McDonald’s, which owns 84% of the nearly 850 restaurants operating under its brand in Russia, said franchisees in that country will have the option to work under a new brand that will launch imminently.
The world’s largest hamburger chain said it has registered potential brand names for the company that will take over its fast-food restaurants there, including “Fun and Tasty” and “The Same One.” same).
McDonald’s said trademarks registered with the Russian agency Rospatent, from which it ultimately planned to choose a brand, also included “Just Like That.”
“There will be a new brand and we will offer our existing franchisees to join the new system on new business terms, which they can accept or reject,” TASS news agency quoted McDonald’s Russia General Director Oleg Paroev as saying on Friday. “It is in everyone’s interest to launch the new brand as soon as possible.”
The fast-food company is selling its restaurants in Russia to one of its local licensees, who will rebrand them, ending more than three decades of “Golden Arches” in the country. McDonald’s said it will retain its trademarks.
“The brand itself, under which (they) work, will have to change. They will not be able to work under McDonald’s,” Paroev said. “The rights to the brand are in the hands of the corporation.
McDonald’s restaurants in Russia will be sold to Alexander Govor, who runs a 25-restaurant franchise operation through his firm GiD LLC.
Paroev didn’t say what might happen to franchisees that don’t adopt the new brand, but his comments suggested McDonald’s Russia’s other big franchisee, Rosinter Restaurants, may have to rename its restaurants, cease operations or come up with a plan. alternative. Rosinter declined to comment.
