BUSINESS STRATEGY

PepsiCo brands making a big push into Democratic Republic of Congo

By our African Marketing Confederation News Team | 2024

Cola wars in Congo? Two new PepsiCo bottling plants for Kinshasa and Lubumbashi as Angolan-based bottler for Coca-Cola plans own DRC facility.

Photo: PepsiCo

Indian-based Varun Beverages, a prominent PepsiCo bottler in various parts of Africa and other emerging markets, has officially launched its new bottling plant in Kinshasa in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC).  

 

Apart from serving local consumers, it will also be a springboard for exports into Cameroon, Gabon and neighbouring Republic of Congo.  

 

The Kinshasa facility’s capacity is 1.2-million bottles per day. PepsiCo brands to be produced include Pepsi, Mirinda Orange, Mirinda Fruity, Mountain Dew, 7UP, and Aquafina bottled water. 

 

A second Varun Beverages plant is under construction in the city of Lubumbashi to target consumers the south of the sprawling DRC. 

 

Varun, which is part of the RJ Corporation food and drinks group, is the Pepsi bottler for Morocco, Mozambique, Zambia, Zimbabwe, Madagascar, South Africa, Lesotho, Eswatini, Namibia and Botswana. It also has PepsiCo snack-manufacturing operations in Morocco, Zimbabwe and Zambia. 

 

According to Indian media reports, Varun Beverages is among the largest PepsiCo franchisees outside the United States. 

 

Taking on Coca-Cola in Africa 

 

“PepsiCo is making a big push to take on Coca-Cola’s dominance across Africa, especially as Coca-Cola reshapes its bottling agreements in the wake of parting with longtime bottler Castel in eight francophone markets,” comments Trendtype, the emerging markets consultancy. 

 

In February 2024, Angolan soft drinks manufacturer and brewer Refriango announced it would open a new US$50-million factory in the DRC, located in the Maluku Special Economic Zone. Refriango is the Coca-Cola bottler in Angola. 

 

In July this year, Varun entered into an agreement with PepsiCo to manufacture and distribute snacks in Zimbabwe and Zambia. 

 

The company called it a strategic move to grow its presence in the African snacks market, and said it planned to invest approximately US$7-million in establishing facilities in both countries to produce PepsiCo’s Simba Munchiez brand of snacks. 

 

Zimbabwe’s facility is expected to be operational by October 2025, while the Zambia plant is scheduled for around April 2026. Each of the new sites will have the capacity to produce approximately 5,000 metric tonnes of snacks annually for their respective markets.

View all articles »
author avatar
Rozanne
See Full Bio
0
    Your Cart
    Your cart is emptyReturn to Shop
    Continue Shopping

    Dr Kin Kariisa

    Group CEO - Next Media

    Dr. Kin Kariisa is an extraordinary force at the helm of Next Media Services, a conglomerate encompassing NBS TV, Nile Post, Sanyuka TV, Next Radio, Salam TV, Next Communication, Next Productions, and an array of other influential enterprises. His dynamic role as Chief Executive Officer exemplifies his unwavering commitment to shaping media, business, and community landscapes.
    With an esteemed academic journey, Dr. Kariisa’s accolades include an Honorary PhD in exemplary community service from the United Graduate College inTexas, an MBA from United States International University in Nairobi, Kenya, a Master’s degree in Computer Engineering from Huazong University in China, and a Bachelor’s degree in Statistics from Makerere University.
    Dr. Kariisa pursued PhD research in Computer Security and Identity Management at Security of Systems Group, Radboud University in Nijmegen, Netherlands. As a dynamic educator, he has shared his expertise as a lecturer of e-Government and Information Security at both Makerere University and Radboud University.

    Dr Kin did his PhD research in Computer Security and Identity Management at Security of Systems Group, Radbond University in Nigmegen, Netherlands. He previously served as a lecturer of e-Government and Information Security at Makerere University in Kampala, Uganda and Radbond University in Netherlands.

    Dr Kin did his postgraduate courses in Strategic Business Management, Strategic Leadership Communication and Strategies for Leading Successful Change Initiatives at Harvard University, Boston USA.

    • Other current and previous roles played by Dr Kin Kariisa:
    • Lecturer of e-Government and Information Security to graduate students at Makerere University, Kampala and Radbond University in the Netherlands
    • Director of Eco Bank Uganda Limited, one of the largest banks in Africa
    • Chairman of the National Association of Broadcasters, an umbrella industry association for all Television, Radio and online broadcasters in Uganda.
    • Chairman of Board of Directors of Nile Hotel International, that owns the leading hotel in Uganda, Kampala Serena Hotel.
    • Chairman of Board of Directors of Soliton Telmec Uganda, the leading telecom company in Optic fibre business managing over 80% of optic fibre in Uganda.