M&S Christmas food sales soar but clothing suffers from cyber-attack fallout

M&S boss Stuart Machin said there were strong sales of core grocery items. Photograph: Phil Noble/Reuters

Marks & Spencer revealed strong sales of food over the important Christmas trading period but clothing sales fell back as it continues to battle the after-effects of last year’s crippling cyber-attack.

The company said its clothing, homeware and beauty business was also affected by “fragile consumer confidence and milder weather”.