Varun Beverages Ltd

Varun Beverages Limited, part of the RJ Corp group, a diversified business conglomerate with interests in beverages, quick-service restaurants, dairy and healthcare, is the second largest franchisee in the world (outside US) of carbonated soft drinks (CSDs) and non-carbonated beverages (NCBs) sold under trademarks owned by PepsiCo. The company produces and distributes a wide range of CSDs, as well as a large selection of NCBs, including packaged drinking water. The Company has presence in 26 States and 6 Union Territories in India and 9 other countries across the world viz. Nepal, Sri Lanka, Morocco, Zambia, Zimbabwe, Democratic Republic of Congo, South Africa, Lesotho & Eswatini). Further, It is is having 50 manufacturing facilities, of which 38 are in India and 12 in International territories. PepsiCo CSD brands produced and sold by the company include Pepsi, Diet Pepsi, Seven-Up, Mirinda Orange, Mirinda Lemon, Mountain Dew, Seven-Up Nimbooz Masala Soda, Evervess Soda, Sting and Gatorade. PepsiCo NCB brands produced and sold by the company include Tropicana (100%, Essentials & Delight), Tropicana Slice, Tropicana Frutz, Seven-Up Nimbooz and Quaker Oat Milk as well as packaged drinking water under the brand Aquafina. In addition, the company has also been granted the franchise for Ole brand of PepsiCo products in Sri Lanka. Varun Beverages Limited was established on 16 June 1995 at New Delhi as a Public limited company. The company obtained a certificate of commencement of business on 4 July 1995. The company started its operations at Jaipur in 1996. In 1999, the company started operations at Alwar, Jodhpur and Kosi. Devyani Beverages Limited was merged with Varun Beverages pursuant to the order of High Court of Delhi dated 6 October 2004. Varun Beverages (International) Limited was merged with Varun Beverages pursuant to the order of High Court of Delhi dated 12 March 2013. In 2013, Varun Beverages acquired the business of manufacturing and marketing of soft drink beverages and syrup mix in Delhi, India. In 2015, through a business transfer agreement Varun Beverages acquired PepsiCo India's business of manufacturing, marketing, selling and distributing soft drink beverages and syrup mix in the Indian states of Uttar Pradesh (excluding certain territories), Uttarakhand, Himachal Pradesh, Haryana (excluding certain territories) and the Union Territory of Chandigarh. During the year, the company through a business transfer agreement acquired PepsiCo India's business of manufacturing, marketing, selling and distributing soft drink beverages and syrup mix in Bazpur, Jainpur, Satharia and Panipat. During the year, the company acquired the business of selling and distribution of soft drinks beverages and syrup mix in one district undertaking situated in Punjab. In 2016, Varun Beverages acquired entire shareholding of Arctic International Private Limited in Varun Beverages Mozambique, Limitada. During the year, the company acquired entire shareholding of Arctic International Private Limited in Varun Beverages (Zambia) Limited. During the year, Varun Beverages acquired 85% shareholding of Varun Beverages (Zimbabwe) (Private) Limited (VBZPL). Varun Beverages came out with an initial public offer (IPO) during the period from 26 October 2016 to 28 October 2016. The IPO was a combination of fresh issue of 1.5 crore shares and offer for sale of 1 crore shares from the promoters. The IPO was priced at Rs 445 per share. The company's shares were listed on the bourses on 8 November 2016. On 23 February 2017, Varun Beverages announced that it has increased its stake in its Zambia subsidiary, Varun Beverages (Zambia) Limited, to 90% from 60%. VBL has been successfully running the Zambia operations since its acquisition in 2016. The increase in stake reflects the company's confidence in the future growth prospects of the subsidiary and will be an effective catalyst to drive further business growth in a fast-growing emerging market. On 9 March 2017, Varun Beverages Limited (VBL) announced that it has divested 41% stake in its Mozambique subsidiary, Varun Beverages Mozambique Limitada. The divestment of the stake is in view of limited opportunity to scale-up operations which would have enabled the company to turnaround the loss making subsidiary. VBL continues to hold a residual stake of 10% in the unit. On 4 May 2017, Varun Beverages announced that the company has set up a new unit for manufacturing of Pepsi range of products at District Hardoi, Uttar Pradesh and the commercial production/operation has started with effect from 3 May2017. On 28 September 2017, Varun Beverages announced that the company has concluded the acquisition of PepsiCo India's previously franchised territories in the state of Odisha and parts of Madhya Pradesh along with two manufacturing units at Bargarh and Bhopal (Mandideep). On 4 January 2018, Varun Beverages announced that it has further deepened its relationship with PepsiCo by entering into a strategic partnership for the larger Tropicana portfolio along with Gatorade and Quaker Value-Added Dairy in territories across North and East India. This is part of VBL's strategy to expand its product portfolio through its valued relationship with PepsiCo. On 11 January 2018, Varun Beverages announced that it has concluded the acquisition of PepsiCo India's previously franchised rights for the state of Chhattisgarh. The Board of Directors of Varun Beverages at its meeting held on 17 January 2018 considered and approved to acquire franchisee rights for PepsiCo India's previously franchised sub-territory in the State of Bihar. Varun Beverages' subsidiary Varun Beverages (Zimbabwe) (Private) started Commercial Production at a Greenfield facility for Pepsico's products with effect from 16 February 2018. On 23 March 2018, Varun Beverages announced that it has concluded the acquisition of PepsiCo India's previously franchised