A wave of cyberattacks has knocked out refrigeration controls at major supermarket chains across Europe, putting food stocks at risk and triggering losses that could climb into the millions. Attackers tampered with cooling hardware, forcing units into endless defrost cycles at temperatures as high as 50 degrees Celsius.
The timing could hardly be worse. Grocery retailers already face tight margins and supply chain pressures. Now they must contend with digital sabotage aimed squarely at infrastructure that keeps fresh food safe. French chains Intermarché, Leclerc, and Coopérative U all reported compromised systems.
Dominique Schelcher, president of Coopérative U, confirmed the breach struck overnight Sunday into Monday. He called the situation “extremely serious,” noting that crews worked urgently to restore operations. Schelcher condemned the targeting of essential refrigeration equipment, calling an attack on France’s food supply “unacceptable.”
Investigators found that automated defrost functions, normally limited to two-hour windows, had been reprogrammed to run nonstop. As a result, refrigerated inventory spoiled across affected stores. Early estimates put damages near €300,000, with projections suggesting the final tally could reach several million euros.
Meanwhile, similar chaos unfolded in the Netherlands. Supermarket operator Albert Heijn, along with drugstore chains Etos and Gall & Gall, suffered a cybersecurity incident Sunday afternoon. Websites went dark temporarily. Electronic shelf labels malfunctioned, scrambling in-store pricing and disrupting grocery deliveries. Albert Heijn responded by shutting down several systems as a precaution.
Belgium’s Delhaize chain, which shares ownership ties with Albert Heijn, reported parallel disruptions. Photos from Amsterdam stores showed notices warning shoppers about pricing errors and suspended loyalty programs. Investigators have not yet determined whether the French and Dutch attacks share a common source or remain separate incidents.
