Kazakhstan: Carlsberg to invest over EUR100 mln in new non-alcoholic beverages plant in Kazakhstan

Carlsberg is set to invest over 100 million euros in a new production facility for non-alcoholic beverages in Kazakhstan, Interfax reported on September 12.

"The new investment is expected to deliver a double-digit return on invested capital (ROIC) from the first year and increase the group's ROIC by the third year," the company said in a press release.

The Carlsberg Group and PepsiCo, Inc. announced an expansion of their strategic partnership with a new agreement under which Carlsberg will become the PepsiCo bottler in Kazakhstan and Kyrgyzstan from January 1, 2026.

"With the new strategic partnership, PepsiCo and Carlsberg have agreed to cooperate in the production, sale and distribution of non-alcoholic beverages in the two countries. Beginning January 1, 2026, Carlsberg will take over the PepsiCo franchise to produce non-alcoholic beverages in Kazakhstan and Kyrgyzstan," according to the statement.

Carlsberg Kazakhstan was the market leader in the beer category with a 38% market share in 2023.

Carlsberg and PepsiCo already have existing bottling agreements in five other markets across Europe and Asia, namely Norway, Sweden, Switzerland, Cambodia and Laos. Earlier this year, Carlsberg announced its intention to acquire Britvic plc, which, upon completion and subject to regulatory and legal requirements, would allow Carlsberg to produce and distribute soft drinks for PepsiCo in the UK and Ireland.