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Mnangagwa commissions Varum push carts
10 Dec 2024 at 07:04hrs | Views
President Emmerson Mnangagwa yesterday officially commissioned two new manufacturing lines at Varun Beverages (Zimbabwe) (Pvt) Ltd, a move set to boost the production capacity of Aquaclear bottled water and sparkling soft beverages in the country.
The new production lines, part of the company's phase 6 expansion, will increase output significantly—producing 400 bottles of Aquaclear bottled water per minute and 340 bottles of soft beverages per minute. This development marks a major step forward in Varun Beverages' efforts to meet growing local demand and improve its overall production efficiency.
In addition to the new production lines, Mnangagwa laid the foundation stone for a state-of-the-art snacks manufacturing facility, which will be dedicated to producing popular PepsiCo snack food brands, including Lays, Doritos, and Simba Chips. This facility is set to be completed by June next year and will further contribute to the company's growth and Zimbabwe's manufacturing sector.
Speaking at the event, President Mnangagwa commended Varun Beverages for its contribution to the country's industrial growth, emphasizing the critical role of the private sector in driving economic transformation. "I applaud the critical role that the private sector is playing in growing the industrial sector and fostering real structural transformation towards an investment-driven economy. This is quite commendable and indeed a clear testimony of the resilience we have shown over these years," Mnangagwa said.
Ravi Jaipuria, the chairperson of Varun Beverages Limited, expressed his satisfaction with the positive reception of the company's products since it began operations in Zimbabwe in 2018. He noted that the Zimbabwean market had embraced Pepsi products and the company's expansion plans. "The consumers of Zimbabwe accepted Pepsi products and have not only welcomed it but they love it," Jaipuria said.
Jaipuria also highlighted that the snacks production facility, part of the company's seventh phase of investment, would enable Varun Beverages to produce and distribute PepsiCo's popular snacks brands in Zimbabwe. The snacks manufacturing facility will serve as a base for both local consumption and exports to neighboring countries.
Varun Beverages Zimbabwe CEO Vijay Bahl shared that the next phase of the company's expansion would focus on exporting products to surrounding countries. "We got the franchise for Zimbabwe and beyond. So today we have laid the foundation stone for the snacks project, and very soon we will start making, selling, and distributing snacks. The beauty of the snacks is that we are going to export snacks to around seven to eight countries around us," Bahl said.
The expansion of Varun Beverages (Zimbabwe) not only strengthens the local manufacturing sector but also positions the company as a key player in regional markets. The new investment and the upcoming snacks facility reflect the company's growing presence in Zimbabwe and its commitment to contributing to the nation's economic development.
The new production lines, part of the company's phase 6 expansion, will increase output significantly—producing 400 bottles of Aquaclear bottled water per minute and 340 bottles of soft beverages per minute. This development marks a major step forward in Varun Beverages' efforts to meet growing local demand and improve its overall production efficiency.
In addition to the new production lines, Mnangagwa laid the foundation stone for a state-of-the-art snacks manufacturing facility, which will be dedicated to producing popular PepsiCo snack food brands, including Lays, Doritos, and Simba Chips. This facility is set to be completed by June next year and will further contribute to the company's growth and Zimbabwe's manufacturing sector.
Speaking at the event, President Mnangagwa commended Varun Beverages for its contribution to the country's industrial growth, emphasizing the critical role of the private sector in driving economic transformation. "I applaud the critical role that the private sector is playing in growing the industrial sector and fostering real structural transformation towards an investment-driven economy. This is quite commendable and indeed a clear testimony of the resilience we have shown over these years," Mnangagwa said.
Jaipuria also highlighted that the snacks production facility, part of the company's seventh phase of investment, would enable Varun Beverages to produce and distribute PepsiCo's popular snacks brands in Zimbabwe. The snacks manufacturing facility will serve as a base for both local consumption and exports to neighboring countries.
Varun Beverages Zimbabwe CEO Vijay Bahl shared that the next phase of the company's expansion would focus on exporting products to surrounding countries. "We got the franchise for Zimbabwe and beyond. So today we have laid the foundation stone for the snacks project, and very soon we will start making, selling, and distributing snacks. The beauty of the snacks is that we are going to export snacks to around seven to eight countries around us," Bahl said.
The expansion of Varun Beverages (Zimbabwe) not only strengthens the local manufacturing sector but also positions the company as a key player in regional markets. The new investment and the upcoming snacks facility reflect the company's growing presence in Zimbabwe and its commitment to contributing to the nation's economic development.
Source - newsday
