Japanese beverage conglomerate Asahi Group Holdings has halted production at its domestic factories following a significant cyberattack that crippled its systems on Monday.
A company spokesperson confirmed on Tuesday that production has not resumed and that there is no foreseeable timeline for when operations can be restored. The incident has brought production of iconic products, such as Asahi Super Dry beer, Nikka Whisky, and Mitsuya Cider, to a standstill.
The cyberattack caused a widespread system failure, compelling the company to suspend critical business functions across its group companies in Japan.
Asahi Cyberattack
These suspended operations include order processing, shipping, and call center services. Asahi operates 30 beer, beverage, and food production plants in Japan, and the company is still in the process of investigating whether all of them have been forced to stop production.
In a statement, Asahi confirmed a cyberattack caused the system failure but stated there has been no confirmed leakage of personal or customer data.
The disruption is currently limited to its operations within Japan, with its European business, including UK beer supply, remaining unaffected.
While Asahi has not disclosed the specific nature of the attack, the system-wide outage and operational paralysis are hallmarks of a potential ransomware incident.
Such attacks have become increasingly common against large corporations, where hackers encrypt critical data and demand payment for its release.
The food and beverage industry is a particularly vulnerable target due to its reliance on just-in-time production and time-sensitive supply chains, where prolonged downtime can lead to significant financial losses.
An expert noted that with Asahi holding nearly 40% of the market share in Japan, the disruption will be costly for the company and potentially for its resellers.
This incident is the latest in a string of high-profile cyberattacks targeting major industrial and manufacturing companies in Japan and globally.
In a 2024 report, Asahi had identified cyberattacks as one of the primary risks to its business. The company has apologized to its customers and business partners for the inconvenience and stated it is actively investigating the cause while working to restore its systems. No group has publicly claimed responsibility for the attack.
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