Around 300 Intermarche and Netto stores, along with fewer than 100 U supermarkets, were affected by the incident, Anadolu Agency reported.
The attackers reportedly altered refrigeration temperatures remotely, causing stocks of fresh and frozen products to spoil.
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In the Alsace region, two Intermarche and Super U supermarkets alone reported losses of €270,000 ($301,000). The total financial damage nationwide is expected to reach several million euros.
Dominique Schelcher, head of Cooperative U, confirmed the attack in a post on X, saying teams were working to restore operations and calling for an investigation into the incident.
“Targeting equipment essential to the preservation of fresh products and to the food supply of the French people is of extreme gravity and is unprecedented. It is unacceptable,” Schelcher said.
The incident highlights the potential impact of cyberattacks on operational technology used to manage essential infrastructure, including systems responsible for maintaining food safety and preventing spoilage.
