A cyberattack has disrupted refrigeration systems at several major European supermarkets, according to a report from Tom's Hardware. In France, attackers targeted Danfoss-made refrigeration controls used by Intermarché, Leclerc, and Coopérative U, activating automatic defrosting and setting it to run continuously at 50 degrees Celsius — a function that normally runs for only two hours a day. Coopérative U's president, Dominique Schelcher, confirmed the attack and called it "extremely serious," noting that teams were working to restore normal operation and that an investigation would follow.
The incident has also affected deliveries and in-store pricing. Electronic shelf labels were compromised, and early estimates put losses at nearly €300,000, with the potential to reach several million euros nationwide. Separately, Dutch retailers Albert Heijn, Etos, and Gall & Gall reported website outages and pricing disruptions after a cybersecurity incident on Sunday afternoon. Albert Heijn said it had proactively shut down some systems to protect its IT environment, and Belgium's Delhaize chain also reported disruption.
Tom's Hardware notes that it is not yet clear whether the French and Dutch attacks are related or how widespread either incident is. The report draws on local sources including La Dépêche and NOS, and does not identify a perpetrator or a common cause. What is clear is that the attacks targeted essential food-preservation infrastructure, forcing retailers to respond quickly while investigators work to determine the scope and origin of the disruption.