Varun to set up juice plant 

We are looking at various sectors such as tourism and dairy. Immediately, we are looking at setting up a juice plant

BILLIONAIRE investor Ravi Jaipuria says he is looking at investing in various sectors of the economy, adding his group is looking at dairy, juices and potato farming and manufacture of chips in the long term.

Staff writer.

Jaipuria told journalists after officially commissioning Varun Beverages Zimbabwe Ltd’s Pepsi bottling plant in Harare this week that he was looking at vertical integration of the business.

“We are looking at various sectors such as tourism and dairy. Immediately, we are looking at setting up a juice plant. Additionally, we are involved in potato production and this project is going to provide 115 direct jobs,” he said.

“From the juices and the chips, we expect to export to Zambia and part of East Africa and get foreign currency.”

He said he was looking at setting up a juice plant in the country but would not be drawn into disclosing how he would spend.

Jaipuria told businessdigest two years ago that he would look at setting up a juicing plant as part of the second phase of his Zimbabwe investment.

He said he planned to spend US$50 million in the next 3-5 years.

Jaipuria gets a chunk of his US$1,5 billion wealth from Varun Beverages, which accounts for 55% of RJ Corporation’s revenues.

Varun Beverages has 10 bottling plants in India plus an international footprint that includes Sri Lanka, Nepal, Morocco, Mozambique, Zambia and Zimbabwe.