Brewed to Recover: Asahi's Comeback After Cyber Chaos

Asahi Breweries, Japan’s largest beer producer, is making a comeback as it partially restarts production at its six breweries following a devastating cyber-attack that forced a shutdown. The attack crippled ordering and delivery systems, leading major retailers like 7-Eleven and FamilyMart to notify customers of dwindling beer stocks. Although Asahi also produces soft drinks, food products, and owns various global beer brands such as Peroni and Pilsner Urquell, the attack mainly impacted its operations in Japan, which account for nearly 50% of its sales.

Currently, the breweries are operational but not running at full capacity. They have resumed the production of Asahi Super Dry, but the company still faces challenges with its soft drink and food factories, with only two of the soft drink facilities re-opened partially. Asahi has stated that while the beer plants are producing again, they can only fulfill orders for Super Dry at this time. Starting from October 15, the company plans to resume shipments of 16 products, including Asahi Dry Zero and whiskey Black Nikka Clear, although some planned product launches may be delayed. This recent incident highlights the growing vulnerability of businesses to cyber threats as other firms like Jaguar Land Rover continue to struggle with similar issues.