Delta Beverages has moved to reassure consumers that beer supplies will remain stable throughout the festive season, despite isolated shortages of certain preferred brands in a few provinces. The assurance followed a high-level industry tour led by Industry and Commerce Minister Mangaliso Ndlovu, who visited Varun and Delta facilities to assess operations ahead of the December peak.
Christmas traditionally puts pressure on Zimbabwe’s beverage supply chains as social gatherings multiply, prompting some retailers to report early gaps in the availability of specific lagers. However, Delta executives dismissed concerns of widespread shortages, emphasising that any stockouts were linked to brand-specific demand spikes rather than systemic supply challenges.
Delta’s executive director of finance, Alex Makamure, said the company had strengthened plant performance, expanded brewing capacity, and optimised its production mix to meet holiday demand.
“The festive season is usually a tight place for us in terms of supply. I hear some provinces are already citing shortages in lager beers, but you saw our factories running smoothly. We will supply every corner of the country,” he said.
Makamure reiterated that the company’s production levels were more than sufficient to meet national demand.
“Yes, there might be some kind of mismatch here and there. But generally, we have enough capacity to meet the demand we are seeing. In many cases, the complaints are not about overall supply,” he explained.
He added that pockets of scarcity often arise from strong consumer preference for specific brands.
“Some people favour the ‘headmaster’ (quart), the Carling Black Label, and we might be running more of it. But there are customers who want other brands. Overall, we will be able to supply the market,” he said.
During the tour, Delta revealed that Carling Black Label contributes about 50 percent of all lager sales, followed by Castle Lager at roughly 30 percent. The remaining share comes from Zambezi Lager, Pilsener, Lion Lager and other lines. The company said this breakdown is critical in fine-tuning output during peak periods.
Minister Ndlovu said he was impressed by the factories’ performance and commended the beverage sector for maintaining high operational standards. He emphasised that robust festive-season supply was vital for commerce, tourism, and employment.
Delta’s confidence comes on the back of a strong half-year performance in 2026, particularly in its core lager category. The company recorded a 21 percent growth in lager volumes compared to the previous year, a trend driven by firm consumer incomes, stable pricing, and consistently strong demand. Management said current output continues to exceed historical daily sales levels, signalling a structural recovery in lager consumption nationwide.
To stay ahead of demand, Delta is accelerating capacity-boosting investments, including new brewing and storage vessels, upgraded filtration systems at Southerton Brewery, and a full brewhouse replacement at Belmont Brewery. These measures aim to minimise brand mismatches and ensure consistent supply of high-demand products.
The company also credited its continued brand activation efforts—such as the Castle Tankard, Castle Lager Premier Soccer League, and the 10th anniversary Castle Lager Braai event in October—for sustaining market momentum.
Backed by increased output and ongoing investments, Delta says it is fully equipped to keep shelves stocked throughout the festive season and beyond.
