Indian billionaire Jaipuria injects US$40 million into manufacturing plant in Zimbabwe
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INDIAN billionaire Ravi Jaipuria has further expanded his presence in Africa with the opening of a $40 million manufacturing plant in Zimbabwe, reinforcing his position on the continent’s competitive consumer market.
The facility, operated under Varun Beverages, produces snacks, juice, and dairy products, including a dedicated Cheetos production line. It has been designed to meet growing demand across Southern Africa.
Varun Beverages has rapidly scaled operations in the region, expanding from a single production line producing 10 million bottles per month to six lines with a combined capacity of nearly 120 million bottles. The expansion has created approximately 2,000 direct jobs and over 13,000 indirect roles across logistics, farming, and retail.
Jaipuria is pursuing a broader $650 million investment plan in Zimbabwe, covering renewable energy, recycling, beverages, and industrial manufacturing. A 130-megawatt green energy project valued at $300–350 million is already underway in Matobo. Plans are also in place for a recyclable PET facility, aimed at reducing imports and boosting exports to other African markets.
The expansion follows a major acquisition: Varun Beverages recently purchased South African beverage producer Twizza for $125 million via The Beverage Company (BevCo), strengthening its foothold in Africa’s soft drinks sector. The company has also entered Central Africa, commencing construction in 2025 of a $50 million Pepsi bottling plant in the Democratic Republic of Congo.
According to Forbes, Jaipuria’s net worth is approximately $12.3 billion, with interests spanning beverages, food manufacturing, and retail distribution.
Africa is now central to his global strategy, with the continent’s growing consumer markets attracting significant manufacturing investment and intensifying competition in the FMCG sector.
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المصدر: NewZimbabwe