Co-op records 100% profit rise despite tricky year

The boss of East of England Co-op has praised the company's resilience after it recorded a 100% profit increase last year, despite a cyber attack which affected store deliveries.

The independent chain operates 220 sites including grocery shops in Norfolk, Suffolk, Essex, Cambridgeshire and Hertfordshire.

It experienced some disruption following the attack on the Co-op Group in April 2025.

Chief executive Andy Rigby said "incredible" local suppliers and staff worked together to reduce the impact on customers, with the business achieving an underlying trading profit of £2m, up from £1m in 2024.

"Over the 45 years I've been in the retail business, last year was one of the most challenging I've experienced in the food retail space," he added.

"The way we weathered this storm to deliver a 100% increase in profit is testament to our resilience."

The separate, nationwide Co-op Group's IT networks were infiltrated by hackers, resulting in payment problems, widespread shortages of goods in shops, and the loss of customer data.

In September, its chairwoman said it had cost at least £206m in lost revenues.

The East of England Co-op - which also operates filling stations, travel agents and funeral services - opened five new food stores in 2025, including its first fully cashless branch at Ipswich railway station.

While last year was its third successive year of increased profitability, its turnover decreased by £17.9m (4.6%), down to £367.8m.

Chief finance officer James Norman said it was operating in a "difficult" retail trading environment, with rising business rates, employment costs and energy prices.

"We've worked hard this year to offset these challenges with measures such as careful investment in our property portfolio and a continued strategic focus on the right products in our food business."

Rigby said the company would continue investing where there was the greatest "long-term impact", which included "supporting new store openings".

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