Co-op Offers £10 Off £40 Shop as ‘Thank You’ Gesture After Cyber Attack
A major UK supermarket, Co-op, has announced a special offer for its members as a gesture of appreciation for their loyalty during a recent cyber attack that disrupted payments and left shelves bare.
According to reports from LBC, the Co-op’s stock availability was affected due to the attack in May, and shoppers faced empty shelves because of the continued fallout. Hackers also stole members’ personal data, such as names and contact details, from the retailer which has over 7,000 stores across the UK.
The cyber attackers, believed to be behind the hack, bragged about the vast scale of their attack, claiming they managed to infiltrate IT networks and steal 20 million customer’s data. The retailer initially claimed the hack had only a "small impact" on the company. However, the firm later apologised, admitting the hackers had "accessed data relating to a significant number of our current and past members".
The Co-op is offering its members £10 off a minimum £40 shop as a "thank you" gesture. The offer, which can be used once, takes effect from June 18 and runs until midnight on June 24. The deal will also be available to new members. Co-op managing director of food Matt Hood said: "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.
"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 offer provides 25% off a £40 in-store shop and is available to Co-op’s six and a half million members who supported the business during the attack.
The convenience retailer announced the "thank you" as its 2,300 food stores returned to usual trading, with all marketing activity resuming including a new national summer advertising campaign. This move is seen as an effort to regain customer trust and loyalty after the cyber attack. As LBC’s technology correspondent Will Guyatt advises, "If one [cyber attack] happens and you’re at risk, change your password, keep an eye on your credit record and move on – it’s an annoying part of our increasingly digital world."
The Co-op was just one of a number of retailers and other firms to have been hit by a raft of cyber attacks striking the sector in recent months. Marks & Spencer was forced to halt all online orders after a cyber incident in April, which bosses have said was likely to cost the business around £300 million, while Harrods was also hit. The Co-op’s offer is a gesture of goodwill to its customers and a sign of the company’s efforts to move forward after the cyber attack.
The incident highlights the increasing threat of cyber attacks on businesses and the importance of robust security measures to protect customer data. As reported by LBC, the Co-op’s cyber attack is just one example of the many attacks that have affected retailers in recent months. The company’s response to the attack, including the offer to its members, demonstrates its commitment to customer satisfaction and loyalty.
In conclusion, the Co-op’s offer to its members is a gesture of appreciation for their loyalty during a difficult time. The company’s efforts to regain customer trust and loyalty after the cyber attack are evident in its actions. As the threat of cyber attacks continues to grow, businesses must prioritise robust security measures to protect customer data and maintain trust.
Source: LBC
