**Asahi Sales Drop Worsens as Cyber Hack Disruption Lingers**

Asahi Group Holdings Ltd.'s struggles to recover from a devastating cyberattack have taken a hit, with the company's November beer and other alcohol sales in Japan plummeting by more than 20% compared to the same period last year.

The Japanese brewer's woes are compounded by the ongoing disruption caused by the September ransomware attack, which crippled its internal systems managing order and shipments. As a result, the company has been forced to process transactions manually, slowing operations and allowing local competitors to gain market share.

According to data released on Wednesday, monthly alcohol sales decline widened from nearly 10% in October to over 20% in November in Japan. Soft drinks and food items, however, showed signs of recovery, with soft drinks falling around 25% in November compared to the previous year – a slight improvement from the roughly 40% decline recorded in October.

Asahi aims to restore its supply chain by February, but it's a daunting task given the extent of the damage. The company has been working tirelessly to get back on track, but it's clear that the cyberattack has had a lasting impact on its operations and bottom line.

The September ransomware hit was particularly devastating for Asahi, as it disabled key internal systems managing order and shipments in Japan. This forced the company to process transactions manually, leading to significant delays and bottlenecks in production and distribution.

Meanwhile, competitors Kirin Holdings Co. and Sapporo Holdings Ltd. are making the most of Asahi's misfortune. Kirin reported a 1% rise in beer sales for November compared to the same period last year, while Sapporo saw its sales by volume drop 12%.

Asahi has warned that its financial results may be delayed by more than 50 days after the end of the fiscal year due to the cyberattack. In a statement released on Wednesday, the company said it plans to announce its figures "promptly" once systems are fully restored.

The news is likely to come as a blow to investors, who had been hoping for a swift recovery from the cyberattack. Shares of Asahi rose 0.2% on Wednesday, but they have increased by only 6.2% this year – a far cry from the gains expected in the lead-up to the company's financial results.

In a separate development, Asahi has revealed that up to 1.9 million records of private information may have been compromised in the ransomware attack, but the company claims no ransom money was paid. The additional information leaked following the attack were reportedly posted on the dark web on Tuesday night, in response to queries from Bloomberg.

**Related Stories:**

* Japan's Cyber Chief Warns Nation Still Behind on Cybersecurity * Asahi Aims for Supply Chain Restoration by February Amid Cyberattack Fallout

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