Latest news with #WesternIsles
BBC News
13-05-2025
- Business
- BBC News
Isle of Harris Distillery offered Scottish government support
The Scottish government says it will 'do everything it can' to help Isle of Harris Distillery and its workers after the company announced redundancies. The maker of Isle of Harris Gin and single malt whiskies employs 50 director Simon Erlanger said the spirits industry was facing "challenging headwinds" and having to make difficult Minister Richard Lochhead said the Scottish government was paying close attention to the situation and working with the Western Isles-based company. The Moray SNP MSP told BBC Scotland News "volatility in the global market" had impacted on commercial decision-making in the whisky industry. But he said the Scottish government was confident the market would "pick up" in the development agency Highlands and Islands Enterprise (HIE) has asked Isle of Harris Distillery for clarity on its situation, and its implications for the workforce. Ministers said redundancy initiative - Partnership Action for Continuing Employment (PACE) - was also ready to offer free advice and support to people affected. Isle of Harris Distillery said it welcomed any further government said it was supporting staff who had applied for voluntary redundancy to secure future employment. 'Deeply regrettable' In April, Isle of Harris Distillery said it would reduce its production and workforce as part of a restructuring distillery opened in 2015 with just 10 employees. Scotland's whisky industry previously warned tariffs imposed by the US - its most important overseas market - would be a "huge blow".Last week, the UK and US governments reached a deal on some areas of international trade, but President Donald Trump's blanket 10% tax on imports still applies to most goods entering the managing director Simon Erlanger said restructuring was needed to safeguard the future of the said voluntary redundancy was being offered to staff following cost-cutting measures, with compulsory redundancy to follow if reduction targets were not met. Mr Erlanger said the move was "deeply regrettable", adding that the distillery represented more than £20m investment in the island's week, trade body The Scotch Whisky Association described a UK-India deal, which would half tariffs on gin and whisky, as a landmark moment for the industry. In 2022, the Harris distillery secured £10m in funding from HSBC to pay for a new export drive to distribute its gin to more than 20 markets around the includes the US, Canada, France and Germany.
Yahoo
09-05-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
'Get the people fed' say islanders hit by Co-op cyber attack
Islay isn't the obvious location for the frontline of cyber crime but the picturesque island famous for its wildlife and whisky distilleries is dealing with the real world impacts of the major supermarket hack. The targeting of retailers including Marks and Spencer and Co-op has led to sporadic empty shelves across UK stores as the companies slowed deliveries and shut down parts of their IT systems in response to cyber attacks. In most places, disappointed customers at least have the option of visiting other supermarkets to pick up supplies. But communities across Scotland's Western Isles generally don't have that luxury. In this part of the country, Co-op is often the only large store, with some smaller independent retailers operating. "The Co-op is so important here," said Brian Palmer, editor of local newspaper, The Ileach. "We don't think because we live here that we should have every convenience you get on the mainland but I think a lack of food is probably stretching it a wee bit." No one is starving as a result of shortages but there is clear frustration with the lack of fresh food available. Staff at the Bowmore Co-op said the last full delivery was at the start of May. There have since been smaller deliveries, but not of what is required. The first aisle of the shop usually stocked with chilled meat, fruit and vegetables was almost completely bare on Friday afternoon. As was the bread section shortly after a morning delivery. "It's easy to shop when there's nothing to pick from," one customer joked as they left the store. A Co-op worker said they had dealt with red weather warnings and covid but "no one understands a cyber attack." The company told the BBC last week that the attack on its systems meant store deliveries had been hit and the hack had resulted in "significant" amounts of customer data being stolen. Co-op said "remote lifeline stores" will receive extra deliveries soon. A "spokesperson said: "We take our responsibility to our Scottish island stores and communities very seriously. "As a result of the Cyber-attack, and the steps we took to keep our systems safe, we currently have a temporary contingency stock ordering and delivery process, where we have prioritised the quantity of stock and deliveries to these lifeline stores. "From Monday, 12 of the most remote lifeline stores will receive treble the volume of available product, and another 20 lifeline stores will get double the volume. "We would like to thank all members, customers and our amazing store colleagues for their support and goodwill through this time. Construction business manager Donald Gillies said he's been unable to provide a good lunch for his site workers in port Ellen throughout the last week. Asked if enough was being done to deliver food he said: "That's tosh (rubbish)." "It's poor, it's really poor. Something has gone wrong in the IT system and like everything else in society it's all computer-driven and no one can make a bloomin' decision to send food over. "Get the people fed." Jude McCorry, chief executive of the Cyber and Fraud Centre based in Edinburgh, said it can take along time for companies to fully recover from cyber attacks. "Even companies we don't think of as tech firms rely heavily on complex systems that take time to recover," she said, "We know from past experience that some cyber attacks are debilitating for months. "I'm not saying there'll be this level of disruption for weeks and months, but it can take a long time for organisations to get back to the way they were before an attack." On Islay, people are full of praise for the local Co-op workers, they know it's not a local issue. Sheena MacKellar from Islay Gaelic Centre took aim at the group behind the hack. "These people are selfish. They are affecting the wrong people. "We're hard working honest people and we're the ones who are suffering and having to work round it. "But we're islanders, we're made of stronger stuff." Co-op cyber attack leaves island shop shelves empty Co-op cyber attack affects customer data, firm admits, after hackers contact BBC
