Varun Beverages enters alcobev segment

Varun Beverages Ltd. (VBL), PepsiCo’s key Indian bottler, has forayed into the alcoholic beverages segment, marking a significant diversification in its portfolio. In a move to tap into a new category, the company has amended its Memorandum of Association (MoA) to formally include the alcoholic beverages business.

“VBL sees an opportunity to expand into the business of RTD and alcoholic drinks of any type or description, including beer, wine, liquor, brandy, whisky, gin, rum and vodka in India and abroad,” the company stated in its regulatory filing.

In a related development, VBL’s African subsidiaries have entered into an exclusive distribution agreement with Denmark’s Carlsberg Breweries A/S to market Carlsberg beer across select territories in South Africa.