When hackers strike, the bill can be brutal. The Co-operative Group said the cyber-attack that paralysed its systems in April wiped out at least £206 million in sales, plunging the mutual into a hefty loss for the first half of 2025.
The attack disrupted payments, stripped shelves bare in some stores, and exposed the personal data of all 6.5 million members. Funeral homes were even forced to revert to paper records.
Chair Debbie White described it as a “malicious” assault that created “significant challenges” for the business.
For the six months to July 5, the Co-op swung to an underlying pre-tax loss of £75 million, compared with a £3 million profit a year earlier.
The retailer estimated the disruption hit its operating profit by £80 million in the first half, with rising staff costs and tighter regulation adding to the pain.
Chief executive Shirine Khoury-Haq said the crisis revealed both strengths and weaknesses, particularly in the food division. The group expects the disruption to linger into the second half.