Yahoo
09-05-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
'Get the people fed' say islanders hit by Co-op cyber attack
Islay isn't the obvious location for the frontline of cyber crime but the picturesque island famous for its wildlife and whisky distilleries is dealing with the real world impacts of the major supermarket hack. The targeting of retailers including Marks and Spencer and Co-op has led to sporadic empty shelves across UK stores as the companies slowed deliveries and shut down parts of their IT systems in response to cyber attacks. In most places, disappointed customers at least have the option of visiting other supermarkets to pick up supplies. But communities across Scotland's Western Isles generally don't have that luxury. In this part of the country, Co-op is often the only large store, with some smaller independent retailers operating. "The Co-op is so important here," said Brian Palmer, editor of local newspaper, The Ileach. "We don't think because we live here that we should have every convenience you get on the mainland but I think a lack of food is probably stretching it a wee bit." No one is starving as a result of shortages but there is clear frustration with the lack of fresh food available. Staff at the Bowmore Co-op said the last full delivery was at the start of May. There have since been smaller deliveries, but not of what is required. The first aisle of the shop usually stocked with chilled meat, fruit and vegetables was almost completely bare on Friday afternoon. As was the bread section shortly after a morning delivery. "It's easy to shop when there's nothing to pick from," one customer joked as they left the store. A Co-op worker said they had dealt with red weather warnings and covid but "no one understands a cyber attack." The company told the BBC last week that the attack on its systems meant store deliveries had been hit and the hack had resulted in "significant" amounts of customer data being stolen. Co-op said "remote lifeline stores" will receive extra deliveries soon. A "spokesperson said: "We take our responsibility to our Scottish island stores and communities very seriously. "As a result of the Cyber-attack, and the steps we took to keep our systems safe, we currently have a temporary contingency stock ordering and delivery process, where we have prioritised the quantity of stock and deliveries to these lifeline stores. "From Monday, 12 of the most remote lifeline stores will receive treble the volume of available product, and another 20 lifeline stores will get double the volume. "We would like to thank all members, customers and our amazing store colleagues for their support and goodwill through this time. Construction business manager Donald Gillies said he's been unable to provide a good lunch for his site workers in port Ellen throughout the last week. Asked if enough was being done to deliver food he said: "That's tosh (rubbish)." "It's poor, it's really poor. Something has gone wrong in the IT system and like everything else in society it's all computer-driven and no one can make a bloomin' decision to send food over. "Get the people fed." Jude McCorry, chief executive of the Cyber and Fraud Centre based in Edinburgh, said it can take along time for companies to fully recover from cyber attacks. "Even companies we don't think of as tech firms rely heavily on complex systems that take time to recover," she said, "We know from past experience that some cyber attacks are debilitating for months. "I'm not saying there'll be this level of disruption for weeks and months, but it can take a long time for organisations to get back to the way they were before an attack." On Islay, people are full of praise for the local Co-op workers, they know it's not a local issue. Sheena MacKellar from Islay Gaelic Centre took aim at the group behind the hack. "These people are selfish. They are affecting the wrong people. "We're hard working honest people and we're the ones who are suffering and having to work round it. "But we're islanders, we're made of stronger stuff." Co-op cyber attack leaves island shop shelves empty Co-op cyber attack affects customer data, firm admits, after hackers contact BBC
BBC News
09-05-2025
- Business
- BBC News
Co-op cyber attack: Islanders facing empty shelves say 'get the people fed'
Islay isn't the obvious location for the frontline of cyber crime but the picturesque island famous for its wildlife and whisky distilleries is dealing with the real world impacts of the major supermarket targeting of retailers including Marks and Spencer and Co-op has led to sporadic empty shelves across UK stores as the companies slowed deliveries and shut down parts of their IT systems in response to cyber most places, disappointed customers at least have the option of visiting other supermarkets to pick up supplies. But communities across Scotland's Western Isles generally don't have that this part of the country, Co-op is often the only large store, with some smaller independent retailers operating. No fresh food "The Co-op is so important here," said Brian Palmer, editor of local newspaper, The Ileach."We don't think because we live here that we should have every convenience you get on the mainland but I think a lack of food is probably stretching it a wee bit."No one is starving as a result of