Varun Beverages launches Cheetos production line in Zimbabwe
The new facility introduces Cheetos in two pack sizes, five flavors, and two shapes, totaling 20 stock-keeping units (SKUs), and is expected to strengthen links with local maize suppliers.
ZIMBABWE – Varun Beverages Zimbabwe, a key franchisee of PepsiCo and a global leader in beverages, has completed and launched a dedicated snacks production line to manufacture Cheetos locally, transitioning from imports to homegrown production.
This milestone, part of a US$7 million investment announced in June 2024, enhances the company’s portfolio alongside existing carbonated soft drinks and bottled water lines inaugurated by President Emmerson Mnangagwa in December 2024.
The new facility introduces Cheetos in two pack sizes, five flavors, and two shapes, totaling 20 stock-keeping units (SKUs), complementing imported brands like Lay’s, Doritos, and Simba.
Local production boosts maize sourcing from Zimbabwean farmers, fostering backward integration, job creation, and economic contributions through structured agricultural partnerships.
Varun’s CEO emphasized that this expansion into snacks diversifies revenue streams and meets rising consumer demand for affordable, fun products in a market driven by urbanization and youth demographics.
Simultaneously, construction has commenced on a Carlsberg brewery, with distribution set to begin via a trading model in April 2026, sourcing regionally, before full local manufacturing ramps up by mid-2027.
This beer project, like the snacks line, prioritizes local grains such as maize and barley, creating opportunities for smallholder farmers and aligning with national value-addition goals.
The phased approach minimizes risks while building market share for Carlsberg’s premium lagers amid Zimbabwe’s recovering beverage sector.
Varun Beverages, the world’s second-largest PepsiCo franchisee outside the US, leverages its expertise from similar ventures in Morocco, Zambia, and South Africa to drive these initiatives.
The expansions signal confidence in Zimbabwe’s potential, introducing innovative go-to-market strategies and wider consumer choices.
Challenges such as power reliability persist, but the company’s track record suggests resilience, potentially attracting further investment.
For agribusiness observers, these developments highlight how global brands catalyze local industry growth, blending international scale with homegrown inputs.
As production scales, expect positive ripple effects on rural economies and supply chains, positioning Varun as a multifaceted player in snacks, beverages, and brewing.
Retailers report preparing shelf space and promotional plans to support the Cheetos launch, while consumer groups expect increased competition to improve pricing and variety.
Although Varun has not disclosed detailed investment figures or exact production capacities, the company’s dual focus on snacks and brewing signals a strategic bet on Zimbabwe’s growing consumer market and the potential for manufacturing‑led growth as distribution of Carlsberg approaches in April 2026 and local brewing follows in 2027.
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