The Co-operative Group has posted a £75 million loss for the first half of 2025 after a devastating cyber attack in April. The retailer's results show a dramatic reversal from the £3 million profit recorded during the same period last year.
The malicious cyber attack delivered an £80 million blow to the company's earnings, with sales taking a £206 million hit. The financial impact included £20 million in one-off costs as the group worked to restore systems and operations following the breach.
Customers faced widespread disruption during the April incident, with empty shelves and payment system failures across Co-op stores. The attack formed part of a broader cyber offensive that affected multiple retailers across the country.
Financial performance plummets
The group reported a £32 million underlying operating loss, compared to £47 million in earnings during the same period last year. Co-op expects the cyber attack to continue affecting performance in the second half of the year, though the impact should be reduced.
The attack's timing and scale caught the retail sector off guard, highlighting vulnerabilities in digital infrastructure across major UK retailers.
Leadership acknowledges crisis impact
Co-op chairwoman Debbie White acknowledged the scale of the challenge facing the business. "The first half of 2025 brought significant challenges, most notably from a malicious cyber attack," she said.
White praised the company's workforce for their response to the crisis. "Our balance sheet strength and the magnificent response of our 53,000 colleagues enabled us to maintain vital services for our members and their communities," she added.
Sources used: "PA Media" Note: This article has been edited with the help of Artificial Intelligence.
