Continued Online Issues Impacting Food, Fashion, Home & Beauty Sales

  • Marks and Spencer reports highest profits in over 15 years
  • Cyber attack causes £300m hit to next year’s profits
  • Disruption expected to continue through June and July
  • Increased stock management costs in the second quarter

Marks and Spencer (M&S) has reported its highest pre-tax profits in over 15 years, with a 22.2% increase to £875.5m in its full-year results ending on 29 March 2025. This marks the third consecutive year of growth for the company. Food sales rose by 8.7% to £9bn, while Fashion, Home, and Beauty sales increased by 3.5% to £4.2bn. However, M&S has warned that it faces a £300m hit to next year’s profits due to ongoing disruption from a major cyber attack. The company expects the online disruption to continue throughout June and into July, leading to increased stock management costs in the second quarter.

Factuality Level: 10
Factuality Justification: The article provides accurate information about Marks and Spencer’s financial performance, including profits, growth in different sectors, and the impact of a cyber attack on future profits.
Noise Level: 6
Noise Justification: The article provides relevant information about Marks and Spencer’s financial performance and the impact of a cyber attack on their profits. However, it lacks in-depth analysis or exploration of long-term trends or consequences for those affected by the decision-making process.
Financial Relevance: Yes
Financial Markets Impacted: No
Financial Rating Justification: The article discusses Marks and Spencer’s financial performance, including its highest profits in over 15 years and a projected £300m hit due to a cyber attack. It does not mention any specific financial markets or companies being impacted.
Presence Of Extreme Event: Yes
Nature Of Extreme Event: h. Technological Disruption (cyber-attacks, major service outages, data breaches, etc.
Impact Rating Of The Extreme Event: Moderate
Extreme Rating Justification: There is an extreme event mentioned in the text – a major cyber attack that caused a £300m hit to next year’s profits. The impact is rated as Moderate due to its disruption on the company’s finances, but not causing any deaths, injuries or significant damage to infrastructure.

Reported publicly: www.retailsector.co.uk