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Prosper Ndlovu Business Editor
GLOBAL beverage manufacturer, Coca-Cola, has said Zimbabwe is a strong economic force in the region hence the company’s decision to launch its new fruit flavoured brand in the country out of six member –states that form its Central Africa franchise. The giant firm officially launched its Schweppes Novida brand in Bulawayo and Harare last week in what is seen as a strong gesture of confidence in the country’s economy.
Schweppes Novida is a new non-alcoholic, malt-based, fruit-flavoured soft drink being bottled by Delta Beverages. Novida comes in two flavours: pineapple and mandarin in a sleek 400ml PET bottle that retails at a dollar.
Zimbabwe is the first country to taste the new beverage ahead of its counterparts —Zambia, Malawi, Botswana, Namibia and Lesotho.
Coca-Cola country manager Nomalanga Halimana said the new product will add new impetus into the company’s presence in the country and increase consumer choice and satisfaction.
“Zimbabwe is the first country to launch Novida in our Central Africa franchise. This is our new addition to the Coca-Cola family, a fruit flavoured drink for a discerning consumer,” she said.
“Zimbabwe is one of the biggest forces in the Central Africa market and this is a way of saying ‘thank you’ by offering a wide array of choice.”
Halimana said the new product, which was first launched in Kenya, was expected to trade well within the younger market with a gain in volumes depending on the population of a country.
“We realised the Zimbabwean consumer is not looking for sparkling beverages as such but a different taste. Consumers just want a variety of choice. The product will be manufactured locally by our bottling partner, Delta Beverages,” she said.
“Everyone will look at Zimbabwe to see how the product is doing.”
Novida, she said, will enhance the Zimbabwean beverage portfolio that includes sparkling beverages and light variants such as Coke Light, Fanta, Sparletta variants, Schweppes bottled water, Mazoe and Minute Maid fruits juices.
Halimana said in the meantime Novida production will be done at Delta Beverages Harare plant and indicated possibilities of extending to the Bulawayo plant depending on growth in volumes.
Coca Cola has been in the beverage business for 178 years across the globe and 67 years of existence in Zimbabwe.
Online Reporter