French supermarkets experienced a significant cyberattack that caused refrigeration units at multiple chains—including Carrefour, Monoprix, Intermarché, and Coopérative U—to overheat to temperatures as high as 122°F (50°C). This overheating led to spoilage of food products and sparked fires in some locations, forcing stores to dispose of affected goods and temporarily shut down refrigeration displays. The attack targeted hundreds of outlets, with around 150 to 200 Intermarché stores and nearly 100 Coopérative U locations impacted.

Dominique Schelcher, CEO of Coopérative U, described the incident as an unprecedented and serious violation, emphasizing the essential role that refrigeration plays in food preservation and supply. Les Mousquetaires, the parent company of Intermarché, reported expected damages reaching several million euros and highlighted that some of the refrigeration issues stemmed from compromised service providers managing these systems. While smoke was observed in some stores, no fires were officially reported.

The cyberattack did not only affect French retailers; senior cyberthreat analyst Felix Aime noted that several other European countries, such as Spain, Portugal, Poland, Germany, and Belgium, also faced disruptions. Christophe Hansen, the European Commissioner for Agriculture and Food, condemned the attack and warned that the weaponization of food supplies is now a tangible threat, calling for increased attention to food security at all levels.

This incident occurs amid a rising wave of cyberattacks which are being escalated by advances in artificial intelligence, facilitating faster and broader-reaching assaults. Other recent cybersecurity breaches include a data leak at British fashion retailer Asos and a cyberattack on a UK power plant, highlighting the increasing vulnerability of critical infrastructure and private enterprises to digitally-enhanced threats. Experts caution that this evolution in cybercrime demands heightened vigilance and robust security measures.