shortages but there is clear frustration with the lack of fresh food at the Bowmore Co-op said the last full delivery was at the start of May. There have since been smaller deliveries, but not of what is first aisle of the shop usually stocked with chilled meat, fruit and vegetables was almost completely bare on Friday afternoon. As was the bread section shortly after a morning delivery."It's easy to shop when there's nothing to pick from," one customer joked as they left the store.A Co-op worker said they had dealt with red weather warnings and covid but "no one understands a cyber attack." The company told the BBC last week that the attack on its systems meant store deliveries had been hit and the hack had resulted in "significant" amounts of customer data being said "remote lifeline stores" will receive extra deliveries soon.A "spokesperson said: "We take our responsibility to our Scottish island stores and communities very seriously."As a result of the Cyber-attack, and the steps we took to keep our systems safe, we currently have a temporary contingency stock ordering and delivery process, where we have prioritised the quantity of stock and deliveries to these lifeline stores."From Monday, 12 of the most remote lifeline stores will receive treble the volume of available product, and another 20 lifeline stores will get double the volume."We would like to thank all members, customers and our amazing store colleagues for their support and goodwill through this time. 'Get the people fed' Construction business manager Donald Gillies said he's been unable to provide a good lunch for his site workers in port Ellen throughout the last if enough was being done to deliver food he said: "That's tosh (rubbish).""It's poor, it's really poor. Something has gone wrong in the IT system and like everything else in society it's all computer-driven and no one can make a bloomin' decision to send food over."Get the people fed." When will disruption end? Jude McCorry, chief executive of the Cyber and Fraud Centre based in Edinburgh, said it can take along time for companies to fully recover from cyber attacks."Even companies we don't think of as tech firms rely heavily on complex systems that take time to recover," she said,"We know from past experience that some cyber attacks are debilitating for months."I'm not saying there'll be this level of disruption for weeks and months, but it can take a long time for organisations to get back to the way they were before an attack."On Islay, people are full of praise for the local Co-op workers, they know it's not a local issue. Sheena MacKellar from Islay Gaelic Centre took aim at the group behind the hack."These people are selfish. They are affecting the wrong people."We're hard working honest people and we're the ones who are suffering and having to work round it."But we're islanders, we're made of stronger stuff."
Daily Mail
07-05-2025
- Business
- Daily Mail
Chaos at the Co-op as cyber-attack leaves shop chain struggling to send supplies to remote stores
Food and drink supplies are being urgently diverted to some of Scotland's most remote supermarkets as a massive cyber attack causes chaos at the Co-op. Shoppers are finding it increasingly difficult to get goods at their only local food store as the retailer struggles to send out supplies. Row upon row of shelving where fresh fruit and vegetables should be are bare after the Co-op was forced to switch off crucial computer systems. It's left the business struggling to manage deliveries from suppliers while other essential items like milk have been running low in some stores. And it's hit shoppers in rural areas hardest where often the the Co-op is the only shop for miles. It is the main retailer on Skye and images from its supermarket in Portree reveal rows and rows of empty shelves. Branches in the Western Isles have also been hit with issues as have outlets in Glasgow, Aberdeen and Angus. In place of produce is a note which informs customers: 'Sorry, we're having some availability issues which will be resolved shortly.' The cyber attack comes as Marks and Spencer continue to deal with an unprecedented attack on its computer infrastructure. The Co-op has been battling hackers since last week and has admitted that personal data had been stolen from customers. The cyber attack forced it to switch off critical systems in a bid to protect its systems from further damage. DragonForce, the shadowy group who have also claimed responsibility for the hacks on both Marks and Spencer, have claimed to the BBC that they have the private information of 20 million Co-op customers. The anonymous group claim they sent a message to the Co-op's head of cybersecurity on an internal messaging app, which told them: 'Hello, we exfiltrated the data from your company. 'We have customer database and Co-op member card data.' The hackers have claimed they messaged other members of the executive committee too as part of their scheme to blackmail the firm. Some Co-op stores had been forced to limit payments to cash only earlier this week, though issues with card payments have now been fixed. Government cyber security experts have been drafted in by the Co-op to help as it battles the cyberattack, and staff have been instructed to keep their cameras on in virtual meetings. It comes as experts fear the hackers could be using internal communications systems to pose as staff. Yesterday a Co-op spokesman apologised to customers impacted by issues, and said: 'All out stores are open and trading however, due to the sustained malicious attempts by hackers to access our systems, we have taken proactive steps to keep our systems safe, which is temporarily impacting our colleagues' ability to perform their roles and how many deliveries we can make to our stores. 'This means that some of our stores might not have all their usual products available and we would like to say sorry to our members and customers if this is the case in their local store. 'We are working around the clock to reduce disruption and resume deliveries.'
