The CFA was honoured to present the Smoke’s Poutinerie team with Ryan Smolkin’s Lifetime Achievement Award at the 2024 CFA Awards Gala. Here, we look back on his aspirational achievements and the lasting effect he’s had on the franchise industry.
The phrase “once in a lifetime” is one that can admittedly be overused. Every day, every minute, every second is unique, and once it’s gone, it’s truly gone. When adopting that mindset, every moment can be considered extraordinary.
Ryan Smolkin is a person who represented that dichotomy of the fleeting, ethereal nature of time and the enduring impact that one can have long after they’re gone. His life and career represent this appreciation for the ‘now’ perfectly, while the lasting effect he created within the franchise industry, both here and abroad, is truly once in a lifetime: a testament to the power of branding, a well-thought-out franchise system, and the belief that every moment is, and should be, momentous.
If you met Ryan and had the opportunity to be in his presence, you wouldn’t forget him,” says Mark Cunningham, president and COO of Smoke’s Poutinerie, and a coworker and friend of Ryan’s for more than a decade. “He would be kind of loud, and all branded out, and he would really engage with anyone he met.”
As the founder of Smoke’s Poutinerie—who championed the hearty fry-based snack and elevated it to a gourmet meal—Ryan made the act of serving poutine into a well-branded art, creating an iconic red-and-black motif and memorable icon that has captured the attention of lovers of the quintessential Canadian dish, near and far. And his gregarious nature certainly garnered attention, wherever he and his team went. After all, the Smoke’s Poutinerie team doesn’t call their customers “fans” for no reason.
“The foodservice industry in Canada is big, yet small,” Mark points out. “In about a 12-to-18-month span, other founders, CEOs, and new brands were able to meet him and get to know him very well.”
Not only was he a commanding presence on tradeshow floors and in boardrooms, but Ryan held a natural confidence that leant well to the social media scene that was growing alongside his brand. Mark notes that he was a talented communicator, gifted in a way that transcended mediums and generations—the ideal approach for a franchised brand.
“I think he enjoyed the role that he played, and I wouldn’t even call it a character—everything you’ve heard and seen about Ryan is him, his personality,” says Mark. “He was an easy person to like—friendly, approachable, always high-energy.”
It’s well known that Ryan’s goal for Smoke’s Poutinerie was “Global Domination,” a target that he proudly proclaimed to anyone who would listen. And Mark, along with the rest of the Smoke’s Poutinerie crew, rallied behind his objective via the company’s expansion into new and exciting markets through the franchising model.
“He was very supportive of the franchise community, whether for foodservice or for any other franchising opportunities,” recalls Mark. “He saw the need [for] support from other members [of the industry], being able to give their time and support to initiatives.”
It was this hands-on approach to franchisees and the industry at large that allowed the brand to blossom and flourish, with Ryan guiding the recruitment, training, and location launches from behind the scenes. A true leader in this regard, he had experienced the power that their brand yielded, and wanted to bring it to the masses. Experimenting with different franchise models, including non-traditional channels like on-the-go trucks and locations in airports and on post-secondary campuses, also pushed forward the narrative that poutine is for everyone, wherever they may be.
Of course, “Global Domination” wasn’t the only passion that occupied Ryan’s time. Charitable endeavours took up a considerable amount of his energy, especially those with We Care, where he served on the board of directors, beginning in 2018. As was his M.O., Ryan and his team supported We Care in unique and memorable ways. Smoke’s Poutinerie World Poutine Eating Championship was the company’s crowning glory, and since its launch in 2010, the event has become a landmark event for competitive eaters and has raised hundreds of thousands of dollars for We Care to send children with disabilities to camp. (The 2024 edition will be held on August 10 at Younge-Dundas Square in Toronto, a conspicuous venue that will undoubtedly help garner even more money for the cause.) In the past, this Major League Eating-sanctioned competition has been embraced by the world’s top professional eaters, including Joey Chestnut and Miki Sudo, and has inspired C-suite executives to support the cause through the CEO Poutine Eating Challenge, held during the championships. Today, the event is one of the largest eating competitions worldwide, second only to Nathan’s Famous International Hot Dog Eating Contest, and it owns the title of the largest poutine eating competition in the world.
Mark knows better than anyone the hole that Ryan’s absence has left in the hearts of his team, and the company’s fans around the world. But, as with any legend, Ryan’s actions and infectious approach to business and life will forever pave the way for the Smoke’s Poutinerie brand and its passionate network of franchisees.
“We wanted [our franchisees] to be a part of everything that we were building, whether that was playing the air guitar in the restaurant or being able to tell our brand story,” explains Mark. “Ryan’s energy and passion for the brand, [other franchisors are] able to build that into their own business model, whether in Kelowna, Saskatoon, or St. John’s.”
But there’s a bigger impact that Mark hopes Ryan’s example will have on the industry: simply loving what one does and being grateful for the opportunities that come one’s way. When reflecting on the Lifetime Achievement award he helped accept on Ryan’s behalf in Montreal earlier this year, Mark knows he would have had a blast amongst his industry friends.
“Ryan for sure did not have an ego,” he says. “But he liked the limelight. He would have been front and centre on that stage, very proud of what he and the team has accomplished.”
Learn more about franchising with Smoke’s Poutinerie
