M&S and Co‑op hit by Scattered Spider attack
Tesco steps in to aid M&S and Co‑op during cyber‑related stock shortages.
High street giants M&S and Co‑op remain under siege after the Scattered Spider gang’s sophisticated cyber‑attack this April. The breaches disrupted online services and automated systems, leading to suspended orders, empty shelves and significant reputational damage.
Authorities have classified the incident as category‑2, with initial estimates suggesting losses between £270 million and £440 million. M&S expects a £300 million hit to its annual profit, with daily online sales down by up to £4 million during the outage.
In a rare display of unity, Tesco’s Booker arm stepped in to supply M&S and some independent Co‑op stores, helping to ease stock shortages. Meanwhile, cyber insurers have signalled increasing premiums, with the cost of cover for retail firms rising by up to 10 percent.
The National Cyber Security Centre and government ministers have issued urgent calls for the sector to strengthen defences, citing such high‑impact incidents as a vital wake‑up call for business readiness.
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