A cyber attack targeting refrigeration management systems in France caused widespread spoilage of perishable goods across hundreds of supermarkets.
Attackers gained access to Danfoss control units installed in Intermarché and Coopérative U stores and activated continuous defrost mode. The systems were set to maintain 50 °C, far above normal operating temperatures, resulting in the loss of both fresh and frozen inventory.
The incident impacted 150–200 Intermarché outlets and nearly 100 Coopérative U locations. Retailers confirmed the breach, and the Paris prosecutor’s office has launched a formal investigation. Several fires linked to the overheating equipment were also reported.
Instead of running short maintenance cycles to remove ice, the compromised units remained in defrost mode for extended periods. This violation of the cold chain rendered large volumes of stock unsaleable.
Coopérative U chairman Dominique Schelcher called the attack unprecedented and said recovery teams are collaborating with refrigeration specialists to return systems to normal operation. The exact method of initial compromise remains under investigation.
