Asahi Faces Drink Shortages in Japan

Asahi Group, a global brewing powerhouse, is currently facing a significant crisis in Japan as it grapples with the repercussions of a major cyber-attack. The incident, which has compromised the company's ordering and delivery systems, has brought most of Asahi's factories in Japan to a standstill since Monday, leading to widespread product shortages across the country.

The impact of this disruption has reverberated through Japan's retail sector, with major chains such as 7-Eleven, FamilyMart, and Lawson issuing warnings to customers about imminent shortages of Asahi products. The affected items range from the company's popular Super Dry beer to various bottled teas and other beverages.

In response to the crisis, Asahi has initiated partial manual processing of orders and shipments. However, the company has been unable to provide a definitive timeline for full recovery. Atsushi Katsuki, Asahi's president and group chief executive, has publicly apologized for the inconvenience and assured stakeholders that every effort is being made to restore systems and maintain product supply.

While Asahi's global portfolio includes renowned brands like Peroni, Pilsner Urquell, and Grolsch, the cyber-attack has exclusively affected its Japanese operations, which account for approximately half of the company's sales. This localized impact highlights the potential vulnerabilities in regional supply chain systems within global corporations.

As the situation unfolds, retailers are scrambling to source alternative products to mitigate the impact on consumers. This incident serves as a stark reminder of the critical importance of robust cybersecurity measures in protecting not only digital assets but also physical supply chains in today's interconnected business landscape.