M&S has confirmed the full restoration of its Sparks loyalty program after being targeted in a significant cyber attack. The supermarket had to temporarily close its online services during the Easter weekend due to the attack, which also impacted in-store contactless payments and click-and-collect services.
Although no card or payment details were compromised, customer data such as names, email addresses, addresses, and dates of birth were stolen. M&S assured customers that the Sparks app is now fully operational, offering personalized discounts, birthday perks, and coffee rewards.
Under the coffee scheme, customers can earn a free coffee by collecting six stamps on their Sparks app. Additionally, M&S plans to distribute over 1.8 million birthday treats to customers celebrating birthdays this month, with belated treats for those who had birthdays in May or June.
To enhance security, customers are advised to change their passwords when accessing the Sparks app post-cyber attack. M&S has also introduced a special discount as a token of appreciation to its staff.
In a show of gratitude to its employees, M&S is increasing the colleague discount from 20% to 30% for four days for 63,000 staff members. Moreover, the 10% discount will be extended to over 2,500 contractors in the company’s supply chain and partnerships.
Sharry Cramond, Director of Loyalty, Fashion, Home & Beauty Marketing and Masterbrand at M&S, expressed gratitude to both staff and customers for their support during the challenging period. The company’s CEO, Stuart Machin, anticipates a full reopening of online operations by August.
Despite the cyber attack’s estimated £300 million cost, M&S reported a significant annual profit increase before the incident, driven by its successful turnaround efforts. Customers are urged to remain vigilant and cautious if they receive any communication claiming to be from M&S.