VARUN Beverages Ltd (VBL), one of PepsiCo’s largest and globally award-winning franchise bottlers and the second-largest bottler worldwide outside the United States, has announced a major expansion of its food and beverage portfolio in Zimbabwe.
The expansion strengthens the company’s presence in the FMCG sector through the launch of internationally-recognised snack brands alongside its established beverage operations.
The snacks plant, whose foundation stone was laid by President Emmerson Mnangagwa in December 2024, is set for inauguration later this month or in March 2026.
Initial production will include Cheetos puffs and ring-shaped snacks, complementing VBL’s existing snack offerings of Lay’s, Doritos and SIMBA. The rollout will introduce five new flavours across multiple pack sizes and formats, resulting in approximately 20 new SKUs designed to deliver greater variety and affordability to consumers.
Company leadership expects the broader portfolio to expand the overall market, drive consumer demand and encourage further industry participation.
Varun Beverages first established its beverage operations in Zimbabwe in 2018, contributing significantly to sector development across sparkling beverages, packaged drinking water and energy drinks. Since then, volumes in the liquid refreshment beverage category have grown multiple times compared with 2017-2018 levels, supported by innovation, expanded distribution and new product introductions.
Operational efficiencies and rising competition have also improved affordability, making products accessible to new customers.
Management noted that Zimbabwe’s improving economic environment and currency stability are creating fresh opportunities for investment in the FMCG sector. Ongoing investments and capacity expansions by VBL have generated employment, strengthened market infrastructure and expanded rural distribution networks.
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Nearly 400 trucks operate daily across the company’s distribution network, ensuring a consistent supply to retail and wholesale channels. Its products are widely available in outlets including Pick n Pay, Spar, N Richards, Gain, Metro and Mega Save.
Looking ahead, VBL plans to expand maize-based snack production and introduce a Carlsberg beer unit, projects expected to support the agricultural sector by increasing demand for maize and barley. The company said these initiatives would create additional income opportunities for farmers while building stronger links between manufacturing and local communities.
The CEO of Varun Beverages Zimbabwe stated that the expanded maize-based snack and beverage projects are expected to generate substantial additional demand, creating more income opportunities for thousands of farmers and strengthening the broader agricultural value chain.
