VARUN Beverages Limited, the world’s second-largest PepsiCo franchisee outside the United States, continues to strengthen its presence in Zimbabwe with major investments across beverages, snacks and brewing.
In December 2024, President Emmerson Mnangagwa inaugurated Varun Beverages Zimbabwe’s carbonated soft drinks and bottled water production lines and also laid the foundation stone for the company’s upcoming snack manufacturing facility.
Until now, Varun Beverages Zimbabwe distributed PepsiCo snack brands such as Lay’s, Doritos and Simba through imports. The company has now completed its own snack production line, which will manufacture the globally-recognised PepsiCo brand Cheetos.
The launch will feature Cheetos in two pack sizes, five flavours and two shapes, totalling 20 SKUs. According to the company’s CEO, local production will boost maize sourcing, strengthen partnerships with Zimbabwean farmers and contribute positively to the national economy.
With Cheetos joining Lay’s, Doritos, and Simba, Varun Beverages Zimbabwe now offers a significantly expanded snack portfolio.
The CEO also highlighted progress on the company’s Carlsberg beer project, with brewery construction underway. While the beer plant is expected to be fully operational by mid-2027, Varun Beverages plans to launch Carlsberg on a trading model as early as April 2026.
The beer project, like the snack expansion, is designed to increase demand for maize, barley and other agricultural raw materials, creating opportunities for farmers through backward integration and structured collaboration.
The CEO said Varun Beverages' expansion into snacks and brewing — backed by international brands like Cheetos and Carlsberg — would provide consumers with wider choices and introduce new go-to-market strategies.
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