Japan Faces Asahi Beer Shortage After Cyber-Attack Halts Production
Japan’s best-known brewer, Asahi, is battling supply shortages after a cyber-attack crippled its domestic operations, forcing production at most of its factories to grind to a halt.
The company confirmed that the incident, which struck its ordering and delivery systems on Monday, has left shipments suspended with no clear timeline for resumption.
Major retailers, including FamilyMart and Lawson, have already warned customers to expect empty shelves where Asahi products are usually stocked. FamilyMart said its Famimaru bottled tea range – manufactured by Asahi – would be among the first to run out, while Lawson cautioned that supplies of beer and other beverages could be disrupted from Friday. Supermarket chain Life Cooperation also issued a similar warning.
“We sincerely apologise to our customers for the inconvenience,” FamilyMart said in a statement, adding that it is working closely with Asahi to restore product availability. Lawson said it planned to bolster stocks of alternative brands to soften the impact on shoppers.
Asahi, Japan’s largest brewer and the maker of the globally popular Super Dry beer, also owns international brands including Peroni, Pilsner Urquell, Grolsch, and the UK’s Fuller’s. Roughly half of its sales come from the Japanese market.
The company stressed that the disruption is confined to domestic operations and that there is no evidence so far of personal or customer data being leaked. “We are investigating the cause and working to restore operations; however, there is currently no estimated timeline for recovery,” Asahi said earlier this week.
