Published: 31 October 2025

Varun Beverages Zimbabwe, the local unit of the Indian beverages conglomerate, has signed a landmark sales and distribution agreement with global beer giant Carlsberg, positioning Zimbabwe as the launchpad for the brand's expansion into Africa.

In a message to staff, Varun Beverages Zimbabwe CEO Vijay Bahl said the agreement marks the first phase of a wider regional rollout that will see Zimbabwe become a key hub for Carlsberg's beer production and exports.

"Varun Beverages Ltd signed a sale and distribution agreement for beer with Carlsberg for Africa, including Zimbabwe as the first phase," Bahl said. "In the second phase, manufacturing will be done in Zimbabwe following the successful launch of beer in the local market."

The partnership will complement Varun's established soft drinks operations and pave the way for local beer production, expected to boost industrial capacity and create new jobs.

The development follows Varun's US$20 million expansion completed last year, which added new production lines for carbonated drinks and bottled water at its Harare facility.

In 2024, Varun also signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the Zimbabwe Investment and Development Agency (ZIDA) to establish a snacks and juice manufacturing division.

According to Bahl, snacks production - specifically soft extruded products - will commence in January 2026, with juice production to follow in June 2026.

"We will be elevating people from the existing talent as our first choice," he added.

Economist Stephen Chifamba said the deal underscores Zimbabwe's growing appeal as a manufacturing base.

"Varun's partnership with Carlsberg could attract further international investment into Zimbabwe's beverages sector, reinforcing the country's position as a regional industrial hub," he said.

The expanded product portfolio - beer, snacks, and juices - will also support local value chains, with farmers supplying maize, sorghum, and fruit inputs for production.

Since its establishment in 2018, Varun Beverages Zimbabwe has grown into one of the country's largest non-alcoholic beverage producers, aligning closely with the government's industrialisation and import substitution strategies.
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