More than 500 supermarkets across France experienced a massive disruption after hackers remotely manipulated their refrigeration systems, causing millions of euros worth of perishable goods to spoil. The incident, which targeted equipment manufactured by Danish company Danfoss, has triggered an investigation by French authorities and raised urgent questions about the security of digitized food supply chains.
Widespread Spoilage and System Failures
The attacks occurred overnight when stores were closed, allowing hackers to gain internet access to the refrigeration units. According to reports, the intruders remotely triggered a forced defrosting function, causing temperatures in freezers and fridges to rise to as high as 50 degrees Celsius (122 degrees Fahrenheit). The extreme heat not only ruined stock but also sparked fires and melted equipment in some locations.
Major retail groups confirmed the scale of the breach. Intermarche reported that at least 300 of its stores and Netto brand locations were affected. Cooperative U stated that more than 100 supermarkets were targeted, while Carrefour confirmed 80 locations were impacted. Monoprix reported that approximately 5 percent of its roughly 490 stores experienced issues. E-Leclerc was also among the retailers hit by the coordinated strike.
France’s cybersecurity agency, ANSSI, advised companies operating the affected freezer models to immediately disconnect them from the internet or restrict access. The agency identified the targeted systems as the Danfoss AK-SM800 and AK-SC355 models. Danfoss told news agency AFP that most of the compromised control systems were legacy products running outdated firmware. The manufacturer stated it had previously advised supermarkets to update these systems to prevent such vulnerabilities.
Broader Implications for Global Supply Chains
This incident is part of a growing trend of cyberattacks targeting critical infrastructure and retail sectors globally. In April 2025, British retailer Marks and Spencer suffered a ransomware attack that cost approximately 300 million pounds. The same hacker group, Scattered Spider, also attempted to breach Co-op and Harrods. In the United States, United Natural Foods and Ahold Delhaize USA have reported similar disruptions to their operations in recent years.
Experts warn that the digitization of agricultural and food systems creates new vulnerabilities. Steven Lachance, a tech and cybersecurity analyst, noted that smart appliances connected to the internet are inherently vulnerable to security lapses. He emphasized that hackers can exploit these connections to trigger malicious features remotely.
“It’s the new reality of having these connected equipment,” Lachance said. “This should come as a global wake-up call … Throughout society, we have connected infrastructure that is live on the internet, and that can be hacked.”
French officials are currently liaising with other European countries to determine if similar attacks have occurred elsewhere. The attacks come shortly after President Emmanuel Macron ordered enhanced protection for the country’s critical infrastructure against hybrid threats. Authorities have launched a formal investigation to identify the perpetrators and the specific methods used to breach the supermarket networks.
Source: Al Jazeera
