NEW YORK (Reuters) – McDonald’s on Tuesday announced the temporary closure of its 847 restaurants in Russia, adding to the list of Western companies that have decided to suspend operations in the country due to Moscow’s invasion of Ukraine. .
This decision by the fast food giant could encourage other multinationals to follow suit, as many of them, including Pepsi, are urged to halt their operations in Russia.
It is a strong symbol, the first McDonald’s restaurant opened in Russia, in the center of Moscow in 1990, having become a beacon of flourishing American capitalism after the fall of the Soviet Union.
The group said it would continue to pay salaries to its 62,000 employees in Russia.
In a note emailed to all McDonald’s employees around the world and posted on the group’s website, the chief executive said it was “impossible to predict” a potential reopening date for Russian restaurants.
“We are facing disruptions in our supply chain as well as other operational impacts,” said Chris Kempczinski. “We will also closely monitor the humanitarian situation.”
McDonald’s owns 84% of its restaurants in Russia, the others being mostly franchises controlled by the Moscovite group Rosinter Restaurants Holding.
(Report Hilary Russ New York, Uday Sampath Bangalore; French version Jean Terzian)
by Hilary Russ