Brands
Kurkure expands its portfolio with a sizzlin’ hot launch for spice lovers
Mumbai: PepsiCo India has expanded the flavour spectrum of its iconic snack brand Kurkure with the launch of Kurkure Sizzlin’ Hot. The new flavour is inspired by the globally loved Flamin’ Hot platform and offers a differentiated and irresistible flavor experience by fusing ‘chilli ka tadka’ with Kurkure’s iconic crunch.
Kurkure Sizzlin’ Hot is loaded with a punch of roasted red chilli, with every bite leaving a lingering heat sensation with the perfect chatpata crunch of Kurkure. This flavour innovation is sure to jolt all senses and transform the mood for an ultimate rollercoaster of fun. The inception of Kurkure Sizzlin’ Hot finds its roots in the success of the Sizzlin’ Hot range in India with Lay’s and Doritos.
This exciting new addition to the Kurkure lineup stems from a keen understanding of the growing consumer preference for spicy salty snacks in the country, with ‘chilli’ emerging as one of the top flavor preferences in the category. Embracing this growing affinity for spicy palette amongst its Indian consumers, Kurkure Sizzlin’ Hot promises an unforgettable taste adventure with lasting sensational heat.
On the debut of Kurkure Sizzlin’ Hot, PepsiCo India category lead – Kurkure Aastha Bhasin said, “The launch of Kurkure Sizzlin’ Hot is a testament to our commitment to constantly innovate and provide Indian consumers with the most flavourful snacking experiences. As a brand that celebrates the use of spices, our latest offering is an ode to the extreme teekha lovers of India. The all-new Kurkure Sizzlin’ Hot really packs in a punch and offers everything the Indian consumer craves for. Get ready for an ultimate ‘teekha’ experience that brings a sensational hit of chilli with Kurkure’s chatpata crunch!”
Kurkure Sizzlin’ Hot is now available at Rs 10 and Rs 20 across all leading retail and e-commerce platforms in India, with Rs 5 packs available in select regions. The launch will be followed by a TVC and a robust 360-degree surround campaign.
Brands
Google nears Nvidia in race for world’s most valuable company
Market cap gap narrows as Google hits $4.65 trillion, Nvidia at $4.86 trillion.
MUMBAI: In the AI gold rush, even the giants are sprinting and Google is suddenly gaining ground. Google is rapidly closing in on Nvidia in the race to become the world’s most valuable publicly listed company, with the gap between the two narrowing sharply amid diverging stock momentum. The tech giant’s market capitalisation has surged to around $4.65 trillion, following a more than 140 per cent rise in its share price over the past year.
That rally has added over $2.6 trillion in value in just 12 months, including nearly $900 billion since January alone. Its stock recently hovered at $381.80, slipping marginally by 0.04 per cent, but still reflecting strong upward momentum.
Nvidia, meanwhile, continues to hold the top spot with a valuation of approximately $4.86 trillion. The chipmaker crossed the $5 trillion milestone in October last year and peaked at $5.27 trillion on 27 April. However, its shares have largely plateaued over the past six months, rising just 0.2 per cent recently to $199.99.
The contrast in trajectories is striking. While Nvidia has seen relatively flat movement, Google has gained over 36 per cent in the same six-month period. Barron’s estimates suggest that if current trends hold, the valuation gap could shrink to as little as $190 million by the time Nvidia reports its first-quarter earnings on 20 May.
Daily momentum paints a similar picture. Nvidia recorded average daily gains of about 0.66 per cent last month, compared to Google’s stronger 1.42 per cent, an edge that could prove decisive in the short term.
Driving Google’s resurgence is its aggressive push into artificial intelligence across its ecosystem, from search and YouTube to cloud computing. The company has already invested $144 billion in capital expenditure over the past two years and plans to deploy a further $490 billion over the next two.
Its cloud division is also gathering pace. Google Cloud reported an order backlog of nearly $220 billion in the latest quarter, with total backlog touching a record $462 billion, around half of which is expected to be realised within two years. The company’s entry into chip sales is also beginning to factor into its growth narrative.
The last time Google briefly topped the S&P 500 by market value was in February 2016, when it edged past Apple for just two days. This time, the stakes and the numbers are far higher.
At the heart of the contest lies a single force: artificial intelligence. As both companies pour billions into infrastructure, chips and platforms, the leaderboard is no longer just about size, it is about who can scale the future faster.
