Marks & Spencer Faces Extended Disruption and Multi-Million Pound Losses After Cyber Attack Shuts Down Online Sales Across the UK

Imagine running one of the UK’s most beloved high street retailers, only to have your entire online operation brought to a standstill by a cyber attack.

That’s exactly the challenge Marks & Spencer (M&S) has been facing since around Easter.

The disruption has hit their business hard, and the ripple effects are expected to last well into the summer.

How the Cyber Attack Shook M&S

M&S’s problems began when hackers targeted the company’s systems, forcing it to pause all online orders for nearly a month.

This wasn’t just an inconvenience; it meant empty shelves in stores and a major blow to their fashion, home, and beauty sales.

The food section also felt the pinch because of limited stock availability.

Fortunately, M&S says these issues are starting to improve as they fix their IT systems.

The Financial Fallout: A £300 Million Hit

In a recent update to investors, M&S revealed the cyber attack could cost them roughly £300 million in operating profits this year.

This figure is more than the £200 million some analysts initially estimated.

Still, the company expects to soften the financial blow through cost-cutting, insurance claims, and other measures.

Leadership’s Take: Focus on Recovery and Growth

CEO Stuart Machin has been upfront about the challenges but remains optimistic.

He described the situation as “a moment in time” and emphasized the company’s focus on bouncing back stronger.

Importantly, he confirmed M&S isn’t changing its long-term strategy despite the disruption—in fact, the crisis might speed up plans to reshape the business for growth.

What About Customer Data?

The cyber attack didn’t just affect sales and operations; customer personal information was also compromised.

Hackers reportedly stole data including names, email addresses, postal addresses, and dates of birth.

M&S has been working closely with authorities, including the National Crime Agency, which is investigating possible links to a known hacking group called Scattered Spider.

Looking Ahead: Can M&S Bounce Back?

Before the attack, M&S was enjoying a period of positive momentum.

Shares hit their highest level in nearly nine years just last month, though they have since dipped due to the cyber incident.

Now, the big question is how quickly M&S can recover and whether this setback will derail its growth ambitions or, perhaps, accelerate its transformation.