sub territory in the State of Jharkhand along with one manufacturing unit at Jamshedpur. The company is now a franchisee for PepsiCo products across 21 States and 2 Union Territories of India. On 5 April 2018, Varun Beverages announced its plans to set-up a greenfield production facility (subject to receipt of necessary approvals) to create in-house production capacity at Pathankot district of Punjab for Tropicana fruit juices, Quaker Oats Milk based Beverages and Gatorade. Spread over ~41 acres, it will be the first fully backward integrated facility in India to manufacture the complete range of above products including carbonated soft drinks (CSD) at a single location. The expansion is to take advantage of the growing demand of Juice Based beverages for health conscious consumers. On 3 May 2018, Varun Beverages informed the stock exchanges that a new unit at Nawalparasi District in Napal, under Varun Beverages (Nepal) Private Limited, a wholly owned subsidiary of the company, started commercial production with effect from 2 May 2018. The Board of Directors in their meeting held on February 18, 2019 approved, its intent to enter into a binding agreement with PepsiCo India Holdings Private Limited to acquire franchise rights in South and West regions o f India from PepsiCo for a national bottling, sales and distribution footprint in 7 States and 5 Union Territories. In May 2019, the Company acquired franchise rights in South and West regions from PepsiCo for a national bottling, sales and distribution footprint in 7 States and 5 Union Territories of India. It acquired franchise rights in the states of Gujarat, Telangana, Kerala, Tamil Nadu and parts of Maharashtra, Karnataka, Andhra Pradesh and in Union Territories of Daman & Diu, Dadra & Nagar Haveli, Andaman & Nicobar Islands, and Lakshadweep and Puducherry, except Yanam. In February 2019, it acquired territorial rights from SMV Group for parts of Maharashtra (14 districts), Karnataka (13 districts) and Madhya Pradesh (3 districts). The Company acquired an additional 20% stake in Lunarmech Technologies Private Limited during the year, which makes and sells PET bottle caps and crown caps, increasing their shareholding to 55% of the effective equity share capital. Post-acquisition, Company holds 55% of the effective equity share capital of Lunarmech. Subsequently, Company acquired control of Angelica Technologies Private Limited by appointment of majority of Directors on the Board of Angelica. Post acquisition of control, both Angelica and Lunarmech (in which Angelica holds 74% equity share capital) became subsidiaries of the Company. Additionally, it acquired two production facilities, one at Dharwad, Karnataka for a total consideration of Rs. 747.25 million; and the second at Tirunelveli, Tamil Nadu for a total consideration of Rs. 200 million. Apart from these, it launched 3 new variants of ambient temperature value-added dairy beverages, Belgian Choco Shake, Cold Coffee and Mango Shake in 200ml PET bottle, with a 180-day shelf life during year 2019-20. During the year 2021, the Company incorporated a new company with the name Varun Beverages RDC SAS' in Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) to initially import finished products like carbonated and non-carbonated beverages, distribute to test and establish the market before setting up a manufacturing facility locally. A new plant in Bihar was set up to improve market presence and gain a foothold in the territory. Apart from this, a new plant was set up for manufacturing of plastic preforms and plastic closures in Jammu & Kashmir. During the year 2022, Company issued and allotted 216,516,540 Bonus Equity Shares in the proportion of 1:2 (i.e. one equity share for every two equity shares). As part of the aforesaid allotment, 38,418 Bonus Equity Shares representing fractional entitlement(s) of 76,836 eligible Members were consolidated and allotted to 'Varun Beverages Limited and the aforesaid 38,418 Equity Shares were sold by the Trust on June 23, 2022 & June 24, 2022 and the net sale proceeds of the same were distributed to the eligible Members. During the year 2022, the Company commenced manufacturing carbonated soft drinks, juice-based drinks and packaged drinking water in Bihar; manufacturing plastic preforms and closures at plant in Jammu & Kashmir and established a business line for production of Kurkure Puffcorn for PepsiCo in Kosi, Uttar Pradesh. In March 2024, Company acquired 100% stake in The Beverage Company (Proprietary) Limited', South Africa along with its wholly-owned subsidiaries (BevCo) and accordinglym Bevco became the subsidiary of the Company. It also incorporated new subsidiary - VBL Mozambique, SA, South Africa, to carry on the business of distribution. The Company acquired 100% share capital of SBC Tanzania Limited and SBC Beverages Ghana Limited respectively, making them the wholly owned subsidiary of the Company effective on November 13, 2024. In 2025, Company acquired a 100% stake in Twizza (Pty) Limited, South Africa on December 21, 2025. It incorporated wholly-owned subsidiary in Kenya i.e. VBL Industries (Kenya) Ltd. The Company entered into an exclusive Distribution Agreement with Carlsberg Breweries A/S for its brand, Carlsberg, to test market beer in the territories of certain African subsidiaries of VBL. The Company commissioned 4 new greenfield production facilities in India at Prayagraj; Uttar Pradesh, Damtal; Himachal Pradesh, Buxar; Bihar, and Mendipathar; Meghalaya. Further, it set up backward integration facilities at the Prayagraj Plant in India as well as at the DRC Plant in the international region. Company acquired 50% equity share capital of Everest Industrial Lanka (Private) Limited in Sri Lanka. It formed a joint venture, 'White Peak Refrigeration Private Limited' in partnership with EIL, to carry on the business of manufacturing of visi-coolers and refrigeration equipment in India.