Paris prosecutors investigate cyberattack affecting supermarket refrigerators across France

The Paris prosecutor's office has opened an investigation into what it called "the large-scale cyberattack affecting the refrigerators of several major food retail chains across France". It made the statement to AFP, according to France 24.

The prosecutor's office said the investigation will seek to "identify the victims and establish the link with the damage they reported in terms of foodstuff losses and the outbreak of fires".

Coopérative U's refrigeration systems have been affected by a cyberattack since Sunday night. Its chief executive, Dominique Schelcher, confirmed this and described the attack as "unprecedented", according to France 24.

What is reported

Intermarché and Coopérative U told AFP that the attack, overnight Sunday to Monday, caused refrigerators in their stores to defrost. Intermarché said about 150-200 of its stores were targeted. Coopérative U said almost 100 of its outlets were targeted. Intermarché told AFP that affected stores would have to "throw away all of the products" in their fresh and frozen ranges.

According to AFP's summary, prosecutors indicated that the attack prompted outbreaks of fire. The prosecutor's directly quoted statement refers to fires reported by victims. The reports do not give the number, locations or severity of any fires, or say whether anyone was injured.

France 24 quoted BFM TV as saying the attackers succeeded in "managing to remotely trigger the forced defrosting of the refrigeration systems in numerous stores". BFM TV said store temperatures were "altered remotely, resulting in the destruction of stocks of fresh and frozen products".

According to AFP's account, other major chains were also hit. BFM TV reported that E. Leclerc, France's largest supermarket chain, was affected. When AFP contacted it, E. Leclerc did not immediately confirm this. The retail news website jebosseengrandedistribution.fr reported that Carrefour Market and Monoprix were affected. France 24 said these companies had yet to confirm it.

France 24 and the South China Morning Post both attribute the retailers' figures to AFP. Le Monde's summary does not name a source, but its wording is nearly identical, suggesting the same origin.

What each side says

Schelcher wrote on X: "Targeting equipment essential to the preservation of fresh products and to the food supply of the French people is extremely serious and is unprecedented. It is unacceptable." He added: "An investigation will be necessary to shed full light on this attack." He said company teams were "fully mobilised" to restore the situation.

Intermarché condemned the resulting food waste and financial losses. It did not give figures. It warned that some insurance policies may not cover this type of in-store incident.

What is not known

The reports do not identify who carried out the attack. France 24 mentioned, as background only, President Emmanuel Macron's earlier order to protect critical infrastructure from Russian "hybrid attacks". It did not link that order to this incident. The reports do not describe how the attackers gained access to the systems. They do not include exact store counts, the value of the losses, or whether the systems have been restored. They do not include any statement from French cybersecurity authorities or the government.

Analysis

If the reported details are confirmed, the incident would show that networked refrigeration in food retail can be a point of vulnerability. The prosecutors' inquiry may clarify the scope of the attack, which chains were affected and whether fires were caused by it. It may also show whether a shared supplier or system was involved, but the reports reviewed by Vocemundi do not say so. Intermarché's warning about insurance suggests the losses could raise questions about who bears the cost. Until more chains, investigators or authorities comment, the full scale of the attack remains unclear.

Produced by the Vocemundi newsroom with AI assistance.