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Michael Tome Business Reporter
Zimbabwe will become Varun Beverages’ regional production hub following an impressive response by the market to its products, chief executive officer Mr Vijay Bahl has said.
He said this in an interview recently after winning the best national marketing-oriented CEO award at this year’s edition of the Marketers Association of Zimbabwe (MAZ) exceptional marketing awards.
The exceptional marketing awards sought to recognise companies and individuals who successfully initiated marketing efforts to build reputable brands.
The awards honoured marketers and sales executives, brand managers, public relations practitioners, and other professionals in the marketing industry who have exhibited exceptional marketing prowess while showing professionalism at the highest level.
This is the first time the event was held outside the annual convention as the organisation intends to grow the awards in a drive meant to encourage marketing practitioners’ growth.
Varun beverages, producers of Pepsi, Mirinda and other soft drinks, have been steadily growing their footprint in Zimbabwe.
They now established nine production lines that are producing in excess of 58 million bottles and cans in a month while servicing the Zambian market.
In an interview after winning the top award, Varun beverages CEO Mr Bahl said they want to make Zimbabwe their production hub after considering the impressive response by the local market since the launch of their products.
He said the company’s executives recognise the potential in the local market and have given particular attention to the marketing of their products.
“We work for the satisfaction of our consumers around the country. We are grateful to Zimbabwean consumers for liking our products and we are growing year on year at a decent growth rate.
“It is this kind of connection and association that we have been able to establish with Zimbabweans, from one production line in 2018 now we have nine lines production lines,” said Mr Bahl.
In October last year, the company invested US$12 million for the construction of a new production line, which will see it growing its output to 76 million bottles and cans per month.
Mr Phillip Mataranyika the chief executive officer of the Nyaradzo Group of Companies was the first runner-up for the award while Mr Nicholas Mafoti of Zimbabwe International Trade Fair (ZITF) was the second runner-up.
Marketers Association of Zimbabwe (MAZ) president Mr Zororo Muranda said the awards were designed to promote and support marketers’ success by providing opportunities for recognition and professional development opportunities through awards competitions.
“The overarching goal of these awards is to honour organizations and people who would have exhibited exceptional marketing prowess and at the same time showing professionalism at the highest level,” he said.
Stella Nkomo of ZITF landed the top national marketing executive award.
At the same time, Ms Lillian Mbaiwa of Old Mutual was the first runner up while Mr Lawrence Kutinyu from National Foods was second runner-up.
Insurance and Pensions Commission public relations manager Mr Lloyd Gumbo emerged the best public relations practitioner of the year followed by Ms Prudence Muganihwa of Nyaradzo and Ms Elizabeth Dziva of Multichoice
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