Schweppes Zim Opens New Market in Ghana

Schweppes Zimbabwe, producers of trademark Mazoe Orange Crush has opened a new market in Ghana in a bid to boost sales and generate foreign currency.

According to media reports from Ghana, Schweppes Zimbabwe export and commercial executive, Mr Dominic Sikuka was in that country last week to sign a deal to market and distribute its products.

During the five-day visit, the official met with various government officials, the business community and the Zimbabwean ambassador to Ghana, Ms Pavelyn Musaka to discuss how the company could penetrate and increase its presence in Ghana and the West African sub-region.

Hankoff Mazoe Limited, a division of the Dreke Virgins Group, would market and distribute Schweppes Zimbabwe's products in Ghana.

The ambassador told Mr Sikuka that Ghana was a lucrative market with over 200 million people and called for more business ventures between the two countries saying Zimbabwe and Ghana had great potential to increase their trade volumes.

She said tapping into new markets would also enable Zimbabwean companies to broaden their customer base and boost the country's foreign currency reserves.

Schweppes Zimbabwe, a giant player in the beverage industry, already has huge markets in the Democratic Republic of Congo, South Africa, Botswana, Malawi, Namibia, Mozambique and Zambia.

Its products range from the Mazoe Orange Crush to other flavours such as Cr?me Soda, Peach and Raspberry.

The Mazoe Orange Crush flavour has in recent years become a popular drink in neighboring countries, particularly Mozambique and Zambia where it has flooded the market.

Schweppes Zimbabwe's bid to move into the Ghanaian market is in line with the government's trade policy to penetrate new markets and increase foreign currency generation.