A cyberattack on refrigeration systems in French supermarkets has left retailers facing substantial food losses after hackers reportedly gained remote access to equipment and interfered with temperature controls.
The attack hit several major grocery chains, including Intermarché and Coopérative U, with some refrigeration systems reportedly reaching 50 degrees Celsius. Intermarché said approximately 150 of its stores were affected, with temperatures remaining elevated for six hours. The affected food was discarded to eliminate any food safety risk.
Coopérative U also reported disruption, while French trade media identified E.Leclerc among the retailers affected. French authorities are investigating the incidents, including reports of fires linked to the affected equipment.
Danish refrigeration technology manufacturer Danfoss confirmed that some affected systems were running outdated firmware. Older equipment may remain mechanically sound long after its software is no longer supported, leaving retailers with another maintenance issue to consider.
For supermarkets, the immediate cost of a refrigeration failure goes well beyond repairing the equipment. Fresh and frozen stock may need to be written off, staff must deal with the disruption, and stores can lose sales while temperatures are restored and replacement stock arrives.
Connected refrigeration is already part of supermarket operations in New Zealand. Remote monitoring is used to manage temperatures, identify equipment faults and reduce energy costs across multiple stores.
These systems offer operational savings, but they also require ongoing security and maintenance. Remote access must be secured, software kept up to date, and older equipment assessed for vulnerabilities, particularly where maintenance is handled by an external contractor.
Refrigeration equipment can remain in service for many years, but the software controlling it may require regular updates or eventually reach the end of its supported life.
Who checks that those updates have been installed? Is responsibility held by the retailer, the equipment manufacturer or the maintenance contractor? And if a remote connection is compromised, can the store continue operating its refrigeration equipment safely?
These are questions worth addressing when equipment is purchased, maintenance contracts are renewed, or older refrigeration systems are assessed for replacement. They also affect insurance and business continuity planning.
The French investigation is continuing. For New Zealand grocery operators, refrigeration maintenance now includes protecting the digital systems that keep food at safe temperatures.
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