ALMATY, Jan 6 (Reuters) – Workers on Friday removed the brand from a McDonald’s store in Kazakhstan’s largest city Almaty after it appeared to have suffered collateral damage from the war between Russia and Ukraine. .
The brand’s withdrawal from the Central Asian country of 20 million people divided opinion on social media and among onlookers near a restaurant in Almaty. At this restaurant, employees were removing large white letters from the top of the building.
“It was one of the best places to spend time with friends,” said local resident Karina.
“No other fast food chain can replicate the menu McDonald’s offered at the same price, so no other company can compete with McDonald’s in Kazakhstan at this time.”
Others described the brand’s withdrawal as a minor inconvenience or said they wanted to check out other fast food outlets.
Chains like KFC (YUM.N), Burger King (QSR.TO) and Hardy’s have restaurants in Kazakhstan, and Popeyes last month partnered with local firm Centrus Group to open dozens of restaurants in the former Soviet republic. announced the opening of its restaurant.
Many Kazakhs, proud of their meat-centric cuisine, complained that McDonald’s Kazakhstan licensee Food Solutions KZ could not source its beef patties locally and had to ship them from Russia until the war forced a halt and eventual closure. I expressed my disbelief that I had imported it.
But industry insiders say the certifications and audits required by U.S. brands are expensive and time-consuming, and local meat producers don’t want to bother with them.
Food Solutions did not immediately respond to an email requesting comment. McDonald’s said it had terminated its licensee agreement, but did not respond to questions as to why.
The Kazakhstani company said on Thursday it would soon reopen its restaurants under a new brand due to “supply issues”.
Many Kazakh companies are facing supply problems following Russia’s invasion of Ukraine and subsequent Western sanctions against Russia.Neighboring Russia is Kazakhstan’s main trading partner.
Reported by Pavel Mikheyev. Written by Olzhas Auyezov.Edited by Philippa Fletcher
Our standards: Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.
