Twizza Sold to Global Giant Varun Beverages in Landmark Deal
A Landmark Deal: Standard Bank Advises on sale of SA’s Twizza to global giant Varun Beverages
In a landmark transaction for South Africa’s fast-moving consumer goods sector, Standard Bank Business & Commercial Banking (BCB) Corporate Finance Advisory has successfully facilitated the sale of leading affordable soft drink manufacturer, Twizza, to The Beverage Company, a subsidiary of India-based Varun Beverages Limited.
The deal, which was executed against a backdrop of strong company performance and favourable market conditions, marks a significant vote of confidence in South Africa’s consumer market and underscores the value of building scalable, locally relevant businesses.
A Homegrown Success Story
Founded in 2003 in Queenstown (Komani), Eastern Cape, by entrepreneur Ken Clark, Twizza was built on a simple yet powerful ambition: to provide accessible, high-quality refreshments to everyday South Africans, particularly in underserved markets. Today, the company produces and distributes a range of non-alcoholic beverages, including carbonated soft drinks, energy drinks, and functional drinks.
From its humble beginnings, Twizza has grown to operate three internationally accredited manufacturing and distribution facilities in Queenstown, Middelburg, and Cape Town, with additional revenue from contract manufacturing and packing.
The acquisition by Varun Beverages, one of the world’s largest PepsiCo franchise bottling networks, represents the next chapter in Twizza’s growth journey.
“From our beginnings in Queenstown to becoming a recognised player in South Africa’s beverage market, our focus has always been on delivering affordable, quality products to our customers,” a representative from Twizza noted. “Under Varun’s ownership, the business is well positioned to scale further, access new capabilities and continue serving consumers with the same commitment, while unlocking value for shareholders.”
Global Scale Meets Local Relevance
For Varun Beverages, the acquisition provides a strategic opportunity to expand its footprint in Africa and deepen its presence in high-growth consumer markets. The company, which manufactures and distributes a wide range of beverages under PepsiCo trademarks across Asia and Africa, sees strong potential in Twizza’s established operations.
"This acquisition represents a strategic opportunity to expand our footprint in Africa and deepen our presence in high-growth consumer markets," said a representative from Varun Beverages. “Twizza is a well-established business with strong local relevance, a proven operating model and a portfolio that complements our existing capabilities. We see significant potential to build on this foundation by leveraging our scale, distribution expertise and long-standing partnership with PepsiCo.”
A Testament to Strategic Advisory
Standard Bank’s BCB Corporate Finance Advisory team ran a competitive process to optimise value for shareholders, resulting in a premium outcome for Twizza’s founding shareholder.
“This transaction affirms the strength of our advisory capability and our ability to support clients in structuring exits at the right time,” says Raven Moodley, Head of Advisory within the Corporate Finance Advisory team at Business & Commercial Banking, Standard Bank South Africa. “It reflects the power of timing, performance and sector dynamics in unlocking meaningful shareholder value.”
The successful deal highlights continued investor confidence in South Africa’s consumer market, particularly in scalable businesses serving the affordable segment. This aligns with insights from Standard Bank's Township Informal Economy Report (October 2025), which underscores the scale, resilience and growing economic significance of township and informal markets.
As a trusted partner for growth, Standard Bank continues to enable market access for its clients, supporting them as they start, manage and grow into sustainable enterprises with the ability to compete and scale in global markets. This transaction demonstrates the bank’s role in connecting African businesses with global capital and strategic partners, helping clients achieve optimal outcomes aligned with their long-term growth and succession objectives.