Japan faces Asahi beer shortage after cyber-attack

Japan is currently experiencing a shortage of Asahi products, including popular items like beer and bottled tea, after a cyber-attack disrupted the company's operations. Asahi is one of the largest beverage companies in the world, and the attack has caused most of its factories in Japan to stop working since Monday. The cyber-attack targeted Asahi's ordering and delivery systems, making it difficult for the company to process orders and ship products to stores. As a result, major retailers such as 7-Eleven and FamilyMart have warned customers that Asahi products may be hard to find for a while. Asahi has announced that it cannot say when things will return to normal, but it has started to process some orders and shipments manually, without using computers.

Asahi is not just a beer company; it also makes soft drinks, food products, and supplies goods to other retailers. The company owns well-known brands like Fullers in the UK, Peroni, Pilsner Urquell, and Grolsch. However, only Asahi's operations in Japan have been affected by the cyber-attack, which is significant because Japan accounts for about half of Asahi's total sales. In its latest statement, Asahi explained that because of the measures taken to contain the attack, its ordering and shipment systems in Japan are still down, and it cannot receive emails from outside sources. Despite these challenges, Asahi said its top priority is to keep supplying products to customers, so it has started some manual order processing and shipments. The company also plans to reopen its call center next week to help customers with questions and concerns.

Atsushi Katsuki, the president and chief executive of Asahi, apologized for the disruption and said the company is working hard to restore its systems and keep products available for customers. FamilyMart, one of Japan's largest convenience store chains, said its Famimaru range of bottled teas, which are made by Asahi, will likely be in short supply or out of stock. FamilyMart apologized to customers and said it is working with Asahi to resume sales as soon as possible. 7-Eleven has stopped shipments of Asahi products, including the popular Super Dry beer, and has told its stores to expect shortages. Lawson, another major retailer, said it expects some Asahi products to be in short supply starting Friday and plans to stock alternative products to minimize the impact on customers. The supermarket chain Life Cooperation also warned that Asahi products may soon be out of stock. The cyber-attack has created a lot of uncertainty for both Asahi and its customers, but the company and retailers are working together to solve the problem and get products back on shelves.

The situation shows how important technology is for big companies like Asahi. When computer systems are attacked, it can stop production and make it hard for stores to get the products people want. Asahi is trying to fix the problem by using manual methods, but it is slower and more difficult than using computers. The company hopes to restore its systems soon so that customers can buy their favorite drinks again. In the meantime, stores are doing their best to offer other products and keep customers informed. The cyber-attack has been a big challenge for Asahi, but the company is determined to overcome it and continue serving its customers.