Asahi Group halts production, shipments across Japan following cyberattack 

JAPAN – Japan’s largest beer producer, Asahi Group Holdings, has suspended orders and shipping services nationwide after a cyberattack forced production operations to stop. 

The company, known for Asahi Super Dry Beer, Nikka Whisky, and a range of non-alcoholic beverages, confirmed that production at several of its 30 domestic factories remained suspended as of Tuesday. A spokesperson told Reuters the extent of the disruption was still under investigation. 

The incident first came to light on Monday when Asahi announced that its order processing, shipment operations, and customer call center services had been suspended “due to the system failure.” The company later clarified that the outage was the result of a cyberattack. 

While the group has not disclosed the possible source of the attack, it confirmed that no customer data had been compromised. “We are actively investigating the cause and working to restore operations,” Asahi said, noting that no timeline had been set for recovery. 

Founded in 1889, Asahi has grown into one of the world’s leading drinks companies, with ownership of international brands such as Peroni, London Pride, and Grolsch, in addition to its Japanese beverage portfolio. 

The attack places Asahi among several fast-moving consumer goods (FMCG) companies recently targeted by cybercriminals.  

This year alone, Russian distiller Novabev Group, dairy giant Arla Foods, and German drinks producer Oettinger have reported similar incidents. 

Last week, UK retailer The Co-op Group revealed that a cyberattack in April had cut £80 million (US$107 million) from its half-year operating profits, underlining the growing financial risks faced by global businesses. 

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