Hackers force French supermarkets’ fridges to 50 °C, causing fires and food loss

Hackers force French supermarkets’ fridges to 50 °C, causing fires and food loss

Hackers forced the temperature of refrigerators in hundreds of French supermarkets to 50 °C overnight, sparking fires and destroying food stocks.

Scale of the attack

The incident, first reported by the Paris prosecutor’s office, hit more than 200 stores across the country. Intermarché and Coopérative U outlets were the most heavily affected, with the possibility that Dutch chains also suffered damage.

How the fridges were forced to heat up

According to the prosecutor, the attackers targeted the connected refrigeration units that are managed from central control rooms. The systems were overridden, raising the set point to 50 °C and causing the units to run at full power for an unknown period.

Hackers forced refrigerators to heat up to 50 °C, setting fire alarms and melting food.

Immediate damage

Employees discovered their aisles filled with smouldering units and alarm systems blaring. Small fires broke out in several outlets, forcing staff to evacuate and customers to leave. The heat also caused a significant loss of perishable goods, with some items already ruined by the time the temperature was restored.

Official response

Paris police and the prosecutor’s office launched an investigation into the cyber‑attack, describing it as a large‑scale event that compromised the safety of food retail infrastructure. The supermarket chains have issued statements acknowledging the incidents and are working to restore normal operations.

Background on connected refrigeration systems

Supermarkets in Europe increasingly rely on networked refrigeration units for energy management and stock monitoring. These devices, part of the Internet of Things, have become attractive targets for attackers who can exploit software vulnerabilities or weak authentication to take control of the systems.

Previous cyber incidents have highlighted the risk to critical infrastructure. A ransomware attack on a UK supermarket chain in 2023 forced the closure of several stores, while a 2024 data breach in a German retailer exposed customer information. The current attack adds a new dimension, showing that the physical safety of customers and staff can be threatened through digital means.

Implications for the retail sector

The incident raises questions about the security of the supply chain and the adequacy of current regulations for IoT devices in food retail. Industry groups are calling for stricter standards and better oversight of the manufacturers of these systems.

Analysts warn that if similar attacks were to target larger chains or spread to other European countries, the disruption could extend beyond individual stores to regional food distribution networks.

What comes next

Investigations are ongoing, and the supermarket operators are conducting emergency maintenance to bring temperatures back within safe limits. The prosecutor’s office will release further details once the technical analysis is complete. Meanwhile, the French government is expected to review its cyber‑security policies for essential services in the coming weeks.