Asahi Group Holdings Ltd. restarted six of its breweries in Japan on Oct. 2 after a cyberattack forced the beer maker to halt production and shipments for several days.
The drinks company is still investigating the root cause of the incident and is also assessing potential impact on earnings, a spokesperson said on Monday. Asahi had earlier said that most of its 30 plants in Japan temporarily stopped production, but did not disclose how many were affected due to the hack.
Some parts of the system are still shut and the company is processing orders manually to prioritize its supply framework, Asahi’s spokesperson said, adding that the timeline for full restoration of systems remains uncertain.
The ransomware attack sparked concerns that retailers may soon run out of Japan’s most popular beer “Super Dry”. Retail chains Seven & i Holdings Co., Lawson Inc. and FamilyMart Co. had warned customers of possible shortages of the top selling brew in the coming days.
A billboard for Asahi Super Dry beer in Tokyo, Japan, on Friday, Oct. 3, 2025. Some retailers in Japan are warning customers of possible Asahi Super Dry beer shortages after a cyberattack paralyzed production and distribution at Asahi Group Holdings Ltd.
Rival Japanese brewers have started tightening supplies to restaurants after demand surged following Asahi’s production halt. Kirin Holdings Co. said Monday it will start adjusting deliveries of beer and other beverages to restaurants beginning Oct. 9. Sapporo Holdings Ltd. has restricted shipments of beer and chuhais — flavored alcohol-based drinks — to eateries since Oct. 3, while Suntory Holdings Ltd. said it is limiting supplies of some products.
Meanwhile, Asahi said it is gradually restarting soft drink production. Supplies from two factories resumed on Oct. 5 and the company is preparing to revive operations at five other plants, it said, without specifying the timing.
The outage at Asahi, which started Sept. 29, is the latest among a growing wave of cyber incidents globally, that have hit industries from carmakers to financial firms. The hack underscores Japan’s vulnerability to cyberattacks, where even brief halts can ripple from factory floors to store shelves and restaurants given the country’s intricate supply chains.
Asahi will need to slash its fourth-quarter operating profit outlook by approximately 83% in Japan and 38% globally, if the disruption continues through the end of this month with no corrective actions, analysts at Sanford C. Bernstein Japan KK led by Euan McLeish said in a note to clients on Friday. The company may also have to face out-of-stock penalties from major retailers, they said.
Shares of Asahi rose 1.6% in Tokyo on Monday, after a more than 7% plunge last week.
Top photo: A billboard for Asahi Super Dry beer in Tokyo, Japan, on Friday, Oct. 3, 2025. Some retailers in Japan are warning customers of possible Asahi Super Dry beer shortages after a cyberattack paralyzed production and distribution at Asahi Group Holdings Ltd.
Copyright 2025 Bloomberg.
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