Business Correspondent
Varun Beverages Limited (VBL) Zimbabwe has entered into an exclusive distribution agreement with Mondelez South Africa, opening a new avenue for the PepsiCo bottler to expand into Zimbabwe’s confectionery and snacks distribution market.
According to The Economic Times, an Indian business newspaper, the agreement will give VBL Zimbabwe exclusive rights to distribute Mondelez products, including chocolates, biscuits, candies and chewing gum, across Zimbabwe.
The agreement takes effect on October 1, 2026.
VBL Zimbabwe, a subsidiary of India-listed Varun Beverages Limited, will use its existing distribution network to handle the Mondelez portfolio.
The partnership strengthens Mondelez’s distribution reach in Zimbabwe by placing its products with a company that already has an established distribution footprint in the country.
VBL confirmed the agreement in a regulatory filing, saying its Zimbabwean subsidiary, Varun Beverages (Zimbabwe) (Private) Limited, had entered into an exclusive distribution agreement with Mondelez South Africa Proprietary Limited.
The development comes as VBL pursues a broader expansion strategy across Africa.
In a regulatory filing, VBL said its Zimbabwean subsidiary had entered into the exclusive distribution agreement with Mondelez South Africa Proprietary Limited for the distribution of the confectionery products within the Zimbabwean market.
VBL Chairman Ravi Jaipuria has said the company sees potential in the African market and is expanding its operations across the continent. The company has also recently expanded its product portfolio in Kenya, where it launched an energy drink and a new carbonated soft drink.
The deal brings together VBL’s established beverage distribution infrastructure and Mondelez’s portfolio of globally recognised confectionery and snack brands.
The development represents an expansion of VBL Zimbabwe’s business beyond its core beverage distribution activities, potentially allowing the company to diversify the products moving through its existing distribution network.
The agreement is expected to come into effect as Zimbabwe’s consumer goods sector continues to attract companies seeking to expand distribution and retail access through established local networks.
