Japan is facing an unexpected shortage of Asahi products, including its popular Super Dry beer and bottled teas, following a major cyber-attack that has crippled the drinks giant’s domestic operations.
Asahi Group revealed that most of its factories in Japan have been at a standstill since Monday after the attack hit its ordering and delivery systems. This disruption has forced the company to suspend orders and shipments, with no clear timeline for resumption.
The shortage is already being felt across the country. FamilyMart, one of Japan’s largest convenience store chains, announced that its Famimaru bottled teas, produced by Asahi, will soon be in short supply or completely out of stock. In a statement, the retailer apologized to customers and confirmed it is working closely with Asahi to restore product availability.
Lawson, another major retailer, also warned customers that certain Asahi products will be limited starting today. The chain said it plans to stock up on alternative items to reduce the impact on shoppers. Meanwhile, supermarket chain Life Cooperation has issued a similar warning about potential shortages.
Asahi is Japan’s largest brewer, accounting for about half of its global sales. The company is best known for its flagship Super Dry beer, but its portfolio also includes soft drinks, food products, and international brands such as Peroni, Pilsner Urquell, Grolsch, and Fuller’s in the UK.
Despite the disruption, Asahi has reassured customers that the issue is limited to its domestic operations and that there has been no confirmed leakage of personal or customer data. The company is still investigating the cause of the cyber-attack and has not provided a timeline for recovery.
With Japan heavily reliant on Asahi’s wide-ranging product line, the shortages are expected to cause significant disruption to both retailers and consumers in the coming days.
