Pepsi here to stay with local franchisee
Pioneer Foods Managing Director, André Hanekom says: "This transaction adds further impetus to our vision of becoming a significant player in the South African beverage market.
"We can now offer our clients a truly diversified choice of popular beverage brands - from ready-to-drink fruit juice products and dilutables, to teas, coffees and carbonated soft drinks."
Arnold Veraart, general manager of PepsiCo's Sub-Saharan Africa business unit, says: "By using the extensive Ceres network to make Pepsi products more widely available, this will provide greater choice for consumers and retailers across South Africa."
According to Veraart, Pioneer Foods brings to the partnership both marketplace insight and distribution strength across the retail spectrum. He says that the franchise was awarded on the basis of Pioneer Foods' successful track record in the local food and beverage industry - particularly in product development, packaging, distribution and marketing - as well as on its strong corporate values and clearly demonstrated social responsibility.