Online Reporter
Tapiwanashe Mangwiro
Senior Business Reporter
Lager beer prices have risen sharply since the beginning of December as supply shortages begin to bite across several parts of the country.
This defies recent assurances by Delta Beverages that the beverages firm would meet festive season demand.
A survey by The Herald Finance and Business shows that consumers are now paying significantly more for popular lager brands, with price hikes being driven by limited availability, rationing at depots and increased distribution costs borne by retailers.
Quart bottles of Zambezi are now selling for between US$2.25 and US$2.50, up from the usual US$1.50 and US$2.00 respectively.
Castle Lager and Carling Black Label quarts are going for US$1.75 and US$2.00, compared to their normal US$1.30 to US$1.50 range respectively.
The shortage has been more pronounced in pint-sized bottles, which have almost disappeared from some outlets. Where available, Castle and Carling Black Label pints are selling for between US$0.75 and US$1.00, up from the usual US$0.66 (US$2 for three pints).
Zambezi pints are mostly retailing at US$1, although sporadic price increases to US$1.25 have been recorded.
Delta Beverages, however, maintains that there is no crisis and the shortage was artificial. Group finance director, Mr Alex Makamure, recently dismissed panic buying and price hikes, saying supply remains adequate.
“There are some outages of product but no crisis. Operators would normally want a shortage situation to justify upping prices.
“We are running 15 percent ahead of last year sales in the same period in December. Zambezi and Carling Black Label are running at around 20 percent above. There is no justification for panic or hiking prices,” said Mr Makamure.
Despite acknowledging some supply gaps, Delta Beverages has struggled to consistently supply certain lager brands this month, triggering price hikes at retail level.
Observations by The Herald Finance and Business in Bulawayo and Rusape revealed acute shortages, particularly of Zambezi and Castle Lager, with outlets that still have stock charging a premium.
“For the record, two popular joints in Bulawayo got no Zambezi today,” said one observer. In Rusape, a resident said, “We are only having Black Label with no Castle and Zambezi here. Those with the two brands have hiked prices by US$0.25.”
In Harare, the situation is similar. Most local bars have adjusted prices upwards, with a Castle quart now going for around US$1.75 instead of the usual US$1.20 to US$1.50. Bar owners said they are being restricted to as few as 10 crates of Zambezi and Castle Lager per brand per order.
The shortages are beginning to alter festive season travel habits, as some consumers now prefer to carry their own supplies.
“This might be the worst Christmas of this decade because we are now travelling with cooler boxes of beers, which then defies the essence of local tourism as we are used to buying from retailers along towns and cities we will be travelling through,” said Harare resident Mr Takudzwa Chisahwira.
In Marondera, residents say the shortage has become a daily inconvenience. Mr Shepherd Nyamushonongora said finding Castle Lager now requires travelling across town.
“I am an avid Castle Lager drinker and I am suffering due to this shortage. At first it was the disappearance of pint-sized bottles and now I have to go across town to Dombotombo Shops in order to get hold of my favourite brand,” he said.
Mr Nyamushonongora added that bar owners had cited restrictions from Delta and inconsistent deliveries as the main
