Production lines and office systems at one of Japan’s largest beverage makers remained disrupted on Friday as the company grappled with the fifth day of a cyberattack that has impeded shipments and emptied some retail shelves. The company said in a brief statement that it was working “around the clock to restore systems and minimize impact,” but declined to disclose technical details about the incident or to confirm whether data had been stolen.

Japanese media, citing retailers and distribution networks, reported shortages of the company’s popular beer and several bottled beverages in parts of Tokyo and other urban areas, as wholesalers delayed deliveries and convenience stores rotated remaining stock. Several regional distributors told reporters they had halted shipments while IT systems used for logistics and invoicing remained offline.

The attack follows a growing string of cyber intrusions that have targeted manufacturing and supply-chain operations worldwide, raising concerns about the resilience of critical consumer-goods infrastructure. Cybersecurity specialists said attacks that combine traditional IT disruptions with interference in operational technology can rapidly ripple through production schedules, warehousing and transport.

“This kind of incident shows how deeply integrated production and logistics have become with networked systems, and that creates a much larger attack surface,” said a Tokyo-based cybersecurity analyst who was not authorized to speak publicly about the case. “Restoration takes time when companies have to verify systems are clean before reconnecting production controls and distribution networks.”

The company did not name the suspected attacker or say whether it had contacted law enforcement. Government agencies in Tokyo said they were monitoring the situation and communicating with the firm and industry partners. The country’s cybersecurity authorities have increasingly urged businesses to adopt multifactor authentication, segmented networks and regular backups after a series of incidents disrupted ports, medical services and consumer firms in recent years.

Investors reacted cautiously to the disruption. Shares in the beverage sector showed modest declines on the stock exchange as analysts weighed the immediate impact on sales and the potential for longer-term reputational damage. For consumers, the disruption has been immediately tangible: posters in some convenience stores indicated limits on purchases of certain beer brands, while customers reported empty slots in refrigerated displays.

Industry trade groups warned that even short interruptions can cascade through Japan’s tightly coordinated distribution networks. Retailers reliant on just-in-time replenishment face particular vulnerability when central ordering systems are affected. Suppliers and logistics partners are conducting contingency operations, shifting to manual processes where possible, but those measures are slower and less accurate.

The incident is likely to intensify scrutiny of corporate cybersecurity practices from regulators and customers alike. Experts say the episode highlights the need for clearer incident-response plans, better separation between IT and operational systems, and public-private cooperation to protect national supply chains. Until systems are verified and restored, consumers should expect intermittent shortages, and companies will face pressure to explain how they will prevent future disruptions.