SmartQ

01/04/2026

After seven months of learning, growth, and a fair share of challenges, the ImpactX program has come to an end. It’s been a meaningful collaboration with Laureate Global, built around creating a space for people to grow as leaders and strengthen their leadership journeys.

To mark this milestone, we came together for the ImpactX graduation ceremony, a moment to pause, reflect, and celebrate the journey. Orchestrated by our product trainers, Kirti and Priya, the ceremony brought to light the resilience, curiosity, and leadership mindset every participant showed along the way.
More than just a closing chapter, it was a reminder of everything that’s been built and everything that lies ahead. As participants take these learnings forward, we’re excited to see them translate into stronger leadership and real impact.

It’s not an ending - just a moment to appreciate how far everyone has come.

30/03/2026

SmartQ wins Best Humorous & Playful Design at the ET Design & Creativity Awards. Here's what earned it.

A year ago we were hustling to solve a problem, Only small portion of our users were sharing food feedback, which was not actionable. When we dug into why, the answer was something deep: food is an emotion. People talk about how they feel about food to other people, they don't always write about it naturally.

That led us to building Voice Feedback, a feature that lets users speak their heart out instead of typing their unreal response. Real inputs, not empty ratings. "Paneer felt good, could be more cooked." The kind of feedback that's actually usable.

To drive adoption, we didn't want to do yet another flat communication we wanted to cut the clutter. So we made a rap song. AI-generated music paired with lyrics built around specificity not "good" or "bad," but something actionable. Usable. And wrapped in something bold enough to stop someone mid-scroll on a busy workday.

Because if people are more expressive when they speak, the least we could do was make that experience worth showing up for. Participation climbed to 9–10% within 1st week, crossing industry benchmarks and the rap did exactly what it was designed to do.

That's the video that's now standing on this stage.

To the team behind the screens, the ones blending technology, behaviour insights, and creativity to make workplace dining feel more human this one's yours.

27/03/2026

Talent EDGE: A Doorway to Scalable Leadership Growth 🚪✨
Talent EDGE brought leaders from across regions into one room for the first time, creating a shared starting point for aligned leadership and stronger team impact. Built as a first-of-its-kind initiative, the intent was clear: bring everyone to a common leadership baseline and shape a “One Company” approach to growth. 🤝

Driven by Mekhala, under the guidance of Navneeth and Krishna, and supported by Namrata, the program was built entirely in-house and shaped around real business needs. As the idea evolved, leadership stepped in with their time, perspective, and encouragement, working closely with the team to strengthen the framework and support the journey from concept to delivery. 🌱

What emerged was more than a successful intervention. Talent EDGE became a doorway, opening possibilities for shared learning, deeper collaboration, and leadership growth that can scale across regions. A wholehearted appreciation to the team who shaped this from the ground up, and to the leadership who stood beside them. This is just the beginning we look forward to many more such moments that continue to build, connect, and grow together. 🚀

27/03/2026

𝗧𝗮𝗹𝗲𝗻𝘁 𝗘𝗗𝗚𝗘: 𝗔 𝗗𝗼𝗼𝗿𝘄𝗮𝘆 𝘁𝗼 𝗦𝗰𝗮𝗹𝗮𝗯𝗹𝗲 𝗟𝗲𝗮𝗱𝗲𝗿𝘀𝗵𝗶𝗽 𝗚𝗿𝗼𝘄𝘁𝗵 🚪✨
Talent EDGE brought leaders from across regions into one room for the first time, creating a shared starting point for aligned leadership and stronger team impact. Built as a first-of-its-kind initiative, the intent was clear: bring everyone to a common leadership baseline and shape a “One Company” approach to growth. 🤝

Driven by Mekhala, under the guidance of Navneeth and Krishna, and supported by Namrata, the program was built entirely in-house and shaped around real business needs. As the idea evolved, leadership stepped in with their time, perspective, and encouragement, working closely with the team to strengthen the framework and support the journey from concept to delivery. 🌱

What emerged was more than a successful intervention. Talent EDGE became a doorway, opening possibilities for shared learning, deeper collaboration, and leadership growth that can scale across regions. A wholehearted appreciation to the team who shaped this from the ground up, and to the leadership who stood beside them. This is just the beginning we look forward to many more such moments that continue to build, connect, and grow together. 🚀

23/03/2026

The marketing team is here, ideas are flowing, and conversations are buzzing. But there’s 𝗼𝗻𝗲 𝘀𝗲𝗮𝘁 𝗮𝘁 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝘁𝗮𝗯𝗹𝗲 𝘁𝗵𝗮𝘁’𝘀 𝘀𝘁𝗶𝗹𝗹 𝗲𝗺𝗽𝘁𝘆. 👀

We’re saving it for someone who can turn great content into real impact, someone who can refresh our website, craft thoughtful lifecycle messages, and create clear, friendly content that connects with B2B audiences. ✍️

In this role, you’ll shape how people discover and engage with us. From building audience-first content and improving conversions across the funnel to experimenting with new channels and working closely with sales, design, and campaign teams your ideas will help turn curiosity into real leads. 🚀

If you have 4–5 years of B2B growth and content experience, love writing content that performs, and enjoy testing new ideas, this seat might be yours.

🪑 Take the empty chair. Apply through the link in the comments.
Your next big move might just start here. ✨

20/03/2026

Rethinking Kitchen Energy: Beyond the LPG Crisis

Ongoing geopolitical tensions and global supply disruptions are now hitting closer to home impacting commercial LPG availability across India. What this means on the ground is simple: delayed deliveries, partial allocations, and growing uncertainty for food businesses, cafeteria operators, and kitchen teams.

