Indian Billionaire Ravi Jaipuria Acquires Ghana’s Pepsi Bottling Operations

Indian Billionaire Ravi Jaipuria Expands Global Reach with Acquisition of Pepsi Bottling Plant in Ghana

Indian multinational Varun Beverages, led by billionaire Ravi Jaipuria, has finalized a $15.1 million acquisition of PepsiCo’s bottling operations in Ghana, a strategic move aimed at boosting its footprint in the African beverage market.

This acquisition is part of a larger $169.6 million deal that includes operations in both Ghana and Tanzania, marking a significant expansion for Varun Beverages across the continent. The company will assume full control of SBC Beverages Ghana Limited (SBCG), Pepsi’s local bottling and distribution network, upon regulatory approval.

Alongside the Ghana acquisition, Varun Beverages secured a $154.5 million purchase of SBC Tanzania, enhancing its influence in East Africa’s beverage sector. The expansion into these two African markets aligns with the company’s long-term growth strategy, which focuses on establishing a robust operational base on the continent, where Varun Beverages has been active since the 1990s. With existing operations in Morocco, Zambia, and other African nations, the company aims to further strengthen its regional presence through these new acquisitions.

Ravi Jaipuria, whose net worth is estimated at $16 billion, leads Varun Beverages as one of PepsiCo’s largest franchisees globally. His conglomerate, RJ Corp, has diversified interests across sectors like fast food, healthcare, and beverages, with a strong focus on international expansion. In addition to bottling and distributing well-known PepsiCo brands such as Pepsi, 7Up, Mirinda, and Mountain Dew, Varun Beverages also produces local brands like the Cheetah energy drink under SBCG’s operations in Ghana.

The Ghanaian subsidiary operates from a manufacturing facility in Accra with two production lines, contributing significantly to the local supply of PepsiCo products. This facility will play a key role in Varun Beverages’ strategy to scale operations across Africa, producing millions of beverage cases annually. Mr. Jaipuria expressed optimism about the company’s growth potential in both Ghana and Tanzania, highlighting the goal to integrate SBCG’s operations into Varun Beverages’ existing African network to streamline production and expand distribution.

This acquisition reinforces Varun Beverages’ commitment to expanding Pepsi’s iconic brands across global markets, with Africa as a focal point for future growth and development. By investing in SBCG, Varun Beverages aims to enhance its market share and bring increased operational efficiencies to Pepsi’s Ghana operations, ensuring continued supply and local production of beloved beverage brands for Ghanaian consumers.