Cyberattack Hits 150 Intermarché Stores in France, Spoils Food Supplies

A cyberattack targeting supermarket refrigeration systems has affected about 150 Intermarché stores across France, forcing the retailer to discard large quantities of food after temperatures inside refrigerators and freezers rose to 50°C.

The incident occurred overnight between Sunday and Monday, October 11 and 12, 2026. The affected stores belong to Les Mousquetaires, the group that owns Intermarché.

The company said the refrigeration units remained at elevated temperatures for approximately six hours. It subsequently ordered the disposal of affected food products to prevent potential health risks to consumers.

The attack was part of a wider incident involving several French supermarket chains. Carrefour reported that 80 of its stores were affected, while Monoprix said approximately five per cent of its French outlets experienced disruptions. Other retailers, including Coopérative U, also reported being targeted.

French authorities have launched an investigation into the incident. Prime Minister Sébastien Lecornu instructed the National Cybersecurity Agency (ANSSI) to investigate, while the Paris prosecutor’s office confirmed that the attack had caused food losses and fires at several locations.

Investigators have identified a potential vulnerability in refrigeration management software supplied by Danish company Danfoss. The company said the affected systems were running outdated firmware and urged customers to keep supported equipment updated.

Cybersecurity analyst Félix Aimé said the incident may have extended beyond France, with Spain, Portugal, Poland, Germany and Belgium also potentially affected.

The financial consequences could be substantial. Intermarché’s chief executive, Thierry Cotillard, estimated that losses across the French retail sector could reach tens of millions of euros in a single day.

The incident highlights the risks businesses face when essential equipment is connected to remotely accessible digital systems. For supermarket operators, refrigeration failures can quickly threaten food safety, increase operating costs and disrupt supply chains.

Authorities are continuing their investigation, while affected retailers work to restore normal operations and assess the damage.