Asahi ransomware attack disrupts beer supply in Japan as company shifts to manual operations
Asahi Group Holdings, one of Japan’s biggest beverage makers, is battling a widespread system outage after a ransomware attack disrupted beer supply and related logistics across the country. The company detected the cyberattack on September 29 and immediately stood up an Emergency Response Headquarters, isolating impacted servers to contain the threat and prevent further damage.
With core IT systems offline, Asahi has temporarily suspended system-based order placement, shipments, and external email communications. To keep products moving, teams have begun partial manual order processing and shipments. The disruption spans multiple domestic units, including Asahi Breweries, Asahi Soft Drinks, and Asahi Group Foods.
An investigation is underway into potential data theft. Asahi says traces suggest there may have been an unauthorized transfer of information, though the type and scope of any compromised data have not been disclosed. External cybersecurity specialists are assisting the company to determine exactly what happened and how far the breach extends.
President and Group CEO Atsushi Katsuki apologized to customers, partners, and stakeholders for the disruption, emphasizing that restoring systems safely is the top priority. He added that Asahi is implementing workarounds to maintain product supply wherever possible and thanked stakeholders for their patience and support.
Recovery efforts are progressing. Asahi plans to partially and gradually resume call center operations, including customer service desks for Asahi Breweries, Asahi Soft Drinks, and Asahi Group Foods, with a target start during the week of October 6. A full recovery timeline has not yet been provided. The company is also reviewing the incident’s potential impact on financial results for the fiscal year ending December 2025. At this time, the disruption is limited to Japan.
What customers and partners should know:
– Expect intermittent delays or limited availability of some products as manual processing continues.
– Order placements and shipments are being handled in stages while systems are restored.
– Customer service functions will restart gradually beginning the week of October 6.
Asahi says it will share updates as the investigation progresses and systems come back online. The company remains focused on stabilizing supply, safeguarding data, and returning to normal operations as quickly and safely as possible.
