Brands
Milkmaid celebrates India’s sweet tradition with World Kheer Day
MUMBAI: Nestlé Milkmaid, a name synonymous with indulgent desserts, marked World Kheer Day on 30 November, celebrating the beloved dish that has been part of every Indian home for generations.
Kheer is a dessert that unites India, varying in recipes and ingredients across regions but always evoking warmth and nostalgia. From festivals to homecomings and everyday celebrations, it remains a symbol of togetherness. Milkmaid has helped keep this tradition alive, offering a quick and convenient way to enjoy the creamy classic.
Nestlé India head of dairy business Manav Sahni said, “World Kheer Day is our way of celebrating a dessert that connects generations across the country. Kheer is prepared differently in every region, but it carries the same warmth and nostalgia everywhere. With Milkmaid, we hope consumers can enjoy rich and creamy kheer that tastes amazing.”
Across India, kheer takes on many forms: the North savours rice kheer, fasting days see sabudana kheer, Eid brings the richness of sheer khurma, Maharashtra delights in sheviyanchi kheer, Bengal celebrates with payesh, Odisha serves traditional kheeri, and the South enjoys payasam, from semiya to palada. While names and ingredients change, the emotion remains the same, a shared sweetness that binds a nation.
Milkmaid, known for making desserts simple and delicious for over a century, encourages everyone to make their favourite kheer this World Kheer Day. Recipes and preparation ideas are available on the Milkmaid website, inviting families to recreate this timeless comfort dessert at home.
Brands
Rohini Laya Venkateswaran named executive director at Gillette India
P&G veteran with two decades of experience steps into leadership role
NEW DELHI: Rohini Laya Venkateswaran has been appointed executive director at Gillette India Pvt. Ltd., bringing with her more than two decades of experience across sales, strategy and brand leadership within the consumer goods sector. In her new role, she will help steer the company’s strategic direction and growth while strengthening its footprint in the grooming and personal care category.
Venkateswaran joins the board after a long career at Procter & Gamble, where she spent nearly 21 years shaping sales strategy, building brands and driving market expansion across India and international markets.
Most recently, she served as chief sales officer for India at P&G. Prior to that, she was vice president and country manager for east gulf markets, overseeing operations in Kuwait, Oman, Bahrain and Qatar while also guiding sales strategy across the Gulf region, including the UAE.
Earlier in her career, she led sales strategy and planning for India while serving as marketing leader for brands such as Olay and Old Spice. During this stint, she focused on reshaping go-to-market channels and building awareness through digital, social and influencer-led campaigns to drive growth.
Her journey at P&G also included roles such as director sales strategy and planning leader India, associate director modern retail and ecommerce, regional manager for Delhi and Rajasthan, and several key account and trade marketing roles across the country. She also spent time in the United States working on the P&G Walmart international team, collaborating on global retail initiatives.
Venkateswaran holds an MBA in marketing from SP Jain Institute of Management and Research and a bachelor’s degree in mechanical engineering from RV College of Engineering.
With her mix of sales acumen, brand-building experience and global exposure, Venkateswaran’s appointment signals a sharpened focus on growth and market leadership for Gillette India.
