Mcdonald’s leaves Russia 30 years after historic arrival
MCDONALD’S is pulling out of Russia after more than 30 years of selling hamburgers in the country, taking a $1.4bn (£1.1bn) hit from the decision.
The fast food giant is seeking to sell its operations, including 850 restaurants with 62,000 employees.
It is one of the most high-profile retreats by a Western firm since Russia invaded Ukraine in February. Mcdonald’s temporarily halted its business in Russia in March but yesterday said it will permanently leave.
The company opened its first restaurant in Moscow in 1990, attracting queues of an estimated 30,000 people in Pushkin Square in what came to be seen as a defining moment for the triumph of capitalism after the Cold War. It said that holding on to its business in Russia was “no longer tenable, nor is it consistent with Mcdonald’s values” despite predicting an up to $1.4bn financial blow from pulling out.
It plans to offload its portfolio of restaurants to a local buyer and remove the Mcdonald’s golden arches, branding and menu, but will retain its trademark.
Chris Kempczinski, the chief executive, said the “dedication and loyalty to Mcdonald’s” of employees and hundreds of Russian suppliers made it a difficult decision to leave. “However, we have a commitment to our global community and must remain steadfast in our values,” he said in a statement, “and our commitment to our values means that we can no longer keep the arches shining there.”
He added: “Some might argue that providing access to food and continuing to employ tens of thousands of ordinary citizens is surely the right thing to do.
“But it is impossible to ignore the humanitarian crisis caused by the war in Ukraine. And it is impossible to imagine
‘The golden arches cannot represent the same hope and promise that led us to enter the market 32 years ago’
the golden arches representing the same hope and promise that led us to enter the Russian market 32 years ago.”
Mcdonald’s will continue to pay local staff until it finds a new owner.
♦ Renault is pulling out of Russia after 24 years selling its business and its stake in Avtovaz, the maker of Lada cars. The French carmaker agreed to hand over its 68pc share in Avtovaz to Nami, a state-owned car research body, while the City of Moscow will receive Renault Russia. The assets changed hands for a nominal sum reported to be one rouble.