TOKYO – Japan is facing a shortage of Asahi products, including the company’s flagship Super Dry beer and bottled teas, after the drinks giant was hit by a major cyber-attack that crippled its domestic operations.
Asahi Group confirmed that most of its factories in Japan have been at a standstill since Monday, following disruptions to its ordering and delivery systems. The company has suspended all orders and shipments of its products in the country, with “no prospect of resumption” for now.
Major retailers, including 7-Eleven, FamilyMart, Lawson and Life Cooperation, have issued warnings to customers about expected shortages. FamilyMart said its own Famimaru range of bottled teas, produced by Asahi, could be out of stock, while 7-Eleven has stopped shipments of Asahi products altogether.
Lawson and Life Cooperation added that they will attempt to stock alternative brands to reduce the impact on customers.
Asahi, Japan’s largest brewer and owner of global brands such as Peroni, Pilsner Urquell, Grolsch, and UK’s Fullers, generates around half of its global sales in Japan. Beyond beer, the company also produces soft drinks, food products, and private-label goods for retailers.
The company stressed that the cyber-attack has only affected its Japan operations, with its European business unaffected. It also said there had been no confirmed leakage of customer data.
“We are actively investigating the cause and working to restore operations; however, there is currently no estimated timeline for recovery,” Asahi said in a statement.
The disruption has raised concerns ahead of the year-end festive season, when beer and beverage demand typically spikes in Japan.