Co-op stores thank customers for ‘patience and support’ over tough recovery period
Shelves at local Co-op stores in Badenoch and Strathspey are looking healthier all the time and staff are reported to be optimistic of a more or less normal service within a couple of weeks.
At Newtonmore this weekend one assistant said the shelves were much easier to stock with fruit and veg now and the news from HQ was better all the time following the trauma of the recent cyber attack which had such a dramatic effect on local supplies.
“We’re hoping that it’s going to be resolved more or less completely within six weeks but we’re still waiting for confirmation.”
One customer the Strathy spoke to in Newtonmore said: “The staff in the strath have had to put up with some really negative comments from a lot of customers and it’s been so unfair.
“These people have put up with a lot from within the business and outside it, but they have coped fantastically well.”
The customer, a local businesswoman who chose to remain anonymous, said: “What the company did was best for everybody concerned - protecting their systems as effectively as they could from a major crime wave against them. You have to remember the Coop is owned by its members and it was duty bound to protect them, that’s why so many channels had to be closed down for a while and why the supplies were affected.
“Hopefully now things will head back to normality and the staff will get a better deal from their own customers.”
The latest statement from Co-op’s CEO, Shirine Khoury-Haq to those customers and members explained: “Following the recent cyber-attack on our Co-op we promised to stay in touch so I’m writing to you today with the latest update.
“Our amazing colleagues have been working day and night to protect our systems and get our operations back on track, and we can confirm that we are now in a much stronger position.
“Our stores are now receiving regular deliveries, so you can expect to find more of the products you need in your local store from this weekend.
“You can also make the most of your Member-Owner benefits, including your personalised digital offers. Please just check your app to choose your offers or visit coop.co.uk/offers.
“Across all our businesses, our teams are working hard to ensure we continue to provide the service that you expect from our Coop.
“We apologise in advance for any delays in our current service while we make sure that we bring the organisation back to normal as quickly, and as safely, as possible.
“We are all so grateful for your patience and support as we recover from this incident.”
