Brands
More instant food products to come under the scanner
NEW DELHI: Even as the ban on Nestle’s Maggi continues and food safety authorities are examining other brands of noodles, pasta and macaroni, many more popular packaged snacks including various brands of chips and Kurkure are to be checked for their contents.
Meanwhile, while refusing to stay the 5 June order of the Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI) relating to Maggi, the Bombay High Court has questioned why the authorities have charged brand ambassadors.
While directing that Maggi will remain off the shelves till 30 June but no action to be taken against Nestle without giving 72 hours notice, the Court noted that many stores in the city had still not removed the product from their shelves. The Centre and FSSAI were asked to file their reply to Nestle’s petition within two weeks.
In Delhi, the FSSAI has collected 32 samples of popular brands of chips, Kurkure and baby food for testing and will pick more in the days to come. The report for this batch is expected in a week’s time, according to Delhi Food Safety commissioner K K Jindal.
Health supplements, energy drinks and imported packaged foods are already being tested.
Medical experts said metals like lead or toxins in food may not have any effect immediately, but can even affect the mind as the child grows older.
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.
