The Co-operative Group swung back into profit in the first half of the year despite losing almost £40 million to shoplifting.
The mutual reported pre-tax profits of £58 million for the six months to June, reversing a loss of £33 million during the same period last year. It has a 6.1 per cent share of the UK grocery market and its interests also include funerals, insurance and legal services.
However, the Co-op said it had lost £39.5 million to shoplifting during the first half of the year, up 19 per cent from £33.3 million in the first six months of 2023.
• The county where police are winning the battle against shoplifters
The group said the level of retail crime incidents had climbed by 4