Asahi beer supply under pressure across Japan following ransomware attack, Q4 results under review

Asahi Group Holdings, one of Japan’s largest beverage companies, is facing disruptions to its beer supply across the country following a ransomware attack that has crippled its systems.

As per the latest announcement, the company first detected the cyberattack on September 29 and immediately established an Emergency Response Headquarters to investigate. The attack targeted Asahi’s servers, prompting the company to isolate affected systems to prevent further damage.

Manual operations amid system outage

The system-based order placement and shipment processes remain suspended, and email communications from external sources are currently unavailable. To continue operations, the company has begun partial manual order processing and shipment.

The disruption affects multiple domestic units, including Asahi Breweries, Asahi Soft Drinks, and Asahi Group Foods. 

Investigation into potential data theft

While Asahi has confirmed that traces suggest a possible unauthorized transfer of data, the company has not disclosed what type of information may have been affected. External cybersecurity experts are assisting the Emergency Response Headquarters in determining the nature and scope of any potential data breach.

Asahi President and Group CEO Atsushi Katsuki issued an apology to stakeholders for the disruption. “I would like to sincerely apologize for any difficulties caused to our stakeholders by the recent system disruption,” he said.

He added that the company is continuing its investigation to determine the nature and scope of the potential unauthorized data transfer. “We are making every effort to restore the system as quickly as possible, while implementing alternative measures to ensure continued product supply to our customers,” Katsuki said.

He concluded by thanking stakeholders for their patience and understanding. “We appreciate your understanding and support.”

Recovery and restoration plans

Asahi is currently preparing to partially and gradually resume call center operations, including customer service desks for Asahi Breweries, Asahi Soft Drinks, and Asahi Group Foods, with the aim of starting this during the week of October 6.

While the company has not provided a clear timeline for full system recovery, it confirmed that the potential impact of the incident on its financial results for the fiscal year ending December 2025 is still under review. The scope of the disruption is currently limited to Japan.