Cyberattack Halts Production Shipments at Japan's Largest Brewer Asahi

Japanese beverage giant Asahi Group has been severely impacted by a cyberattack that has halted shipments and paused production at many of its domestic factories, including those producing its flagship beer, Asahi Super Dry. While the production equipment itself was not directly attacked, logistics and system failures forced a suspension of orders and deliveries, delaying the launch of new products originally planned for October. The company suspects a ransomware attack and has not yet resumed normal operations, with no clear recovery timeline announced. This disruption has caused concern among retailers, such as convenience store chains in Japan, although stock remains available at some outlets for the moment. Analysts estimate the financial impact could reach up to $13.6 million per day if the halt continues, though the strong brand loyalty might aid a rapid recovery once operations normalize. Asahi's overseas operations remain unaffected, and the company has not reported any data breaches related to the attack.