Towards the end of the second week of the war in Ukraine, and the United States’ announcement that it would stop supplies from Russia, the American giants Coca-Cola, McDonald’s, Starbucks and PepsiCo also announced that they would cease operations and leave the country.
The big food chain has announced that it is closing its 850 branches in Russia, which has led to huge queues outside stores in an attempt to snatch one last meal before leaving. In a statement sent to employees and franchisees on Tuesday, McDonald’s CEO Chris Kempchinski wrote about the significant move, while at the same time making it clear that the company will continue to pay salaries to the 62,000 workers it employs in Russia.
The international coffee shop chain Starbucks has also changed direction in recent days and informed its partners that it will suspend all its operations in the 130 branches in Russia. The soft drink giant Coca-Cola also announced the cessation of operations in the country until the end of the war, saying: “Our hearts go out to the people suffering from the inconceivable effects of these tragic events in Ukraine.”
The giant American corporation PepsiCo, which has been operating in Russia for 60 years, announced at the same time as the other companies that it had decided to suspend sales of Pepsi’s beverage brand as well as the rest of its global beverage brands in the country, in light of the “difficult events in Ukraine.” In addition, PepsiCo has announced that it will stop funding commercials for the company in the near future in Russia. At the same time, the company has announced that it will continue to sell basic food products like milk and baby food compounds.