Panah Press | Tuesday, October 13, 2026
A cyberattack targeting the systems that control and regulate refrigerator temperatures at several supermarket chains in France caused the temperature of some cooling equipment to rise to around 50 degrees Celsius. The incident led to food spoilage and financial losses for the affected stores.
According to published reports, the supermarket chains Intermarché, Coopérative U, E.Leclerc, Monoprix, and Carrefour were among those affected by the attack. French authorities have launched an investigation, but the identities and motives of those responsible have not yet been established.
Les Mousquetaires Group, which owns Intermarché, said around 150 of its stores had been targeted in the cyberattack. According to the group, the temperature of some cooling equipment rose to approximately 50 degrees Celsius for nearly six hours. Store managers discarded affected products over concerns about food spoilage and potential risks to consumer health.
Coopérative U also reported that nearly 100 of its stores had been affected. Carrefour confirmed that 80 of its stores were impacted by the attack. Monoprix said approximately five percent of its stores in France had been affected.
However, the final number of affected stores and the total financial losses resulting from the incident remain unknown.
Older Danfoss Equipment Under Scrutiny
Reports indicate that the attack targeted systems used to control and regulate the temperature of cooling equipment manufactured by Danfoss, a Danish industrial equipment producer.
A significant proportion of the affected equipment consists of older models that no longer receive security updates. The attackers may have exploited a known vulnerability in these systems to gain access and manipulate temperature settings, but the exact method used to carry out the attack has not yet been fully established.
Further official confirmation from Danfoss is also needed regarding any potential security patch and how the vulnerability in the equipment could be addressed.
Investigation Into Cyberattack Underway
The Paris Public Prosecutor’s Office has launched an investigation into the attack. The French government has also asked the relevant cybersecurity authorities to examine the scope of the incident.
French officials are in contact with their European counterparts to determine whether similar stores and facilities in other countries were also targeted.
Some reports, citing a cybersecurity analyst, have raised the possibility that the attack affected countries including Spain, Portugal, Poland, Germany, and Belgium. However, the full scope of the attack and the extent of the damage in these countries have not yet been independently and officially confirmed.
Intermarché’s chief executive has warned that the financial losses resulting from the incident could reach tens of millions of euros. Nevertheless, the final estimate of the losses and the exact number of affected stores have not yet been announced.
The incident has once again highlighted the risks posed by cyberattacks targeting industrial equipment control systems. Disruptions to such systems can cause not only economic losses but also affect food supply chains, store operations, and consumer health.
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