Co-op breach a ‘stark reminder of why cash remains essential’ May 8, 2025 The disruption to card payments at Co-op stores last week is a warning to Brits on over reliance on digital payments, according to a leading consultancy firm. The Co-op shut down parts of its IT systems last week and suspended contactless payments at nearly 10 per cent of stores after detecting a potential breach. “The [...]
Why M&S, Harrods and the Co-op were hit by cyber attacks May 8, 2025 Cyber security experts have warned that retail’s lack of investment in IT protection, as well as the amount of consumer data it has access to, has put a bullseye on the sector. The warnings follow a trio of serious attacks at major UK households names – Harrods, Marks and Spencer (M&S) and the Co-op. “Retailers [...]
M&S, Harrods and Co-op attacks expose UK’s growing cybersecurity risks May 7, 2025 A recent spate of cyber attacks on UK retail giants, including M&S, Harrods and Co-op, have exposed growing concerns over cybersecurity readiness at British businesses. According to Cisco’s latest Index, released Wednesday, only four per cent of UK firms are fully prepared to defend against today’s complex cyber threats. The report found, too, that 83 per cent [...]
Co-op issues apology after hackers get hands on members’ personal data May 3, 2025 The Co-op has apologised after hackers accessed and extracted members’ personal data such as names and contact details. The retail firm said on Friday it is experiencing “sustained malicious attempts” to access its systems, having already shut off parts of its IT systems earlier this week. It comes after fellow retailers Harrods and Marks & [...]
Harrods hit in cyber spree as experts warn of ‘coordinated campaign’ May 2, 2025 Harrods has become the latest high profile UK retailer targeted by cyber attackers, joining Marks & Spencer and Co-op Group in a spate of recent incidents that security experts fear may be part of a broader attack against the sector. Harrods has confirmed that it had experienced “attempted to gain unauthorised access” to its systems. [...]
M&S and Co-op: UK retailers brace for cyber attacks May 1, 2025 Two of the UK’s most recognisable retail brands – Marks and Spencer and Co-op – found themselves at the centre of a growing cyber security storm this past week. From suspended online orders at M&S to locked-down systems at Co-op, the message from the frontline is clear: cyber threats are no longer just an IT [...]
Co-op profit jumps six-fold ahead of supermarket ‘trolley wars’ April 3, 2025 The Co-op has reported a huge jump in profit for 2024 ahead of potential ‘trolley wars’ in the grocery sector. Group revenue was broadly stable year on year, ticking up by 0.2 per cent to £11.3bn, while underlying profit rose by 35 per cent to £131m. Operating profit more than doubled, from £66m to £151m, [...]
Asda equal pay dispute advances as UK supermarkets look on nervously February 3, 2025 Asda workers equal pay can advance to the final legal stage after the Tribunal ruled some of their jobs are of equal value to the jobs in the distribution centres
Exclusive: Reeves to reveal new mutual council with Nationwide and Co-op November 14, 2024 Chancellor Rachel Reeves will set out plans for a new mutual council today made up of some of Britain’s biggest customer and member-owned firms, including Nationwide, Royal London and the Co-op Group, City AM understands. In her maiden Mansion House speech, Reeves is expected to set out a growth plan for mutually owned business as [...]
Sainsbury’s: FTSE 100 retailer warns Reeves’ budget may push up food prices November 7, 2024 Chief executive of Sainsbury’s Simon Roberts has warned that Reeves’ decision to increase employer’s national insurance contributions (NICs) by 1.2 per cent to 15 per cent next April could lead to price inflation. Sainsbury’s has estimated the cost of the change at £140m, according to the Guardian. “This industry operates on very low margins, and there just [...]