Cyberattack Halts Production at Asahi, Japan’s Leading Brewer
A cyberattack has disrupted operations at Asahi Group Holdings, one of the world’s largest drinks companies and Japan’s biggest brewer, halting production and shipping across its Japanese businesses. The company, known for brands like Asahi Super Dry Beer and Nikka Whisky, first detected the system failure on Monday, leading to the suspension of order processing, shipments, and call center services.
While the identity of the attacker remains unknown, asahi has confirmed the incident has not resulted in any leakage of customer data. The company is currently investigating the cause and working to restore operations, but it has not provided an estimated timeline for full recovery. The disruption impacts a major player in the global beverage market and raises concerns about the vulnerability of critical infrastructure to cyber threats.
Founded in 1889 by Komakichi Torii, Asahi began bottling Asahi Draft Beer in 1900 and has since expanded to include a diverse portfolio of alcoholic and non-alcoholic beverages. Beyond its core Japanese market, Asahi owns international brands such as Peroni, London Pride, and Grolsch.
Asahi stated on monday, “We are actively investigating the cause and working to restore operations.” CNN has reached out to Asahi for further comment. The company’s inability to foresee when production will resume underscores the potential for prolonged disruption to its supply chain and market availability.
