VBL’s Zimbabwe subsidiary will distribute Mondelez’s chocolate, biscuits, candy and gum products exclusively in the country from October 1.
Varun Beverages Ltd’s Zimbabwe subsidiary has entered into an exclusive distribution agreement with Mondelez South Africa to distribute the global snacking company’s products across Zimbabwe.
Under the agreement, Varun Beverages (Zimbabwe) Private Limited will have exclusive distribution rights for Mondelez’s chocolate, biscuit, candy and gum products in Zimbabwe, effective October 1, 2026.
The company plans to leverage its existing distribution network for the new business and has not disclosed any additional investment specifically linked to the agreement.
Strengthening Africa strategy
The partnership expands Varun Beverages’ presence beyond its core beverage distribution business and comes as the company continues to strengthen its footprint across Africa.
During the first half of 2026, Varun Beverages incurred ₹950 crore in net capitalised capex. This included ₹200 crore for brownfield expansion in India, including a value-added dairy beverages line at Supa; ₹100 crore for a snack manufacturing plant in Zimbabwe; and ₹400 crore for market infrastructure such as visicoolers, glass bottles, pallets and vehicles.
Varun Beverages Chairman Ravi Jaipuria has said the company sees strong potential in Africa and intends to continue expanding across the continent.
The Mondelez agreement follows the company’s recent expansion in Kenya, where it launched BOLT UP, an energy drink, and XTREME FIZZ, a carbonated soft drink, as part of its efforts to build a broader and more locally relevant portfolio.
The latest agreement gives Varun Beverages an opportunity to use its established distribution infrastructure in Zimbabwe to widen its presence in the fast-moving snacking market while adding Mondelez’s established brands to its portfolio.