Ravi Jaipuria’s US$40M Zimbabwe plant includes recyclable PET packaging to slash imports,  boost regional exports

ZIMBABWE – Indian billionaire Ravi Jaipuria has opened a US$40 million snacks, juice, and dairy manufacturing complex in Zimbabwe through Varun Beverages, featuring a Cheetos plant and a juice-dairy blend facility, while announcing a recyclable PET plant to reduce packaging imports and enable exports to neighbouring countries as part of a broader US$650 million investment plan.

The expansion follows Varun Beverages’ US$125 million acquisition of South African beverage producer Twizza through its subsidiary, The Beverage Company (BevCo), strengthening its position in Africa’s competitive soft drinks market. 

The company has grown from a single production line producing 10 million bottles monthly to six production lines with capacity approaching 120 million bottles per month, directly employing about 2,000 people while supporting another 13,000 indirect jobs across logistics, retail, distribution, and farming.

Packaging as a Strategic Asset

Ravi Jaipuria stated that the company is putting up a recyclable PET plant, noting that after putting that plant, imports will reduce substantially, and the company will be exporting to other countries from Zimbabwe. 

For a beverage manufacturer, PET preforms and closures are among the most expensive imported inputs, subject to currency volatility, shipping delays, and port congestion. 

Local PET recycling capacity also enables the company to source post-consumer bottles as feedstock, reducing virgin resin costs while supporting circular economy claims that increasingly influence consumer purchasing decisions.

Integration Across the Value Chain

The juice and dairy blend facility, expected to begin production later this year, will create opportunities for dairy farmers, fruit growers, and transporters while requiring significant volumes of aseptic packaging, multi-layer cartons or pouches that preserve liquid foods without refrigeration. 

By controlling both filling and packaging locally, Varun Beverages reduces exposure to supply chain disruptions that have plagued African importers since the Middle East conflict began. 

A 130-megawatt green energy project valued at between US$300 million and US$350 million is already under development in Matobo to power the expanded manufacturing footprint.

A Hub for Southern Africa

The facilities directly employ about 2,000 people while supporting another 13,000 indirect jobs. 

President Emmerson Mnangagwa praised the investment, saying it would support industrial diversification, employment creation, and integration into regional and global manufacturing value chains. 

Zimbabwe’s strategic location allows Varun Beverages to serve Zambia, Botswana, Mozambique, and Malawi with shorter lead times than from its Indian plants. 

The recyclable PET plant, by producing packaging locally rather than importing it, changes the cost structure for the entire regional operation.

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