M&S has restored online orders, seven weeks after being hit by a cyberattack.
The retailer suspended online clothing and home orders in the days after hackers struck over the Easter bank holiday weekend.
It said last month the disruption could last until July as it rebuilt systems to eradicate the attackers.
However, M&S’s website was taking clothing orders again this morning, weeks ahead of scheduled.
The reintroduction is being staggered by region.
Work is also still underway on the M&S Sparks app, which at the time of writing was greeting users with a message saying “we’re making some updates and will be back soon”.
Back online
“We are bringing back online shopping this week,” said John Lyttle, M&S MD of fashion, home and beauty.
“A selection of best-selling fashion ranges will be available for delivery to England, Scotland and Wales. More of our fashion, home and beauty products will be added every day and we will resume deliveries to Northern Ireland and click & collect in the coming weeks.
“Thank you sincerely for your support and for shopping with us.”
M&S said in its results in May that it expected online disruption to continue “throughout June and into July as we restart, then ramp up operations”. It forecast a £300m hit to annual profit as a result.
However, CEO Stuart Machin said at the time that online orders would return sooner than this. “It will be earlier than [July] but we’ve given ourselves scope just to make sure we’re fully up and running 100%, delivering the right proposition,” he said.
M&S shoppers who have been asking for weeks when online orders will resume welcomed the news from the retailer on Facebook this morning. “Oh thank goodness, I was totally lost without it,” wrote one.
Another said: “Great news! So sorry you have had to go through this – well done to all the M&S staff, management involved with this.”
M&S’s online stock checker for food, allowing shoppers to check what is available in their local store, is expected to be functioning again soon.
M&S’s food range has been available to order online from Ocado throughout the disruption.
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