Varun Beverages Zimbabwe commissions Cheetos plant, launches new juice and dairy facility
Varun Beverages Zimbabwe has expanded its manufacturing footprint with a new Cheetos plant and a planned juice and dairy facility in Harare.
ZIMBABWE – Varun Beverages Limited Zimbabwe has officially commissioned a new Cheetos snacks manufacturing plant and laid the foundation stone for a new Juice and Dairy Blend Facility in Harare, strengthening its long-term investment in Zimbabwe’s manufacturing sector.
The company said the two projects represent a major milestone in its strategy to support industrial growth, local value addition, employment creation and economic transformation under Zimbabwe’s Vision 2030 agenda.
According to the company, Varun Beverages initially entered the Zimbabwean market eight years ago with a single beverage production line backed by an investment of approximately US$30 million. Since then, it has expanded into one of the country’s leading beverage and food manufacturing operations.
“Beginning operations with a single beverage production line and an investment of approximately US$30 million, the company has now expanded into among the country’s leading beverage and food manufacturing operations with multiple production and backward integration lines,” the company said in a statement.
Varun Beverages said its operations now directly employ about 2,000 people while supporting nearly 13,000 indirect livelihoods across logistics, retail, farming, distribution and allied industries.
The newly commissioned Cheetos manufacturing plant is expected to enhance local production capacity, reduce reliance on imports and support technology transfer within Zimbabwe’s food manufacturing sector.
“The newly inaugurated Cheetos plant is expected to strengthen local manufacturing, reduce imports, promote technology transfer, develop local skills, and create additional employment opportunities for Zimbabwean youth,” the company stated.
The company added that early market response to locally manufactured Cheetos products had highlighted Zimbabwe’s growing potential to become a regional manufacturing hub for snacks and beverages.
Varun Beverages also confirmed that the new Juice and Dairy Blend Facility is expected to begin commercial production later this year. The project is expected to create additional opportunities for local dairy farmers, fruit growers, packaging suppliers, transporters and other businesses linked to the agricultural and manufacturing supply chain.
“The upcoming Juice & Dairy Blend Facility, expected to commence commercial production later this year, will further expand opportunities for dairy farmers, fruit growers, packaging suppliers, transporters, and other local businesses connected to the supply chain,” the company said.
The company noted that the investment forms part of a broader strategy to increase local sourcing of raw materials while positioning Zimbabwe as a production and export hub for the wider African market.
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