Jim Cramer praised PepsiCo CEO Ramon Laguarta on CNBC, framing the company's strategic direction as winning through innovation rather than cost-cutting or volume plays. Cramer's commentary positions Laguarta as a growth-oriented operator at a time when consumer staples companies face mounting pressure from private-label competition and weakening discretionary spending. PepsiCo has been navigating a challenging environment for packaged food and beverage names, with volume softness and price-sensitive consumers forcing incumbents to justify premium positioning. Innovation-led growth, in this context, means new product development and brand extensions capable of sustaining pricing power without relying solely on list-price increases. For investors, Cramer's endorsement reflects a broader debate in the consumer staples sector over which companies can sustain organic revenue growth as input-cost tailwinds fade. PepsiCo's ability to convert product innovation into shelf velocity and margin defense will be the metric to watch. Laguarta's execution on that front carries direct implications for PEP's premium valuation relative to peers.
Flipkart will launch a food delivery pilot in Bengaluru by mid-August, charging restaurants a 10-11% commission compared to the 25-35% levied by Swiggy and Zomato. The move targets growing restaurant discontent with incumbent platforms and aims to drive daily engagement across Flipkart's 500 million registered users.
Maruti Suzuki crossed two lakh domestic units in July 2026 for the first time, recording 42.4% year-on-year growth. Total sales including exports and OEM supplies reached 2,41,421 units, with all passenger vehicle segments posting gains.
Air India's net loss more than doubled to ₹22,238 crore in FY26, prompting Tata Sons chairman N Chandrasekaran to extend the Vihaan.AI turnaround timeline from five years to as long as a decade.
UpGrad's all-stock acquisition of Unacademy, valued at Rs 1,955 crore, is set to close within three weeks after CCI clearance and near-complete investor sign-offs. The deal combines upGrad's upskilling business with Unacademy's test prep and medical education platforms, with Gaurav Munjal staying on as CEO.
