Smoke’s Poutinerie: Growing the Rock’n’Roll Gravy Train with Foodbuy Canada

Few Canadian restaurant brands embrace entertainment quite like Smoke’s Poutinerie. Known for its 80s glam-rock vibe, lumberjack plaid, and mouthwatering poutine concoctions, the brand has become a staple across Canada—and is continuing to set sights on global domination.

“We put everything through the brand filter,” says Mark Cunningham, President and Chief Operating Officer of Smoke’s Poutinerie. “Our fans—what we call our customers—expect the full rock’n’roll gravy train experience, from the menu to the music videos playing in our restaurants.”

Innovation That Resonates with Fans

Smoke’s Poutinerie is constantly balancing consistency with creativity. With more than 40 poutine variations on the menu, limited-time offers, seasonal dishes and locally inspired specials play a big role in keeping fans engaged. From butter chicken poutine to pulled pork poutine to holiday poutine loaded with roasted turkey, homemade stuffing, green peas, and cranberry sauce.

The Smoke’s Poutinerie vision is: DOMINATION by providing a Unique, Canadian, Food Experience that will Entertain the World! And the brand is doing exactly that, with recently launched, mind blowing new menu additions – Sandwiches, ¼ Pound Premium Dawgs, Dirty Fries and Sides!

“In arenas, universities, or stadiums, you might even see a poutine named after the home team,” Cunningham notes. “It keeps the menu fresh and exciting while still being true to who we are.”

Meeting Challenges Head-On

Scaling a Canadian classic globally comes with unique challenges—especially when core ingredients like PEI potatoes and Quebec cheese curds are non-negotiable. “We’ve shipped potatoes out of the Netherlands and cheese curds from Halifax to Dubai,” Cunningham explains. “Those four signature items—potatoes, cheese curds, gravy, and packaging—are the heart of our brand.”

This is where partnerships become essential. “Foodbuy helps us in areas where our volume may not be enough for direct relationships,” says Cunningham. “They support us with limited-time offers, introduce us to new manufacturers, and help us stay ahead of food trends.”

Looking Ahead: Growth at Home and Abroad

While international opportunities are on the horizon, Smoke’s Poutinerie sees plenty of room for growth in Canada. “Western Canada is a big focus for 2026, and there’s growing interest in Quebec to bring our unique take on poutine back to its roots,” Cunningham says. Beyond Canada, markets in the U.S., Europe, and South America are all in play.

No matter the location, one thing is clear: Smoke’s Poutinerie is determined to stay true to its identity while expanding its fan base. “We’re bringing poutine to the people,” Cunningham says. “And we’re not slowing down the gravy train anytime soon.”