Big Smoke Burger
Company typeSubsidiary
IndustryRestaurants
FoundedNovember 2007; 16 years ago (2007-11) in Toronto
FounderMustafa Yusuf
Headquarters
Toronto
,
Canada
Number of locations
17
Areas served
North America,
the Middle East
Key people
Mustafa Yusuf
Products(hamburgers • chicken • lamb • salads)
ParentMTY Food Group
Websitebigsmokeburger.com

Big Smoke Burger is an international restaurant chain based in Canada.[1][2][3][4][5][6]

History

The Big Smoke Burger was founded by Mustafa Yusuf in November 2007,[1] originally under the name Craft Burger.[7] It rebranded to Big Smoke Burger in 2011 after Yusuf was unable to secure a trademark for the original name.[7] The new name was chosen as "Big Smoke" has been a noted nickname for the city of Toronto, which is where the company has its headquarters.[7][8]

In 2013, the company began to expand its reach into the Middle East and the United States.[1] As of October 2017, 19 locations were in operation worldwide.[9]

In June 2013, Big Smoke Burger opened their first location in the United States in Glendale, Colorado.[10] A second location was opened in New York City in July 2014.[11] The sale of burgers and poutine never caught on south of the St. Lawrence River and both locations were quietly closed by 2017 and the company has since left the United States.[citation needed]

MTY

In September 2015, MTY Food Group paid $3 million to acquire 60% of Big Smoke Burger. Big Smoke founder and president Mustafa Yusuf retained the remaining 40% of the company.[12][13]

At the time of the acquisition, Big Smoke Burger had a total of 17 locations. Of the 17 locations, 9 were located in Canada, 4 of which were corporately-owned. The remaining 8 locations were in the United States and the Middle East.[13]

After the sale, Yusuf remained with the company as Senior Vice President of Big Smoke Burger.[13]

See also

References

  1. ^ a b c Siddiqi, Maryam (February 27, 2014). "Big Smoke Burger expands to the Middle East". The Globe and Mail. Retrieved March 14, 2015.
  2. ^ "How a Canadian burger outlet made its way to the Middle East". Financial Post. March 31, 2014. Retrieved August 26, 2016.
  3. ^ Rubin, Josh (August 2, 2012). "Big Smoke Burger aims for Big Apple". Toronto Star. Retrieved August 26, 2016.
  4. ^ "Big Smoke Burger Announces Grand Reopening of Flagship". Foodservice and Hospitality magazine. February 6, 2015. Retrieved August 26, 2016.
  5. ^ Shea, Ryan (September 19, 2014). "Big Smoke Burger Review: Big Flavor, Big Taste". Manhattan Digest. Retrieved August 26, 2016.
  6. ^ Merwin, Hugh (July 26, 2012). "Toronto's Big Smoke Burger Opening Manhattan Flagship This Year". Grub Street. New York. Retrieved August 26, 2016.
  7. ^ a b c "Craft Burger is now Big Smoke Burger (a new location is in the works, too)". Post City. May 16, 2011.
  8. ^ "Big Smoke Burger: About Us". Big Smoke Burger. Retrieved March 14, 2015.
  9. ^ "Locations". Big Smoke Burger. June 20, 2014. Retrieved November 7, 2017.
  10. ^ Midson, Lori (June 28, 2013). "First look: Big Smoke Burger opens Monday in Glendale". Westword.
  11. ^ "Big Smoke Burger Arrives in Chelsea". LocalBozo. July 14, 2014.
  12. ^ "MTY enters into an agreement to acquire 60% of Big Smoke Burger". CNW Group (Press release). August 19, 2015.
  13. ^ a b c "MTY completes the acquisition of Big Smoke Burger". CNW Group (Press release). September 18, 2015.

Further reading

External links


MTY Food Group
Restaurants in Toronto
Categories