Kurkure

Kurkure is an Indian brand of spiced crunchy puffcorn snacks made up of rice, lentil and corn. It is owned by PepsiCo through its subsidiary Frito-Lay. It was launched in India in 1999[1][2] and nine years later, it was launched in Pakistan in 2008. The snack is manufactured in India and in Pakistan, and has limited availability in certain international markets such as Canada and the United Kingdom.[3][4][5][6] The word Kurkure means "crunchy" in Hindi and Urdu languages.

In India, it is manufactured in Sangrur, Pune, Howrah, Sonipat, Ranga Reddy, Vaishali and Kamrup and in Pakistan, it is manufactured in Gulberg, Lahore.

Ingredients

Kurkure is made from rice meal, edible vegetable oil[7] (gingelly oil), corn meal, gram meal, spices (such as turmeric), condiments, salt, sugar, tartaric, and E631. Kurkure is not completely vegan as the PepsiCo India website in a pdf listing the ingredients show milk solids as one of the ingredients.

It contains natural, nature-identical, and artificial flavoring substances.[8]

Flavors

India

Currently available flavors

  • Masala Munch
  • Green Chutney Style
  • Chilli Chatka
  • Schezwan Chutney
  • Solid Masti
  • Jowar Puffs
  • Pastax
  • PuffCorns (Yummy Cheese)

Discontinued flavors

  • Hyderabadi Hungama
  • Tamatar Hyderabadi Style
  • Malabar Masala Style
  • Masala Twists (Solid Masti)
  • Chatpata Cheese
  • Desi Beats
  • Naughty Tomato
  • Angry Tomato
  • Xtreme Electric Nimbu
  • Xtreme Risky Chilli
  • Monster Paws
  • Zig Zag
  • Corn Cups
  • Monster Smilees
  • Monster Paws
  • Butter Masti
  • Kurkure triangles
  • Khatta meetha
  • Sizzling hot
  • Multigrain
  • Chaat fills
  • Gazab Golmaal
  • Herapheri Hungama

Currently available flavors

  • Masala Munch
  • Green Chutney Style
  • Chilli Chatka
  • Schezwan Chutney
  • Solid Masti
  • Jowar Puffs
  • Pastax
  • PuffCorns (Yummy Cheese)

Discontinued flavors

  • Hyderabadi Hungama
  • Tamatar Hyderabadi Style
  • Malabar Masala Style
  • Masala Twists (Solid Masti)
  • Chatpata Cheese
  • Desi Beats
  • Naughty Tomato
  • Angry Tomato
  • Xtreme Electric Nimbu
  • Xtreme Risky Chilli
  • Monster Paws
  • Zig Zag
  • Corn Cups
  • Monster Smilees
  • Monster Paws
  • Butter Masti
  • Kurkure triangles
  • Khatta meetha
  • Sizzling hot
  • Multigrain
  • Chaat fills
  • Gazab Golmaal
  • Herapheri Hungama

Pakistan

  • Chutney Chaska
  • Red Chilli Jhatka
  • Toofaani mirch

Launching

Kurkure was originated in India in 1999; in 2001 Indian television actresses Mandira Bedi and Pooja Ghai appeared in few commercials of Kurkure and served for the new brand .[9] In 2004, Indian Hindi film actress Juhi Chawla was featured in advertisements for Kurkure.[10] and from 2008 Kareena Kapoor was endorsing a new range (Kurkure Desi beats) under the main brand.[11] Kurkure was launched in Tamil Media in 2008 with actress Simran as its brand ambassador.[12] In 2012, Parineeti Chopra, Kunal Kapoor, Boman Irani, Ramya Krishnan, and Farida Jalal, started to advertise Kurkure.[13] In 2019 Samantha Ruth Prabhu and Taapsee Pannu acted in Hindi, Tamil and Telugu commercials of Kurkure.[14][15] In 2021 and 2022 Akshay Kumar appeared in Kurkure commercials along with Kritika Kamra and Samantha Ruth Prabhu.[16][17] In 2024, actress Sara Ali Khan acted in Kurkure's Hindi commercial.[18]

Kurkure was launched in Pakistan in 2008.[19] Actresses Ayesha Omer, Hania Amir and Iqra Aziz have all been featured in television commercials for Kurkure in the country.[20][21]

In November 2006, Frito-Lay announced plans to release Kurkure to American markets in 2007.[22] This decision was made after analysts showed increasing interest in Indian spices in the region.[23] Kurkure was subsequently introduced in other markets with a significant non-resident Indian population such as the UK.[24] As of 2010, Kurkure is available in Eastern Canada.[25] As of 2013, Kurkure is available in Western Canada.

