Asahi Cyberattack Highlights Supply Chain and Operational Risks for F&B Sector
The recent Asahi Cyberattack is a strong warning on why Cybersecurity is important and is not limited to just IT servers.
On September 29, 2025, Asahi Group Holdings, Japan’s largest brewer and a major global beverage company, announced a system failure caused by a cyberattack, affecting its operations in Japan. The company suspended order and shipment operations as well as call center and customer service desks, and stated that there is no estimated timeline for recovery.
The cyberattack has halted production at multiple domestic factories, and Asahi has postponed the launch of several new products, including beverages and food items originally scheduled for early October. Retailers have indicated that the suspension may lead to product shortages, particularly for Asahi’s flagship beers.
Implications for B2B Stakeholders
While the immediate effects are operational, the cyberattack underscores the broader business-to-business implications for distributors, logistics providers, and retailers who rely on Asahi’s supply chain.
- Production Interruptions: With multiple factories halted, orders and shipments cannot proceed as planned, which may affect inventory planning for wholesalers and retail partners.
- Product Launch Delays: Postponed launches of new beverages and food items affect distribution schedules and sales strategies, particularly for partners relying on seasonal or promotional campaigns.
- Operational Uncertainty: Asahi has not provided a timeline for restoring normal operations, emphasizing the need for risk management and contingency planning for B2B stakeholders.
Comparison with Previous F&B Industry Incidents
Lion (Australia, June 2020)
In June 2020, Lion Dairy & Drinks, a major Australian beverage company, experienced a ransomware attack that disrupted its IT systems, halting production across breweries and dairy facilities.
Confirmed Impacts:
- Production was halted across beer and dairy lines.
- The company resorted to manual order and inventory processing, causing operational inefficiencies.
- Delivery delays affected retailers and customers nationwide.
- Full recovery took several weeks, with operations restored by late June 2020.
Molson Coors (North America, March 2021)
In March 2021, Molson Coors Beverage Company suffered a cybersecurity breach that led to a systems outage, disrupting brewery operations and supply chain activities.
Confirmed Impacts:
- Production and shipment delays affected North America and the U.K.
- The cyberattack shifted approximately $120–$140 million in expected EBITDA to later in the fiscal year, reflecting a timing delay rather than a permanent financial loss.
- Recovery of systems and operations took several weeks, though some disruptions persisted temporarily.
These cases demonstrate that cyberattacks in the F&B sector can directly halt production and disrupt supply chains, not just compromise IT systems, affecting B2B partners and downstream operations.
Key Takeaways for B2B Stakeholders
1. Cybersecurity Is Supply Chain Security
Cyberattacks are no longer confined to IT departments—they can directly halt production, disrupt order processing, and delay shipments. B2B partners should recognize that a supplier’s cybersecurity posture is now part of their own risk management. Practical steps include:
- Requesting suppliers’ cybersecurity policies or audits before onboarding.
- Including cybersecurity requirements in contracts and SLAs.
- Coordinating joint incident response plans with critical suppliers, so both parties can act quickly if systems are compromised.
2. Contingency Planning Matters
Operational delays from cyberattacks can have cascading effects throughout the supply chain. Companies should proactively:
- Maintain alternate suppliers for key ingredients, materials, or finished products to reduce dependency on a single source.
- Keep buffer inventory or safety stock to bridge temporary disruptions.
- Explore flexible logistics arrangements, such as backup carriers or regional distribution hubs, to avoid bottlenecks when a primary supplier is offline.
- Conduct scenario planning exercises to test how quickly operations can recover from different types of digital or physical disruptions.
3. Communication and Transparency Are Critical
Clear, timely communication from suppliers allows downstream partners to adjust orders, manage inventory, and inform their own customers. Recommended practices include:
- Establishing regular update channels with suppliers, such as email alerts or dashboard visibility into production status.
- Asking suppliers to provide realistic timelines for recovery during disruptions, rather than vague statements.
- Sharing contingency plans with key B2B partners, so everyone in the chain understands potential impacts and mitigation measures.
4. Broader Risk Awareness
Beyond immediate operational risks, B2B stakeholders should also consider:
- Reputational impact: Partners may face customer dissatisfaction if supply delays occur.
- Regulatory and compliance exposure: Certain industries have reporting obligations for operational disruptions.
- Long-term resilience: Cybersecurity and operational risk assessments should become part of strategic supplier evaluation, not just an IT checklist.
Conclusion
The Asahi cyberattack highlights that cyber threats are now operational risks for the food and beverage industry. Similar incidents involving Lion and Molson Coors show that production halts and shipment suspensions can ripple through supply chains, affecting distributors, retailers, and partners.
At Vintage Management, we can use our wide connection to identify the suitable partner to implement good cybersecurity protection to your system, so that your system and your company will be more robust. Click here for a private discussion: https://seeandconnectsg.com/contact/
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