Marks and Spencer (M&S) has announced its Sparks loyalty scheme is fully back online following a cyber-attack in April this year.

The retailer said the relaunch of the scheme will feature a range of treats and rewards across fashion and home.

Additionally, the company’s coffee stamp scheme will soon be reinstated across M&S Café’s across the UK.

The retailer has said it plans to give customers who have collected their six stamps a free coffee in their Sparks Hub to redeem during their next visit.

M&S added that it will give out over 1.8 million birthday treats to those celebrating their birthday this month, as well as a belated birthday treat for customers who had celebrations in May or June.

Customers will be able to choose from a range of M&S’ bestselling food products such as Percy Pigs sweets or chocolate biscuits.

This weekend, M&S said it will extend its 20 per cent employee colleague discount to 30 per cent for four days for its 63,000 employees to be used across fashion, home and beauty including third-party brands.

For the first time outside of Christmas, M&S said it will extend the 10 per cent discount to over 2,500 contractors from across its supply chain and partners.

This includes Gist Limited, the principal contract logistics provider to M&S Food, as well as security and cleaning contractors and in-store beauty advisors from Clinique and Estee Lauder.

“Over the last three months, our colleagues have demonstrated real commitment and teamwork,” said Sharry Cramond, director of loyalty, fashion, home and beauty marketing and masterbrand. “At the same time, our customers have shown us fantastic support and loyalty - these extra Sparks rewards are a small gesture to say thank you.”

Earlier this month, M&S said it would be over the worst of its devastating cyber attack by August.

The April attack on M&S forced the group to close its online store for nearly seven weeks and led to empty shelves at shops during May as automated stock systems were shut down.

The incident has cost the company an estimated £300 million in lost profits this year.

The cyber-attack, which has been linked to hacking group Scattered Spider, disrupted contactless payments and click-and-collect services. It also led to a data breach involving staff information, though M&S said no sensitive details such as passwords or home addresses were accessed.

Last week, the National Crime Agency arrested four people in connection with the recent cyber-attacks on M&S, The Co-operative, and Harrods.

Following an investigation by the law enforcement agency, two males aged 19, another aged 17, and a 20-year-old female were apprehended in the West Midlands and London.

They were arrested on suspicion of Computer Misuse Act offences, blackmail, money laundering and participating in the activities of an organised crime group.
https://www.retail-systems.com/rs/Four_People_Arrested_For_Cyberattacks_On_MS_Coop_And_Harrods.php

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