Succumbing to public pressure to cripple Russia with international sanctions and bans, two giant global consumer food brands, McDonald's and Coca-Cola have announced they will suspend business inside Russia.
ATLANTA, March 8, 2022 – The Coca-Cola Company announced today that it is suspending its business in Russia.
Our hearts are with the people who are enduring unconscionable effects from these tragic events in Ukraine.
We will continue to monitor and assess the situation as circumstances evolve.
In Russia, we employ 62,000 people who have poured their heart and soul into our McDonald's brand to serve their communities. We work with hundreds of local, Russian suppliers and partners who produce
the food for our menu and support our brand. And we serve millions of Russian customers each day who count on McDonald's. In the thirty-plus years that McDonald's has operated in Russia, we've become an essential part of the 850 communities in which we operate.
At the same time, our values mean we cannot ignore the needless human suffering unfolding in Ukraine. Years ago, when confronted with his own difficult decision, Fred Turner explained his approach quite simply: "Do the right thing." That philosophy is enshrined as one of our five guiding values, and there are countless examples over the years of McDonald's Corporation living up to Fred's simple ideal. Today, is also one of those days.
Working closely in consultation with our Chairman, Rick Hernandez, and the rest of McDonald's Board of Directors over the last week, McDonald's has decided to temporarily close all our restaurants in Russia and pause all operations in the market. We understand the impact this will have on our Russian colleagues and partners, which is why we are prepared to support all three legs of the stool in Ukraine and Russia. This includes salary continuation for all McDonald's employees in Russia.
