At a Glance
- Beverage giants anchor Zambia’s FMCG growth through scale, distribution strength and brand loyalty.
- Beer, soft drinks, dairy and plant-based beverages dominate urban and nationwide consumption.
- Leading producers support jobs, agriculture supply chains and billions in local economic activity.
Zambia’s beverage industry sits at the intersection of consumption, culture, and capital.
From beer and carbonated drinks to dairy, bottled water, and plant-based alternatives, beverage producers have become some of the country’s most visible industrial players, anchored in Lusaka and the Copperbelt but supplying millions nationwide.
At the top sits Zambian Breweries, one of the country’s largest fast-moving consumer goods companies, whose dominance in beer reflects both scale and deep cultural roots.
Alongside it are soft drink bottlers, dairy processors, and newer consumer-focused brands tapping into affordability, nutrition, and changing tastes.
The rise of plant-based beverages, sachet packaging, and value brands underscores how producers are adapting to income pressure while expanding reach.
Beyond consumption, these companies matter economically. They employ thousands, anchor agricultural supply chains, and channel billions of kwacha through local sourcing, logistics, and retail networks.
As Zambia’s population grows and urbanizes, beverages remain a resilient, cash-generative segment, one where scale, distribution, and brand loyalty separate market leaders from the rest.
Here are 7 beverage companies profiled by Shore Africa which are shaping Zambia’s market today.
1. Zambian Breweries Plc
Zambia’s largest beverage company and a subsidiary of AB InBev. Known for Mosi Lager, Castle Lite, and Eagle, it generated K6.6 billion in revenue in 2024, employs about 750 people, and anchors local barley and sorghum sourcing.
2. Varun Beverages Zambia
The PepsiCo bottler in Zambia, producing Pepsi, Mirinda, 7Up, Sting, and Aquafina. Its scale, cold-chain distribution, and aggressive pricing have made it a dominant force in non-alcoholic beverages across urban and peri-urban markets.
3. Coca-Cola Beverages Zambia
Part of Coca-Cola Beverages Africa, the company produces Coca-Cola, Fanta, Sprite, and Schweppes. With operations in Lusaka and Ndola, it remains a core player in Zambia’s soft drink economy and retail supply chains.
4. Parmalat Zambia (Lactalis Group)
A leading dairy processor producing milk, yoghurt, and dairy beverages. Parmalat plays a critical role in Zambia’s dairy value chain, linking local farmers to mass retail while benefiting from the global scale of France’s Lactalis Group. Lactalis Zambia, producers of Parmalat products, closed its Zambian manufacturing facility at the end of March 2025, thus transitioning to an import-only business. The company now supply dairy products to the Zambian market by importing them from South Africa to combat rising operational costs and intense local competition.
5. 260 Brands
A fast-growing Zambian consumer brand focused on affordable plant-based beverages, including soya milk. Its model targets nutrition, low-income consumers, and scale, while working with over 2,600 smallholder farmers across the country. 260 Brands (Seba Foods Zambia Ltd), with its factory on Mwembeshi Road, Chinika Industrial Area, Lusaka, is actively operating and expanding in Zambia. Based in Lusaka, this 100 percent Zambian manufacturer produces soy-based meat alternatives (Golden Goodness), snacks (Emilios), and beverages, recently opening the country’s first plant-based milk factory. They continue to operate, supporting local farmers and exporting to the SADC region.
6. Fairy Bottling Zambia
Known for producing AquaSavana water, Super Maheu, Royal Cream Soda, and other soft drinks, Fairy Bottling Zambia was acquired by Coca-Cola Beverages Africa (CCBA) on February 1, 2019. Following the acquisition, the Lusaka-based, state-of-the-art facility continued operations, with operations integrating into CCBA’s wider portfolio in the country.
7. Trade Kings Beverages
Trade Kings Group is a major Zambian FMCG manufacturer and parent company to “Big Tree Beverages” and “Dairy Gold,” which produce a wide range of beverages. The company, founded in 1995, operates in the Sub-Saharan region, offering products like Ama Sip Sip Maheu, carbonated soft drinks, and dairy products. In 2025, Trade Kings Group commissioned a $110 million glucose and starch plant in Lusaka, indicating ongoing, high-level investment in the region. It operates through subsidiaries like Bigtree Beverages and Dairy Gold, producing a wide range of beverages, including energy drinks (Wild Cat, Kung Fu), juices, and dairy blends.
