Japan is facing a shortage of Asahi products, including beer and bottled tea, as the drinks giant grapples with the impact of a major cyber-attack that has impacted its operations in the country.
Most of the Asahi Group's factories in Japan have been at a standstill since Monday, after the attack hit its ordering and delivering systems, the firm has said.
Major Japanese retailers, including 7-Eleven and FamilyMart, have now warned customers to expect shortages of Asahi products. FamilyMart reported that it has temporarily suspended orders and shipments of its products with no prospect of resumption. They noted that their Famimaru range of bottled teas, made by Asahi, are expected to be out of stock or in short supply.
7-Eleven has also halted shipments of Asahi products, including its popular Super Dry beer, and advised shops to prepare for shortages. Lawson, another major retailer, echoed these concerns, planning to stock alternative products to minimize customer impact.
Asahi is the biggest brewer in Japan and also owns brands like Fullers in the UK and global names including Peroni and Pilsner Urquell. It generates about half of its total sales in Japan.
The company has clarified that the system failure is limited to its operations in Japan, with no confirmed leaks of customer data. Asahi stated, We are actively investigating the cause and working to restore operations; however, there is currently no estimated timeline for recovery. Concern grows among consumers and retailers as they await further updates.
Additional reporting by Chika Nakayama in Tokyo
