Varun Beverages on Tuesday announced that its South African subsidiary, The Beverage Company Proprietary Ltd (Bevco), will acquire a 100 per cent stake in Crickley Dairy Proprietary Ltd for ₹131.47 crore, as part of its strategy to expand into dairy and juice-based beverages.
According to a regulatory filing, Bevco has signed an agreement dated March 17, 2026, to acquire the company from Clark Holdings Proprietary Ltd, the parent entity of Crickley Dairy. The transaction is subject to regulatory approvals, including clearance from the Competition Commission of South Africa.
The acquisition is aimed at diversifying Varun Beverages’ product portfolio beyond carbonated drinks into value-added dairy and juice categories, strengthening its presence in the fast-growing non-carbonated beverage segment.
The move follows the company’s recent expansion in the African market. In December 2025, Varun Beverages announced the full acquisition of South Africa-based beverage firm Twizza through Bevco. Earlier, in March 2024, the company had acquired The Beverage Company in South Africa, along with its subsidiaries, giving it access to franchised territories in South Africa, Lesotho and Eswatini, as well as distribution rights in Namibia, Botswana, Mozambique and Madagascar.
Varun Beverages, the largest franchise bottler of PepsiCo outside the United States, has been actively strengthening its international footprint, with Africa emerging as a key growth market for the company.