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.jpg) Asahi's headquarters inSumida, Tokyo | |
Native name | アサヒグループホールディングス株式会社 |
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| Formerly | Asahi Beer Co., Ltd. (1949-1989) Asahi Breweries, Ltd. (1989-2010) |
| Company type | Public |
| TYO:2502 TOPIX Large 70 Component | |
| Industry | Beverage |
| Founded | September 1, 1949; 76 years ago (1949-09-01) |
| Headquarters | Azumabashi,, Japan |
Key people | Akiyoshi Koji (president and Representative Director,CEO) |
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| Subsidiaries | Asahi Breweries Asahi Soft Drinks Asahi Group Foods |
| Website | www |
| Footnotes / references Note to Consolidated Financial Statements 1.Transitioned to International Financial Reporting Standards (IFRS) starting from 2016[1] | |
TheAsahi Group Holdings, Ltd. (アサヒグループホールディングス株式会社,Asahi Gurūpu Hōrudingusu kabushiki gaisha) is a Japanese beverage holding company headquartered inSumida, Tokyo.
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In 2024, the group had revenue of JPY 2.9 trillion. Asahi's business portfolio can be segmented as follows:alcoholic beverage business (40.5%), overseas business (32%), soft drinks business (17.2%), food business (5.4%) and "other" business (4.9%).[2] Asahi, with a 37% market share, is the largest of the four major beer brewers in Japan followed byKirin Beer with 34% andSuntory with 16%.[3] Asahi has a 48.5% share of the Australian beer market.[4] In response to a maturing domestic Japanese beer market, Asahi broadened its geographic footprint and business portfolio through the acquisition of beer businesses in Western Europe and Central Eastern Europe.[5] This has resulted in Asahi having a large market share in many European countries, such as a beer market share of 44% in theCzech Republic, 32% inPoland, 36% inRomania, and 18% inItaly.[6]
The predecessor of the company, Asahi Breweries (朝日麦酒株式会社), was established in 1889. In 1893, it was reorganized as Ōsaka Breweries (大阪麦酒株式会社). In 1906, Ōsaka Breweries merged with Nippon Breweries and Sapporo Breweries to form Dai-Nippon Breweries (大日本麦酒株式会社;lit. 'Great Japan Beer Company'). DuringWorld War I,German prisoners worked in the brewery.[7]
AfterWorld War II, the company was divided under the Elimination of Excessive Concentration of Economic Power Law by theSupreme Commander for the Allied Powers. Asahi Breweries (朝日麦酒株式会社) was separated from Nippon Breweries, which is nowSapporo Breweries. In 1989, it was renamed tokatakana(アサヒビール株式会社). In 2011, it changed its name to Asahi Group Holdings, a holding company, and established Asahi Breweries Ltd as a subsidiary.[8]
In 1990, Asahi acquired a 19.9% stake inAustralian brewery giantElders IXL, which later became theFoster's Group and was subsequently sold toSABMiller.
In 2009, Asahi acquired the Australian beverages unitSchweppes Australia,[9] now known as Asahi Beverages.
In early 2009, Asahi acquired 19.9% ofTsingtao Brewery fromAnheuser-Busch InBev for $667 million. The sale made Asahi Breweries, Ltd. the second largest shareholder in Tsingtao behind only the Tsingtao Brewery Group.[10]
In July 2011, Asahi acquiredNew Zealand juice makerCharlie's and the water and juice divisions of Australian beverage companyP&N Beverages.[11]
In August 2011, Asahi acquired New Zealand's Independent Liquor, maker ofVodka Cruiser and other alcoholic beverages, for¥97.6 billion.[12]
In May 2013, its New Zealand operations expanded with the purchase of retail chain Mill Liquorsave.[13] Also, Asahi acquired the Australian brands and assets of Cricketers Arms andMountain Goat Brewery in 2013 and 2015, respectively.[14]
The first of these transactions happened as a result ofAnheuser-Busch InBev (InBev) agreeing in April 2016 to sell its Dutch businessGrolsch Brewery, Italian businessPeroni Brewery and the UK's craftMeantime Brewery and SABMiller Brands UK to Asahi; this €2.3 billion deal closed on 12 October 2016.[15][16] After Inbev's acquisition ofSABMiller in October 2016, InBev agreed to sell the former SABMiller Ltd.'s Eastern European businesses and relevant assets inPoland, theCzech Republic,Slovakia,Hungary andRomania to Asahi for US $7.3 billion. The deal closed on 21 December 2016 and included beer brands such asPilsner Urquell,Velkopopovický Kozel,Topvar,Tyskie,Lech,Dreher andUrsus.[17][18]
In 2017, the company sold its 19.9% stake of Tsingtao Brewery for $937 million.[19]
In 2019, the company boughtFuller's beer business fromFuller, Smith & Turner plc for an enterprise value of £250 million. The assets sold comprised the entirety of Fuller's beer, cider and soft drinks brewing and production, wine wholesaling, as well as the distribution thereof and also includes the Griffin Brewery, Cornish Orchards, Dark Star Brewing and Nectar Imports.[20]
In May 2020, the Australian Foreign Investment Review Board approved the company's $16 billion bid forCarlton & United Breweries, and the deal will see Asahi ending up with about 48.5 per cent share of the Australian beer market.[4]
In January 2024, Asahi Europe & International (AEI), the international arm of Asahi Group Holdings, acquired Octopi Brewing, a contract beverage production and co-packing facility based in Waunakee, Wisconsin.[21]
In September 2025, a ransomware attack on The Asahi group, caused a system outage and forced the company to halt production at most of its 30 factories. On October 3 it was announced that they were days away from running out of their most popular beer, Asahi Super Dry.[22]
The company's primary beer, from 1957 through the late 1980s, wasAsahi Gold (overtakingAsahi Draft, its original formula, which remains in production). However,Asahi Super Dry, introduced in 1987, is now the company's flagship beer brand.
Asahi Super Dry, a product that transformed the modern beer industry in Japan, is described as a highlyattenuatedlager without the heavier malt flavors of competitors' products, with a crisp, dry taste reminiscent of some northern German beers.[23] This highly successful launch led to a significant rise in consumer demand fordry beer and in turn to a dramatic turnaround in Asahi's business performance, surpassing Kirin in terms of both sales and profitability.
Other beers produced include:
Brands acquired fromAnheuser-Busch InBev:
Asahi Breweries' headquarters in Tokyo were designed by French designerPhilippe Starck. The Beer Hall is considered one of Tokyo's most recognizable modern structures.[8]
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