MAM
Are cold-pressed oils a better choice in Indian households?
In recent years, cold-pressed oils have been gaining traction in Indian kitchens, and for good reason. With a rich culinary heritage rooted in using natural ingredients, the shift to cold-pressed oils feels like a step back to tradition—one that many believe could have lasting benefits for both wellness and flavour.
Unlike refined oils, cold-pressed oils are extracted through a process that doesn’t involve heat or chemicals. This allows them to retain most of their natural nutrients, including essential fatty acids, vitamins, and antioxidants. For households that are becoming more health-conscious, using cold-pressed oils might be a simple way to enhance everyday meals without compromising on flavour.
Traditional oils like sesame, mustard, sunflower, coconut, or groundnut, when cold-pressed, can bring out the authentic taste of regional dishes. For households that value both taste and tradition, cold-pressed oils provide an opportunity to rediscover age-old cooking methods.
Furthermore, the minimal processing involved may resonate with those who are conscious about the quality and source of their food.
While refined oils are typically chosen for their extended shelf life and affordability, the growing preference for cold-pressed alternatives indicates a subtle shift towards more natural, less processed options. As awareness around nutrition and wellness continues to evolve, more families are exploring how cold-pressed oils can fit into their everyday cooking.
In a world where wellness and tradition can intersect, cold-pressed oils offer a bridge between the two. For Indian households looking to prioritise wellness without sacrificing flavour, shifting to cold-pressed oils could be a worthwhile decision.
The article has been authored by Tata Simply Better nutrition advisor Sakshi Lalwani.
AD Agencies
Abhay Duggal joins JioStar as director of Hindi GEC ad sales
The streaming giant brings in a seasoned revenue hand as the battle for Hindi television advertising heats up
MUMBAI: Abhay Duggal has a new desk, and JioStar has a new weapon. The media and entertainment veteran has joined JioStar as director of entertainment ad sales for Hindi general entertainment channels, adding 17 years of hard-won revenue experience to one of India’s most powerful broadcasting operations.
Duggal is no stranger to big portfolios or bruising markets. Before joining JioStar, he spent a brief stint at Republic World as deputy general manager and north regional head for ad sales. Before that, he put in three years at Enterr10 Television, where he ran the north region for Dangal TV and Dangal 2, two of India’s leading free-to-air Hindi channels. The north alone accounted for more than 50 per cent of total channel revenue on his watch, a number that tends to get attention in any sales meeting.
His longest stint was at Zee Entertainment Enterprises, where he spent over six years rising to associate director of sales. There he commanded the Hindi movies cluster across seven channels, owned more than half of north India’s revenue across flagship properties including Zee TV and &TV, and closed marquee sponsorships across the Indian Premier League, Zee Rishtey Awards and Dance India Dance. He also handled monetisation for the English movies and entertainment cluster and the global news channel WION, a portfolio that would stretch most sales teams twice his size.
Earlier in his career Duggal closed what was then a Rs 3 crore single deal at Reliance Broadcast Network, one of the largest in Indian radio at the time, before that he helped launch and monetise JAINHITS, India’s first HITS-based cable and satellite platform.
His edge, by his own account, lies in marrying data and instinct: translating audience trends, inventory signals and client demands into long-term partnerships built on cost-per-rating-point discipline rather than short-term deal chasing. In a media landscape being reshaped by streaming, fragmented attention and AI-driven advertising, that kind of rigour is increasingly rare and increasingly valuable.
JioStar, which blends the scale of Reliance’s Jio platform with the content firepower of Star, is doubling down on its advertising business at precisely the moment the Hindi GEC market is getting more competitive. Bringing in someone who has spent nearly two decades doing exactly this, across some of India’s most watched channels, is a pointed statement of intent. Duggal has spent his career turning audiences into revenue. JioStar is clearly betting he can do it again, and bigger.
