India-based Varun Beverages Limited has completed its acquisition of
Twizza for R2.1 billion through its subsidiary, The Beverage Company (BevCo).
Varun Beverages is the parent of Varun Beverages Zimbabwe, a major PepsiCo
franchisee manufacturing and distributing soft drinks and snacks – Pepsi,
Mirinda, 7Up, Sting, Lay’s and Doritos – in Zimbabwe.
The completion of the deal was announced by Standard Bank’s
Business and Commercial Banking unit on 31 March 2026.
“This follows the receipt of all required regulatory
approvals, marking the formal conclusion of the transaction and representing a
significant milestone,” the bank said.
Twizza is a leading South African soft drink manufacturer
that produces and distributes a range of affordable, high-quality non-alcoholic
beverages, including carbonated soft drinks, energy drinks, and mixers.
Founded in 2003 in Queenstown, officially Komani, by
entrepreneur Ken Clark, the business was built to provide accessible,
great-tasting refreshments to everyday South Africans in underserved
areas.
Over time, Twizza has grown into a successful family-owned
business, operating three internationally accredited manufacturing and primary
distribution facilities.
These are located in Queenstown, Middelburg and Cape Town,
and are supported by additional revenue streams including contract
manufacturing, packing and distribution.
Its products are available in South Africa, Lesotho,
Eswatini, Botswana and Namibia. The acquisition by Varun brings Twizza into one
of the world’s largest PepsiCo franchise bottling networks.
Varun’s acquisition of Twizza will make it part of PepsiCo
bottling and aligns with the American giant’s strategy to get its brands into
spaza shops and dominate South Africa’s informal market.
BevCo distributes Pepsi products, including Pepsi, Mountain
Dew, Mirinda, and 7-Up, and produces popular local soft drinks such as Reboost,
Super C, and Jive in South Africa.
In late 2024, BevCo unveiled its strategy to have its brands
in 30% of spaza shops within three years, after historically struggling to
compete with Coca-Cola.
BevCo has been in South Africa’s informal market for years,
primarily via wholesalers, but this latest venture targets stores directly. The
company is continuing to work with wholesalers alongside the spaza shops.
Through India-based Varun, BevCo can tap into immense scale
and expertise, with Varun being one of the largest Pepsi bottlers in the world.
“The acquisition by Varun marks the next phase of Twizza’s
growth journey,” Twizza CEO Lisle Clark said.
“From our beginnings in Queenstown to becoming a recognised
player in South Africa’s beverage market, our focus has always been on
delivering affordable, quality products to our customers.”
Clark explained that, under Bevco’s ownership, the business
is well-positioned to scale further, access new capabilities, while unlocking
value for shareholders. – Daily Investor