Lidl sale sparks supermarket chaos in France over cooling

Chaotic scenes unfolded at supermarkets across France on Thursday as hundreds of shoppers rushed to buy discounted portable air conditioners and fans ahead of an expected heatwave. Police were called to multiple stores, primarily in the Paris region, after crowds surged into shops, damaged entrances, and fought over the limited supplies.

The frenzy was triggered by German discount retailer Lidl announcing a nationwide sale of cooling equipment. With many other major retailers already sold out, Lidl's offer of basic portable air conditioners priced at 179 euros drew large crowds hoping to secure affordable units before temperatures rise again. Reports indicated some stores received only a handful of air conditioners despite attracting hundreds of customers. At one Lidl branch in Paris's 19th arrondissement, staff told waiting shoppers they had received just two units.

Shoppers began queuing before dawn, with some arriving as early as 1 a.m. When doors opened, the pressure from crowds caused glass entrance doors to collapse at a store in Nanterre. Inside stores, arguments erupted as customers wrestled over products, and shelves were cleared within minutes. In Sevran, queues of...