Smoke's Poutinerie

Smoke's Poutinerie is a Canadian poutine restaurant franchise founded by Ryan Smolkin.[1] According to the company's website, its goal is to "bring the authentic Quebec classic to the rest of the World."[2]

Smoke's Poutinerie
IndustryRestaurants
Founded2008
FounderRyan Smolkin
HeadquartersAjax, Ontario, Canada[1]
Area served
Canada
ProductsPoutine
WebsiteSmokesPoutinerie.com

History

Ryan Smolkin, the founder of Smoke’s Poutinerie, worked alongside Toronto restaurant consultants The Fifteen Group when starting out, in order to gain experience in the restaurant industry. With the help of The Fifteen Group’s chef, the original gravy recipe was developed.[3]

In 2008, Smoke’s Poutinerie opened its first location in Toronto. It was the first poutine restaurant in the city.[4][5] Smolkin was inspired by Montreal restaurant La Banquise, which serves many different kinds of poutine. Smolkin frequents La Banquise whenever he visits Montreal.[3] Smolkin's marketing campaign focuses on "word of mouth and publicity stunts" instead of traditional advertising.[6]

In 2016, Smoke's Poutinerie had 76 restaurants in Canada and 5 in the USA. They planned to expand the company internationally and open 1,300 restaurants around the world by 2020. Smoke’s Poutinerie had already started on this expansion, having sold franchises to franchisees in the USA.[7] By 2017, the restaurant had some 150 locations across Canada and USA.[8] Smoke's opened its first location in the US, in Berkeley, California in 2014. That location closed in April 2018.[9][10][11] The four other USA locations have also closed.[12][13][14][15][16][17][18] According to their websites, as of August 20, 2022, there are currently 49 locations all in Canada.[19]

Poutine Eating Championship

The Annual Smoke’s Poutinerie World Poutine Eating Championship crowns a new champion each year, and in 2016 a world record was broken for poutine eating.[20] The event includes 3 levels of poutine eating including amateur, professional, and Destroyer.[21] Throughout the day Smoke’s Poutinerie provides free poutine all day from 10am-4pm, musical entertainment, games, prizes, and giveaways.[21]

In 2016, the event focused on raising money for the Friends of We Care charity and raised over $50,000 to send disabled children to camp.[21]

Competition

Smoke’s Poutinerie entered a competitive market. Most large Canadian restaurant chains already had a basic poutine item on their menu. Over the years including Poutini’s House of Poutine which opened its second location in Toronto 2015, and Poutineville which as of May 2019, has 6 restaurants in Quebec.[7]

Smoke's Poutinerie entered further competition has come from corporate businesses. McDonald's expanded its poutine product from being only in Quebec, Canada, to the entire country of Canada.[22] In 2012, Wendy’s added poutine to their menu as Canada’s national dish.[22] Since McDonald's and Wendy’s, more companies have added poutine to their menus including Burger King, A&W, KFC, Popeyes and New York Fries to name a few.[22]

See also

References
  1. "Smoke's Poutinerie contact page". Retrieved 2011-12-02.
  2. "Smoke's Poutinerie - About". smokespoutinerie.com. Retrieved 2016-05-01.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: url-status (link)
  3. Watson, Amie. "Poutine for the rest of Canada". www.montrealgazette.com. Retrieved 2017-03-12.
  4. "BlogTO.com report on Smoke's Poutinerie". Retrieved 2011-12-02.
  5. Jeha, Laura (June 18, 2017). "The history of poutine: How it became our most iconic dish". Maclean.
  6. "How Smoke's Poutinerie plans to become a global fast food giant". www.marketingmag.ca. Retrieved 2017-03-12.
  7. "Smoke's aims to take poutine dominance worldwide | Toronto Star". The Toronto Star. 8 July 2016. Retrieved 2017-03-12.
  8. Vlessing, Etan (7 September 2017). "Meet Ryan Smolkin, Toronto's King of Poutine". The Hollywood Reporter. Retrieved August 20, 2022.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: url-status (link)
  9. "Canada's Smoke's Poutinerie Makes Its U.S. Debut in Berkeley". San Francisco Eater. 8 December 2014.
  10. Guerero, Susana (November 7, 2019). "Berkeley's Smoke's Poutinerie, last of the chain in California, closes". SFGATE. San Francisco, California, USA. Retrieved August 20, 2022.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: url-status (link)
  11. Holmes, Mona (April 23, 2018). "Hollywood French Fry Spot Smoke's Poutinerie Falls Victim to The Cahuenga Curse". Los Angeles Eater. Retrieved August 20, 2022.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: url-status (link)
  12. Jones, Alexandra (June 4, 2018). "Philly Apparently Hates Poutine". Philadelphia. Retrieved August 21, 2022.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: url-status (link)
  13. "Smoke's Poutinerie". MenuPix. Retrieved August 20, 2022.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: url-status (link)
  14. Sullivan, Christopher (December 4, 2018). "Smoke's Poutinerie and The Beaver Trap Closes Its Doors After Short-Lived Operation". The Michigan Daily. Retrieved August 20, 2022.
  15. Reily, Laura (September 24, 2015). "Canadian poutine (or 'loaded fries,' if you're American) comes to Amalie Arena". Tampa Bay Times. Retrieved August 20, 2022.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: url-status (link)
  16. "Arena Dining". AMALIE Arena. Retrieved August 20, 2022.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: url-status (link)
  17. "Home - Glendale, Arizona - Smoke's Poutinerie Menu". sirved. Retrieved August 20, 2022.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: url-status (link)
  18. "Smoke's Poutinerie". Restaurant Guru. Retrieved August 20, 2022.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: url-status (link)
  19. "Smoke's Poutinerie Locator". Smoke's Poutinerie. Retrieved August 20, 2022.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: url-status (link)
  20. Ltd., Kostuch Media (2016-10-05). "World Record Shattered at Smoke's Poutinerie World Poutine Eating Championship". Foodservice and Hospitality Magazine. Retrieved 2017-03-12.
  21. "7th Annual Smoke's Poutinerie World Poutine Eating Championship | Yonge-Dundas Square". www.ydsquare.ca. Retrieved 2017-03-12.
  22. "How Smoke's Poutinerie plans to become Canada's global fast-food juggernaut". Canadian Business - Your Source For Business News. Retrieved 2017-03-12.
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