M&S issues warning to anyone visiting UK stores in May or June

M&S issues warning to anyone visiting UK stores in May or JuneThe retailer has now said disruption from the attack is expected to continue through to JulyWhat's OnJames Rodger Content

Editor07:55, 21 May 2025Updated 07:56, 21 May 2025M&S issues warning to anyone visiting UK stores in May or June M&S has issued a warning to anyone shopping in May OR June. Marks & Spencer

expects a £300m hit in lost profits from a cyber-attack after a hack on IT systems since Easter weekend has forced halt to online orders and left M&S struggling to stack shelves.

The retailer has now said disruption from the attack is expected to continue through to July. In a statement released alongside its full-year results, M&S said: "Over the last few weeks, we

have been managing a highly sophisticated cyber incident.

‌ "As a team, we have worked around the clock with suppliers and partners to contain the incident and stabilise operations, taking proactive measures to minimise the disruption for

customers.

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"We are focused on recovery, restoring our systems, operations and customer proposition over the rest of the first half, with the aim of exiting this period a much stronger business.

Article continues below "Since the incident, food sales have been impacted by reduced availability, although this is already improving. We have also incurred additional waste and logistics

costs, due to the need to operate manual processes, impacting profit in the first quarter.

"In Fashion, Home & Beauty, online sales and trading profit have been heavily impacted by the necessary decision to pause online shopping, however stores have remained resilient.

"We expect online disruption to continue throughout June and into July as we restart, then ramp up operations.

Article continues below "This will also mean increased stock management costs in the second quarter." The number was revealed as M&S said annual pre-tax profits rose a better than expected

22% to £876m ahead of the cyber attack.

The company said it had over £400m of net funds in the bank. Nicholas Found, the head of commercial content at Retail Economics, said: “The cyber-attack on Marks & Spencer is a stark

reminder that no retailer, no matter how established or digitally sophisticated, is immune from the escalating threat of cybercrime.

“While M&S bears the brunt of this particular attack, this is far from an isolated incident. Cyber-attacks are a systemic risk looming over the entire retail sector.”