  • (India)
  • (Pakistan)

References

  1. PepsiCo India - Kurkure pepsicoindia.co.in, retrieved 2012-01-09^
  2. How PepsiCo's Kurkure managed to grab and retain snack market share 19 July 2014, retrieved 2022-02-09^
  3. Ratna Bhushan. Kurkure set to cross LoC Articles.economictimes.indiatimes.com, 2007-09-07, retrieved 2012-07-23^
  4. Kurkure goes to UK Rediff.com, 2004-12-31, retrieved 2012-07-23^
  5. PepsiCo aims to double Kurkure sales in next 5 years moneycontrol.com, 4 April 2018, retrieved 11 July 2018^
  6. Kurkure snack brand to launch in the UK Convenience Store, 2021-08-26, retrieved 2022-03-26^
  7. Kurkure Business In India – Spicing Up The Market aatmnirbharsena.org, 5 Nov 2020, retrieved 7 November 2020^
  8. Product Information PepsiCo India, retrieved 2023-01-04^
  9. kurkure brand with a new logo and multi-coloured packaging with new punchline kha ke mast, taking a step ahead from control nahi hota timesofindia.indiatimes.com, 9 December 2001^
  10. Hetal Adesara. Kurkure's new ad with Juhi Chawla rides on Tulsi bahu's success indiantelevision.com, 31 May 2004, retrieved 23 July 2012^
  11. Kareena Kapoor endorses Kurkure Desi beats bollywoodhungama.com/, 28 November 2008^
  12. Cine Idol Simran appointed as the first brand ambassador for Kurkure in South India. PepsiCo India. June 4, 2008. Retrieved on 2012-01-01.^
  13. Kurkure launches the all-new 'Tedha Hai Par Mera Hai' Family PepsiCo India, retrieved 2015-03-03^
  14. The Evolution of Kurkure: From Control Nahi Hota to Khayal toh Chatpata Hai adageindia.in, May 30, 2019, retrieved June 24, 2019^
  15. Snack brand Kurkure has roped in leading Bollywood actress Taapsee Pannu as its brand ambassador exchange4media.com, 15 February 2019^
  16. The TVC film featuring Kurkure's brand ambassador, Akshay Kumar and Kritika Kamra brandequity.economictimes.indiatimes.com, 20 April 2021^
  17. Akshay Kumar and Samantha Ruth Prabhu add a quirky twist in Kurkure's new ad brandequity.economictimes.indiatimes.com, 11 January 2022^
  18. Kurkure's campaign #ChatpateSeSabPatein normalises work-life balance with Sara Ali Khan afaqs.com, 19 February 2024, retrieved 13 March 2024^
  19. Our Brands: Kurkure pepsico.com.pk^
  20. Mehwish Bangush. 10 Pakistani Actresses Who Started Off with Modelling thecinemapost.com, May 13, 2017, retrieved July 11, 2018^
  21. Anusha Sachwani. Kurkure's Latest TVC Featuring Iqra Aziz & Ahmed Ali Akber Makes us Miss Our College Days! brandsynario.com, 2 October 2019, retrieved 14 November 2019^
  22. Frito-Lay to launch Kurkure in US fnbnews.com, 4 November 2006, retrieved 23 July 2012^
  23. Kurkure Masala Munch 5 Oz by PepsiCo^
  24. Pepsi India to expand portfolio, foray into breakfast segment — $300–500 m investment planned Business Line, 30 March 2005, retrieved 23 July 2012^
  25. Pepsi markets goes Global PepsiCo India, retrieved 2015-03-06^