After boycott calls: McDonald's, Coca-Cola and Starbucks are now turning their backs on Russia

Created: 03/09/2022, 11:55 am

By: Lisa Mayerhofer

US food companies such as McDonald's and Coca-Cola are stopping their business in Russia.

© Jan Woitas/Zentralbild/dpa

US giants like McDonald's and Coca-Cola wanted to hold on to their Russian businesses despite the war in Ukraine.

After calls for a boycott, they are now giving in.

New York – Since the invasion of Ukraine*, many companies have stopped doing business in Russia – be it in protest or because of the sanctions.

Criticism of companies that did not do this has recently increased significantly.

There were calls for a boycott on the Internet, and investors also got involved.

The most affected were the famous and symbolic US companies Coca-Cola and McDonald's, which wanted to continue doing business in Russia.

Using the hashtags #BoycottMcDonalds and #BoycottCocaCola on the Twitter platform, both American and German users called for people to stop buying the company's products.

War in Ukraine: Coca-Cola and Co. withdraw from Russia after calls for a boycott

But then things suddenly happened very quickly: on Tuesday, the US corporations McDonald's, Starbucks and Coca-Cola announced that they would stop operations in Russia for the time being.

Pepsico also wants to severely limit its business.

Four major Western brands, some of which have also shaped Russia for decades, are signing off in one fell swoop.

McDonald's opened its first store in Moscow before the Iron Curtain finally fell and the Soviet Union collapsed.

Pepsi has been selling its products in Russia for more than 60 years and posts around four percent of its group-wide sales there.

The rival Coca-Cola is significantly lower one to two percent, but he also has a long tradition in Russia.

War in Ukraine: McDonald's closes its branches in Russia

McDonald's is closing its approximately 850 branches in Russia until further notice.

So far, the world's largest fast-food company had kept the Ukraine conflict* covered, but now CEO Chris Kempczinski took a position.

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Because of the company's values, "one cannot ignore the unnecessary human suffering that is happening in Ukraine," he said in an email to employees.

The shutdown is necessary, even though McDonald's has been in Russia for over 30 years and serves millions of customers there every day.

Starbucks condemns attack on Ukraine

The world's largest coffee chain, Starbucks, is also stopping operations in Russia in view of the Russian war of aggression.

"We have decided to suspend all business activities in Russia," announced Starbucks CEO Kevin Johnson in a letter to employees.

According to analysts, Starbucks has around 130 stores in Russia operated by licensees.

Starbucks boss Johnson had already condemned Russia's attack on Ukraine on Friday as appalling*.

Ukraine war: Pepsi half-heartedly withdraws from Russia

The US beverage and food company Pepsico wants to severely limit its business in Russia, but not give it up entirely.

The company announced on Tuesday that it would temporarily suspend the sale and manufacture of soft drinks such as Pepsi, 7Up and Mirinda.

In addition, Pepsico will stop investments and all advertising and marketing activities in Russia.

However, the group wants to continue to offer everyday items, such as dairy products or baby food, said CEO Ramon Laguarta.

Pepsico has a “humanitarian” responsibility to fulfill here.

With material from the dpa

*Merkur.de is an offer from IPPEN.MEDIA