According to Forbes, Mcdonald's had 847 stores in Russia but a large majority of them are closed temporarily because of Russian invasion of the Ukraine.
When the 2022 Russian invasion of Ukraine began, McDonald's had over 800 restaurants across Russia, with a total of 62,000 employees and hundreds of suppliers. The company also had millions of daily customers.
After people on social media pressured McDonald's, the company said on March 8 that it would stop working in Russia for a while but it would continue to pay its employees there. The first store's opening was when iron curtains were crumbling and Russia was embracing the West, according to a reporter from the British Broadcasting Corporation.
According to Reuters, it also had symbolic importance, as it was seen as a symbol of flourishing American capitalism during the fall of the Soviet Union. Ronald McDonald House Charities was supposed to stay active in Russia. As of mid-March 2022, McDonald's Russia's restaurants remained open after the takeover of the former CFO Oleg Paroev.
It was reported on March 18 that McDonald's was unable to close some locations in airports or transit stations due to reasons such as inability to find suitable replacements.
On May 16, 2022, after temporarily closing its restaurants, the company decided to exit Russia entirely. On May 27, 2022, it was reported that McDonald's had sold its Russian stores to a local licensee, Alexander Govor. Two potential brand names were shown in patent filings, “Fun and Tasty” and “The Same One”. After the announcement, McDonald's branding was taken down and a new logo was put up.
The last 9 McDonald's restaurants will close in December 2022, at airports and train stations in Russia.
When did McDonald’s start in Russia?
McDonald's operated and franchised its restaurants in Russia from 1990 to 2022. After 14 years of planning and discussions, McDonald's Canada president George Cohon was finally given approval to open the first McDonald's in the Soviet Union in 1990. It was seen as a sign of ongoing economic and political reforms in the communist state when the American brand entered.
Following the dissolution of the Soviet Union in 1991, the company's operations in the country continued, and further expansion took place in the decades that followed. McDonald's was majority owned by corporations through its Russian operating companies, with the rest being owned by franchisees.
After being in Russia for over 32 years, the company stopped all operations in the country on 8 March. This happened after climbing criticism for not doing anything to stop the 2022 Russian invasion of Ukraine. The company joined the Western corporate boycott. The company decided to sell all of its restaurants in Russia, which were renamed as "Vkusno i tochka".
Where was the first McDonald’s in Russia?
The first McDonald’s opened in Moscow's Pushkin Square on January 31, 1990. At the time, McDonald's had opened for approximately 38,000 customers waiting in hours-long lines, breaking company records. The American chain was present in 21 locations by 1997.
FAQs
Q. When was McDonald’s founded?
A. McDonald’s was founded on May 15, 1940.
Q. When did McDonald’s start in Russia?
A. McDonald’s open their first restaurant in Russia on January 31, 1990.
Q. Where was the first McDonald’s in Russia?
A. The first McDonald’s opened in Moscow's Pushkin Square.
Q. Is McDonald’s still open in Russia?
A. Most McDonald’s outlets have been shut down although there are still 9 McDonald’s outlets that are present in transit locations around the country. However, these 9 outlets will shut down on the 1st of December 2022.
