Varun Beverages Limited (VBL), the world’s second-largest PepsiCo franchisee outside the United States, continues to strengthen its presence in Zimbabwe with significant investments across beverages, snacks, and brewing.
In December 2024, President Mnangagwa, inaugurated Varun Beverages Zimbabwe’s carbonated soft drinks and bottled water production line.
During the same event, the foundation stone for the company’s upcoming snacks manufacturing facility was also laid.
Over the past year, Varun Beverages Zimbabwe has been selling and distributing PepsiCo snack brands such as Lay’s, Doritos, and Simba through an import-based model.
The company has now completed its own snacks production line, which will manufacture the soft-extruded snack range Cheetos, a globally recognised PepsiCo brand.
Cheetos will be launched in two pack sizes, featuring five flavours and two distinct shapes, resulting in a total of 20 SKUs.
According to Varun Beverages Zimbabwe’s CEO, the introduction of Cheetos marks a major step towards local sourcing of maize, enabling stronger engagement with Zimbabwean farmers.
This initiative is expected to increase demand for agricultural produce, create sustainable farmer – corporate partnerships, and contribute positively to the national economy.
The CEO further noted that the beverages industry witnessed rapid growth following the company’s bottled water and sparkling beverages launch in 2018.
A similar transformation is anticipated in the snacks segment. With innovation, international brands, and world-class quality standards, Varun Beverages’ entry into local snacks manufacturing is expected to revolutionise the industry, while still leaving room for multiple players in a growing market.
With the addition of Cheetos, Varun Beverages Zimbabwe will now manufacture and distribute Lay’s, Doritos, Simba, and Cheetos, significantly expanding its snacks portfolio within the country.
In addition to snacks, the CEO highlighted strong progress on the company’s beer collaboration with global brewing major Carlsberg. Construction of the brewery plant has commenced, and Varun Beverages aims to begin making, selling, and distributing Carlsberg beer by mid-2027.
Discussions are ongoing with the Government and local farmers to support this initiative. Varun Beverages will be operating on a trading model for Carlberg beer in the meantime and is likely to Lauch their beer by April 2026 on a trading model.
The upcoming beer project is expected to boost demand for barley, maize, and other agriculture-based raw materials, opening up substantial opportunities for farmers.
Through backward integration and structured collaboration, the project aims to enhance farm productivity and promote better utilisation of Zimbabwe’s agricultural land for both snacks and beer production.
Concluding, the CEO stated that Varun Beverages’ expansion into snacks and brewing — backed by international brands like Cheetos and Carlsberg — will provide consumers with wider choices and introduce new go-to-market strategies.
With Zimbabwe’s growing economy and improving currency stability, the company believes the industry has strong potential for sustained growth with participation from multiple players. – Herald
