Coca Cola, McDonald’s and Starbucks, which are among the most iconic American brands in the world, announced the suspension of their operations in Russia, thus joining the dozens of companies that in previous days took similar measures.
Today’s announcements are especially significant, both for the volume of business and for the symbolic nature of brands that represent the “American way of life” like no other and whose arrival in Russia, in particular the case of McDonald’s in 1990, was became at the time an event of modernity in post-Soviet Russia.
The suspension of the business of these global franchises is an additional blow to Russia on the same day that the president of the United States, Joe Biden, announced the ban on imports of oil, natural gas and coal from Russia as punishment for the invasion of Ukraine .
Hundreds of stores, thousands of employees
The first to announce a “pause in all its businesses” in Russia was McDonald’s, a company that has 850 stores throughout the Russian territory and employs 62,000 people. The well-known hamburger franchise had been under pressure for several days and the call to join the retaliation against Russia multiplied on the networks.
McDonald’s announced that it is temporarily closing all its stores because it cannot “ignore the unnecessary suffering caused to Ukraine”, although it specified that all employees will continue to receive their salaries. The fast food chain has been operating in the country for 32 years.
Hours later, the Starbucks chain was added, which although it has more modest figures (170 stores, according to Statista, and 2,000 employees) is also another powerful symbol of capitalist globalization with its coffee shops that are usually always located in the busiest parts of the main cities. .
The company, which reiterated its condemnation “of the horrible Russian attacks in Ukraine”, announced that it is suspending all its activities on Russian territory and advanced that, as the situation evolves, it will continue to take measures that are in line with its “values”. .
Coca Cola, until now reluctant to give up the Russian market, followed suit and, in a brief statement, announced that it is suspending operations and will continue to evaluate the situation and the course of events.
“Our hearts go out to the people who are suffering the horrific effects of these tragic events in Ukraine,” the Atlanta-based company said. Georgia, in the United States.
Its great competitor, Pepsi Cola, could not stay on the sidelines and shortly after announced that it is suspending the sale of all its soft drinks (Pepsi and Seven Up, mainly) and products in Russia, although it does not close its plants because its business includes a dairy factory that employs 20,000 people and another 40,000 ranchers in the supply chain.
“We have been operating in Russia for more than 60 years and have a place in many Russian homes. Pepsi-Cola entered the market at the height of the Cold War and helped create common ground between the United States and the Soviet Union,” wrote his CEO, Ramon Laguarta, to emphasize what his decision means, although he acknowledged that the situation could not continue unchanged “given the horrible events” in Ukraine.
