McDonald's will begin reopening some of its Ukrainian restaurants in the coming months. It is a symbol of the war-torn country's return to normalcy and a statement of his support for his chain of American fast food. withdraw from Russia.
The hamburger giant closed its restaurants in Ukraine after the Russian invasion nearly six months ago, but continues to pay his more than 10,000 McDonald's employees in the country.
McDonald's said on Thursday it would begin to gradually reopen some restaurants in the capital, Kyiv, and western Ukraine, where other businesses operate away from the fighting. Western companies such as Nike, KFC and Spanish clothing retailer Mango operate in Kyiv.
"We have spoken extensively with employees who have returned to work and expressed a strong desire to reopen restaurants in Ukraine," said Paul Pomeroy, senior vice president of international operating markets. said. A message to employees. “In recent months, there has been a growing belief that this supports a small but important normalcy.”
resuming business will help. The International Monetary Fund expects Ukraine's economy to contract by 35% this year.
McDonald's, which has 109 restaurants in Ukraine, has not said how many will reopen, when they will reopen or which ones will welcome customers first. In the coming months, the company said it will work with vendors to supply restaurants, prepare those stores, bring back employees and begin safety procedures as war remains raging in the east.
McDonald's sold 850 restaurants in Russia to franchise owners,while the chain pulled out of Russia entirely
and reopened in Ukraine. , 30 years after McDonald's opened its first store in Moscow, became a powerful symbol of the de-escalation of the Cold War.
McDonald's closed hundreds of Russian stores in his March, resulting in a monthly loss of about $55 million. The sale of the Russian restaurant marks the first time the company has "exited" or exited a major market.
Alexander His Gobor, who held licenses for his 25 McDonald's outposts in Siberia, began reopening former McDonald's locations under the name Vkusno-i Tochka, or Tasty-period. rice field.
