05/15/2026
Celebrating a Landmark Milestone for Zimbabweâs Food Industry! đżđź
On Wednesday, May 13th, 2026, the Global Food Business Network (GFBN) was honored to be represented by our CEO, Tsitsi Mutanga, at a momentous event for our nationâs industrial landscape. We witnessed the official inauguration of the new snacks plant and the foundation stone-laying for a state-of-the-art juice and dairy blend facility at the Varun Beverages plant in Harare.
The ceremony was officiated by His Excellency, President Emmerson Mnangagwa, whose presence highlighted the strategic importance of this investment in Zimbabweâs food manufacturing sector. It was truly inspiring for our team to see such significant strides toward industrialization, innovation, and the creation of high-value jobs within Africaâs food systems.
During his address, the President placed a powerful emphasis on domestic value addition and diversification through innovation. He reiterated a message that sits at the very heart of GFBNâs mission: the need for businesses to support local farmers through backward integration across value chains. This approach ensures that growth is inclusive, sustainable, and directly benefits our local agricultural communities.
As an industry leader, Varun Beverages Zimbabwe continues to demonstrate the power of global-local synergy. As a key franchisee of PepsiCo - one of the world's most iconic food and beverage giantsâVarun is bringing world-class manufacturing excellence and the prestige of the Pepsi brand to our local market. This milestone is a testament to how international partnerships can drive transformative growth within the Zimbabwean ecosystem.
This event serves as a vital reminder to the global food business community: success is built on collaboration. From farm to fork, it is time for industry leaders, entrepreneurs, and institutions to work in unison to shape a stronger, more resilient food ecosystem.
The GFBN team is incredibly excited to be part of this era of growth. We remain dedicated to supporting initiatives that drive tangible impact across the food industry value chain, both here in Zimbabwe and across the globe.
Congratulations to Varun Beverages Zimbabwe on this incredible achievement!đĽ
đ¸Photo credit: Believe Nyakudjara/ ZTN prime