Smoke’s Poutinerie founder and CEO Ryan Smolkin dead at 50
Published October 30, 2023 at 4:50 pm
Smoke’s Poutinerie Inc. says the founder of the fast-food chain has died.
The company attributed the Sunday death of 50-year-old Ryan Smolkin to unexpected complications from a recent surgery.
Smolkin started the Ajax-based brand in 2009, calling himself the company’s chief entertainment officer.
Under his leadership, Smoke’s locations cropped up all over Canada and the brand expanded into the U.S. By 2017 there were 150 locations across Canada but by last August that number had dropped to 49 due to increased competition from chains such as McDonalds.
Prior to Smoke’s, Smolkin owned a branding and design company that counted Nike, Maple Leaf Sports & Entertainment, Molson Breweries and Corus Entertainment as clients.
Smoke’s president and chief operating officer Mark Cunningham will take on Smolkin’s role.
