MAM
Milind Soman gets a healthy slice of fun in The Health Factory’s new film
MUMBAI: Even the fittest man in India can get schooled especially when it comes to bread. In its latest campaign, The Health Factory (THF), makers of India’s first zero maida and protein bread, ropes in fitness icon Milind Soman for a witty twist that puts health on the daily menu. The brand film flips the script with humour at its core: a bemused Milind finds himself playfully corrected by health-obsessed youngsters who introduce him to “the fittest bread in town.” The irony is deliberate positioning THF as the everyday essential that champions exactly what Milind embodies: authenticity, simplicity, and consistency in health.
The campaign is part of THF’s rebranding push under its philosophy All for Health. Health for All. With refreshed packaging, clean-label promises, and a sharper brand voice, THF wants to shift focus from being “just the zero maida bread brand” back to being a lifestyle choice for better eating.
“We wanted to bring the spotlight back to The Health Factory as the brand, not just the product,” said The Health Factory senior brand manager Meghraj Bangera, noting that Milind’s cross-generational appeal made him the perfect fit. The Health Factory CEO Vinay Maheshwari added, “Health shouldn’t be complicated, it’s about simple, right choices every day.”
For Milind, the fit was natural: “Bread is a staple in so many diets. Making it healthier without losing taste is such a powerful idea,” he said.
With a presence in 16 cities and retail, q-commerce, and e-commerce channels, THF has already entered over 2 million households across India. Now, with Milind in its corner and a playful slice of humour, the brand is hoping to make every bite count in its mission to turn bread into a symbol of cleaner eating.
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.
