McDonald’s Set To Close Down All Their Outlets In Russia

The global fast-food chain McDonald's has announced that it is temporarily closing all 850 locations inside Russia, as the number rises of Western businesses that abandon Russia after its unprovoked invasion of neighboring Ukraine. This means that the fast-food chain restaurants would not be opened to sell in Russia as a result of its attack on Ukraine.

McDonald's Chief Executive Officer, CEO Chris Kempczinski, said in a statement that the conflict in Ukraine and the humanitarian crisis in Europe have caused unspeakable suffering to the innocent people of Ukraine. Furthermore, the Russian attack caused this conflict. He further stated that McDonald's has decided to close all their restaurants in Russia temporarily, and they would pause all their operations in the market.

Kempczinski, the Chief Executive Officer at McDonald's, also said the United State-based corporation continued to support its employees in Ukraine, including paying "full salaries" and contributing five million Dollars to an employee assistance fund. McDonald's has also temporarily closed 108 restaurants in Ukraine.

Unlike other big fast-food brands in Russia that are owned by franchisees — including KFC, Pizza Hut, Starbucks, and Burger King,  McDonald's owns 84 percent of its Russian locations.

Following this resolution by McDonald's, other brands have also decided to halt their production, operations, and sales in Russia. The burger giant said it will continue paying its 62,000 employees in Russia, "who have poured their heart and soul into our McDonald's brand."

Also, Yum Brands, the parent company of KFC and Pizza Hut, said on March Seventh that it was donating all of the profits from its one thousand and fifty restaurants in Russia to humanitarian efforts. It has also suspended new restaurant development in the country. This development shows that Yum Brands, the parent company of KFC and Pizza Hut, are displeased and not in a positive light with the attacks on Ukraine by the Russian Government.

To add to this, the company Starbucks also announced on March Eighth that it would pause all business activity in Russia, including shipments and cafe operations, by such acts these would affect the Russian economy and cause them to reconsider their attacks on Ukraine.

In addition to McDonald's, Yum Brands (KFC and Pizza Hut), and Starbucks' position to stop operations in Russia, Coca-Cola and PepsiCo also announced late on March Eighth that they would temporarily halt all business operations in Russia as the other companies have stopped.

In summary, Many corporations have ceased operations in the country to protest the Ukraine invasion. Among them is consumer-goods conglomerate Unilever, which on March 8 said it had suspended all imports and exports of its products into and out of Russia and that it will not invest any further capital into tge country, Russia.