After KFC, cyberattack hits Japanese ice cream giant Glico
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Local media said as much as 20 per cent of Glico ice cream products were impacted.
PHOTO: EZAKI GLICO CORPORATION
- A cyberattack on Nichirei, a major Japanese frozen food supplier, caused shipment delays affecting Ezaki Glico's ice cream and other businesses like KFC and Kura Sushi.
- Up to 20 per cent of Glico's ice cream products were impacted, with supply alternatives used to mitigate effects amid high summer demand.
- This incident follows previous major cyberattacks on Japanese firms like Asahi and Muji, prompting government calls for improved cybersecurity measures.
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TOKYO – A major Japanese ice cream maker said on July 16 that it is seeing shipment delays following a cyberattack at its logistics partner that has already affected KFC and a large sushi chain.
Ezaki Glico, known for popular snacks such as Pocky, said some of its ice cream products rely on refrigerated warehouses owned by Nichirei, the target of the latest hack on a Japanese firm’s computer systems.
Glico declined to discuss the financial impact on its business, even as the attack hit at a time when ice cream demand surges with sweltering heat blanketing Japan.
Local media said as much as 20 per cent of Glico ice cream products were impacted. A spokesman said the firm was using alternatives to supply affected parts of its business in western Japan.
Nichirei, Japan’s top frozen food supplier and refrigerated warehouse operator, said on July 15 that it had come under a cyberattack that disrupted its subsidiaries’ operations, including deliveries.
Kura Sushi, a conveyor belt sushi chain with nearly 700 locations in Japan and abroad, said on July 15 that its outlets in the west were experiencing shipment delays for some products.
KFC Japan warned on July 14 that its restaurants could face shortages that might force the chain to take some items off the menu or temporarily close stores.
Major supermarket chains, pastry firms and even dining halls at eldercare centres have also been impacted, local media said.
Nichirei said it planned to gradually restore its services starting from July 17.
This is the latest case of a cyberattack disrupting the operations of a major Japanese firm.
In 2025, beer giant Asahi was hit by a ransomware attack that disrupted its business for months, forcing it to go back to processing orders by hand.
Hacker group Qilin, believed to be based in Russia, issued a statement that Japanese media interpreted as a claim of responsibility on the maker of Asahi Dry, Japan’s top beer brand.
Popular retail brand Muji also had to suspend online shopping in Japan after a ransomware attack on its delivery partner Askul.
Japanese government spokesman Minoru Kihara said on July 16 that the latest incident was a reminder to companies to keep their systems up to date. AFP
