**Co-op Offers £10 Discount to Members Following Cyber Attack Disruption**
The Co-op supermarket chain has announced a special £10 discount for its members in a gesture of appreciation, following a significant cyber attack in May that led to widespread disruption, bare shelves, and the exposure of personal data. This move is aimed at both thanking loyal customers and restoring confidence as the retailer returns to normal trading operations.
In what has been an exceptionally trying period for several major UK retailers, the Co-op found its supply chains severely hampered by a sophisticated cyber assault last month. As a result, many stores struggled to keep shelves stocked, causing frustration for customers across the country. The incident has been linked to a wider spate of cyber attacks on the retail sector in recent weeks, which also saw prominent names like Marks & Spencer and Harrods facing similar challenges.
During the incident, hackers accessed sensitive information belonging to Co-op members, reportedly including names and contact details. Although the company has reassured customers that payment details were not compromised, the breach has nevertheless sparked concerns over the security of customer data within large corporations. Industry analysts note that incidents of this nature highlight the ongoing vulnerability of even the most established retail brands to digital threats.
To show gratitude for the patience and continued support displayed by its community, the Co-op is offering members a one-off discount of £10 on any in-store purchase totalling at least £40. This represents a 25 per cent saving and can be redeemed from 18th June until the end of 24th June. The initiative is available to the Co-op’s existing six and a half million members as well as those who choose to sign up during the offer period.
Matt Hood, the Co-op’s managing director for food, expressed his pride in the response of the company’s staff and the loyalty of customers during the difficult period. “I’m very proud that, thanks to the work of our colleagues, we are very near to making a full and complete recovery from the recent cyber-attack on our Co-op, and I’m delighted to see our stores looking back to normal and being able to serve our shoppers and communities,” Hood commented.
He went on to underline the cooperative’s commitment to its member-owners, saying, “We are so grateful to our member owners for their support and patience with us during what was a very difficult time and hope this gesture of appreciation goes a little way to showing them our thanks, with more value rewards to come over the summer.”
The return to normal service is also being marked by the launch of a national summer advertising campaign, with the Co-op looking to rebuild momentum after several weeks of technical and operational headaches. Marketing initiatives that had been paused during the height of the disruption have now resumed across the chain’s 2,300 food stores.
Industry observers have praised the transparency shown by the Co-op in its handling of the hack and the retailer’s swift efforts to re-establish customer trust. However, the series of high-profile breaches at established brands has prompted renewed calls for broader investment in digital security infrastructure across the sector.
Marks & Spencer’s cyber woes in April forced the iconic retailer to suspend all online transactions, with company officials estimating a potential cost to the business of around £300 million. Harrods, another high street titan, was also caught up in the surge of attacks.
With this goodwill gesture and proactive recovery, the Co-op seeks to move beyond the challenges of recent weeks and offer reassurance to both shoppers and industry commentators alike. Shoppers are being encouraged to check their membership status and take advantage of the time-limited discount before the promotion concludes at midnight on 24th June.
Looking ahead, the Co-op has indicated it will be introducing further value-driven rewards for its member owners throughout the summer, signalling an ongoing focus on customer appreciation even as the retailer continues to strengthen its digital defences.