Brands
Slurrp Farm and KLAY cook up a tasty lesson in nutrition for preschoolers
MUMBAI: In a move set to shape the eating habits of India’s youngest minds, millet-based food brand Slurrp Farm has teamed up with early education giant KLAY for a first-of-its-kind initiative to blend food literacy into everyday preschool life.
With research showing that over 90 per cent of brain development happens before age five, the duo is tapping into this critical window — not just to build cognitive skills but to seed lifelong healthy eating behaviours.
Instead of heavy-handed lectures or guilt-ridden lunchbox policing, the collaboration uses play-based formats like stories, routines and sensory play to make children feel at home with good food. Think classroom prompts, singalong storybooks like Kiki and Her Singing, Dancing Food, and interactive nudges designed to make carrots and millet pancakes the new superheroes at snack time.
KLAY brings scale and trust as one of India’s largest preschool and daycare networks, while Slurrp Farm brings its zero-junk, clean-label food ethos to the table. Together, they’re hoping to spark joyful, pressure-free conversations about nutrition — long before unhealthy habits take root.
Commenting on this partnership, Wholsum Foods CMO, Parent company of Slurrp Farm and Mille, Ankit Kapoor shared, “Our mission has always been to change the way families think about food, starting with children. Not through fear or restriction, but through familiarity, joy, and everyday habits that stick. This partnership with KLAY allows us to take that mission into a space that shapes how children learn, explore, and make sense of the world. If we want to build a healthier food culture, we have to begin where it actually begins — in classrooms, conversations, and the small routines that form the foundation of lifelong choices.”
“At KLAY, our philosophy is centred around holistic development. This includes not just academic growth but also emotional wellbeing, physical health, and now – through this partnership – a conscious approach to food. We’re excited to see the ripple effects of this integration, from the classroom to the family dinner table.” said Klay Preschools and Daycare senior vice president – marketing, Shireen Sultana.
By integrating food learning into the rhythms of early education, the programme hopes to flip the script on mealtime struggles, replacing “eat your veggies” with “let’s play with our food.”
Brands
Abhinav Rastogi named global marketing director for YouTube Shopping
Google veteran to scale creator commerce and expand shopping across global markets
SINGAPORE: Abhinav Rastogi has stepped into a new role as global marketing director for YouTube Shopping, marking the latest chapter in a more than decade-long career at Google.
Rastogi, who took on the position in February and is based in Singapore, will lead global marketing for YouTube Shopping, a platform designed to connect creators, viewers and merchants in a single ecosystem. His remit includes expanding the service into new markets and strengthening its positioning as a growth channel for both creators and brands.
In a reflective note on the transition, Rastogi pointed to a simple but powerful idea driving the role. For years, creators have quietly built trust with audiences through consistent and authentic content, and that trust often shapes purchasing decisions. What is changing now, he said, is the infrastructure around that behaviour. YouTube Shopping aims to make it easier for viewers to discover and buy products recommended by creators they already follow.
The scale is already significant. More than half a million creators have joined the programme, with recent expansion into Japan through a partnership with Rakuten signalling further global ambitions.
Rastogi believes the future of shopping on YouTube will be driven by a blend of creators, content and communities. In his view, it is the human voice behind the screen, not just the product, that ultimately builds trust and drives discovery.
Prior to this role, he served as director of marketing, YouTube Asia Pacific, where he led regional marketing across creator engagement, brand building and reputation. During that time, he played a key role in launching and scaling YouTube Shopping across eight markets in the region.
Earlier stints at Google include group product marketing manager, consumer apps, overseeing growth for products such as Search, Maps and Assistant across India and Southeast Asia, and product marketing manager roles spanning consumer apps and YouTube, where he contributed to launches including YouTube Music, YouTube Originals and YouTube Shorts.
Rastogi began his career in consulting with Boston Consulting Group and A.T. Kearney, before moving into the technology sector. He is an alumnus of Indian Institute of Management Calcutta and Indian Institute of Technology Kanpur.
Alongside his corporate role, he is also an active angel investor, backing early-stage startups in consumer technology and electric mobility across India and Southeast Asia.
As he settles into the new role, Rastogi is betting on a future where every video can double up as a storefront, and where commerce feels less like a transaction and more like a recommendation from a trusted voice.
