on supermarket refrigeration equipment. BBC noted that other chains, including Carrefour, E.Leclerc and Monoprix, were also reported to have been hit, though the full scale remains unclear. Coopérative U chief executive Dominique Schelcher said teams were working with refrigeration specialists to restore operations.

The case matters because it highlights how cyber attacks can disrupt not only digital services but also physical infrastructure tied to food supply and public health. More broadly, it raises concerns about the security of connected industrial systems used in retail and logistics.