In several locations, this has already translated into 50–70% supply gaps, along with sharp price fluctuations. The result? Kitchens are adjusting menus, reworking operations, and finding ways to keep service running without compromising on quality or timelines.

Across the industry, there’s a clear shift underway. Teams are exploring PNG, electric cooking, biomass, and other alternatives to reduce dependency and build more stable operations. Each option comes with trade-offs, but the intent is consistent keep serving, no matter what.

At SmartQ, we’re leaning into this moment with action. We’re breaking down the alternatives what works, what doesn’t, and what to avoid based on real operational scenarios.

Because this isn’t just about managing a shortage.
It’s about building more resilient kitchens for what comes next.

19/03/2026

Talent EDGE: Building Stronger Leaders at SmartQ

For two days, 55 leaders from across SmartQ stepped into a different kind of work environment one where the focus wasn’t on operations, but leadership itself. The Talent EDGE Leadership Workshop brought together KAMs, Sr. KAMs, AVPs, and State Heads for a first-of-its-kind intervention where leaders across levels travelled to learn, reflect, and grow together.

This wasn’t a typical workshop. The room was active filled with conversations, debates, and real scenarios pulled from everyday work. Facilitated by Navneeth Sulakhe, Mekhala Chatterjee, and Namrata KP, the sessions were designed to be hands-on. Leaders worked through challenges, shared decisions they’ve had to make on the ground, and reflected on what worked and what didn’t.

At the core of the workshop were the four pillars of Talent EDGE-Empathy, Direction, Grit, and Excellence. But instead of theory, these showed up through lived experiences. Leaders spoke about handling tough client conversations, making calls that impact P&L, and navigating team dynamics in high-pressure situations.

What stood out most was the shift in how people connected. Leaders who usually interact over calls or dashboards were now exchanging real stories, learning from each other’s regions, and understanding different ways of solving the same problem. It built a stronger sense of alignment on what SmartQ expects from its leaders and how that shows up in day-to-day decisions.

Supported end-to-end by the Admin Team, the experience came together seamlessly. But more than the setup, what stayed with everyone was the intent behind it .

Talent EDGE is a clear step forward investing in people, strengthening leadership thinking, and building a culture where ownership, clarity, and collaboration are not taught, but practiced every day.

18/03/2026

13/03/2026

Celebrating Women Who Inspire, Lead, and Empower

At SmartQ, International Women’s Day is an opportunity to pause and recognise the strength, resilience, and leadership women bring to our workplaces every day. This year, the celebration unfolded across our locations in meaningful ways through thoughtful gestures, shared appreciation, and moments that brought colleagues together to honour the spirit of the day.

Pan India
Across SmartQ locations pan India, the celebrations came alive in our cafeterias with a simple yet heartfelt initiative. At popup counters, employees could pick up Women’s Day appreciation stickers and share them with the women around them. Many paired these messages with flowers, cakes, and special treats, turning everyday breaks into warm moments of recognition. The activity reached thousands of women across India, leaving behind smiles, conversations, and a lasting reminder that appreciation, even in small gestures, can make a meaningful impact.

At our Corporate Office
The celebration continued with special warmth at our Bangalore Corporate Office, where the theme “Give to Gain” set the tone for the day. As employees walked into the office, they were greeted by decorated mirrors carrying the message “Confidence Looks Good on You,” inviting everyone to start the day with positivity and self-belief. Colleagues dressed in white and purple, colours symbolizing unity, dignity, and strength, bringing the spirit of the celebration alive across the workspace. Empowering affirmation cards were also shared, encouraging confidence, resilience, and ambition.

Together, these moments turned the day into more than just a celebration. They reflected SmartQ’s commitment to building a workplace where appreciation is shared, voices are valued, and women are encouraged to grow, lead, and inspire every single day.

12/03/2026

Colour Carnival: A Celebration of Colour, Creativity & Community

Last week, when we celebrated Colour Carnival across 100 SmartQ locations, it was more than just a splash of colour, it was a full sensory celebration for employees.

Décor
Vibrant, colourful décor transformed familiar cafeterias into lively carnival spaces, instantly setting the tone for celebration and togetherness.

Festive Food
Festive specials like OG Gujiya with a twist and refreshing Thandai added a cool sweetness to the experience, bringing the flavours of the festival to every break.

Community Canvas
At the heart of the celebration was the Community Canvas, a line art doodle that employees coloured together. As more people joined in, the canvas slowly evolved into a vibrant masterpiece, with every stroke adding a unique touch.

DIY Coaster Colouring Activity
The DIY coaster colouring activity invited employees to pick a coaster of their choice, colour it in their own style, and take it back to their desks as a colourful keepsake.

06/03/2026

February closed on a high note as we welcomed leaders from Compass UK & I, Amy Homer, Andrew Bayliss, Erin Dunn-Morgan, Sanchita Sengupta, and Tony Summers, to our Bangalore office. The visit provided a valuable opportunity to reflect on our progress, discuss ongoing and upcoming priorities, and ensure we remain aligned as one team.

A mini town hall on the final day brought leadership and cross-functional teams together for a meaningful exchange. Business updates were shared, and questions were addressed openly, giving attendees deeper insight into our processes.

We are truly grateful for the time invested and the spirit of partnership that defined the visit. Moments like these strengthen not only our strategy but also our relationships, and that is what keeps us moving forward.