Video. Air conditioner rush: Scuffles break out at Lidl stores across France

Hundreds of shoppers queued outside Lidl supermarkets across France on Thursday after the retailer announced the sale of 200,000 fans and portable air conditioners, triggering long lines, scuffles and police intervention at several stores.

Outside a Lidl store in Paris’s 19th arrondissement, around 200 people waited for up to two hours before opening, with police monitoring the crowds as demand grew.

Social media videos showed chaotic scenes as customers rushed into stores in a bid to secure the discounted cooling appliances. In Nanterre, west of Paris, the entrance door of a Lidl supermarket was damaged as crowds pushed to get inside, while other footage showed shoppers scuffling over products still in their boxes. Long queues of customers and cars were also seen outside stores in Sevran.

The rush came as France prepared for another spell of hot weather following an intense heatwave that pushed temperatures above 40°C in parts of the country. Lidl’s portable air conditioners, priced from €179, were far cheaper than many comparable models on the market, fuelling demand as households looked to prepare for the expected return of extreme heat. Police were called to several stores to help manage the crowds.