Nichirei announced today that it aims to fully restart operations across all locations by next week following a cyberattack [2].
The disruption affects one of Japan's largest food and logistics networks, causing supply chain gaps for major supermarkets and restaurant chains across the country.
The system failure has persisted for five days [1]. The attack halted critical logistics and shipping operations, requiring the company to undertake extensive recovery work and system reconstruction [2].
At Nichirei logistics centers in Tokyo, reporters observed numerous trucks working to resume shipping and delivery services [1]. Despite these efforts, the ripple effects continue to be felt by commercial partners. A representative for Kentucky Fried Chicken Japan said that some stores may face limited menu options or shortened operating hours due to the supply issues [1].
Retailers such as Aeon have also been impacted by the outage [1]. The company's ability to restore its network has drawn the attention of industry analysts. One expert said that it remains to be seen if the lessons learned from previous cyber incidents at Asahi and Askul were applied to Nichirei's recovery process [1].
Nichirei has not provided a specific date for the final restoration but maintains the goal of full functionality by next week [2].
“Nichirei announced today that it aims to fully restart operations across all locations by next week”
This incident highlights the vulnerability of just-in-time logistics in the food industry. Because Nichirei serves as a critical intermediary for both retail and fast-food sectors, a single point of failure in its digital infrastructure can trigger immediate shortages at the consumer level, emphasizing the systemic risk posed by cyberattacks on national food security.
