Solidarity Statements
McDonald’s is still active in Russia – and is now facing a powerful headwind
McDonald’s branches in Russia are still open
© Peter Kovalev / Picture Alliance
Burger chain McDonald’s is leaving its branches open in Russia – unlike so many other companies that have turned their backs on the Russian market since the attack on Ukraine. McDonald’s is now being showered with the anger of many western customers.
It’s a tremendous wave of solidarity. After Russia’s attack on Ukraine, not only most of the world’s states and their citizens, but also many corporations and companies demonstratively sided with Ukraine. Companies like Apple and Microsoft stopped selling products in Russia, PayPal and many credit card companies suspended payments in the country. However, other companies remain in business. And now they are being punished for it.
After the powerful shareholder association New York State’s Pension Fund called for a withdrawal from the Russian market in letters to McDonald’s and several other companies such as Pepsi on Friday, the waves against these companies were high. The fast-food chain McDonald’s is particularly affected: in the social networks, users express their anger at the company’s practice.
#BoycottMcDonalds trending on Twitter
“I don’t love it”, tweeted about user Incunabula based on the company’s well-known advertising slogan. “McDonald’s just keeps doing business in Russia, which means the sales and corporate taxes paid there DIRECTLY support Putin’s illegal and murderous war in Ukraine.” The added hashtag “‘BoycottMcDonalds” was used so often last night that it was even among the ten most used hashtags in the US at one point.
While many social media users expressed their support for the boycott, some others also warned against it. Because many of the burger chain’s branches are not operated by McDonald’s itself but in the franchise system by third parties, a boycott would not be helpful, they noted. The economic damage then does not arise for the company itself, but for the branch operators, so the argument goes.
Not entirely neutral
However, the damage to reputation should also hurt the group. This is exactly what the Pension Fund had warned of: Thomas DiNapoli, who is responsible for the fund, warned that if companies continue to do business as usual, there is also a risk of other long-term damage. He named legal, business and personal risks.
McDonald’s has not yet commented on the call. However, the group is not completely neutral in the conflict: In the Ukraine, the branches have announced that they will donate food to the needy. Although all branches remain closed due to the conflict, the kitchens are still operational – delivering the prepared food to hospitals, civilians and the military in cooperation with the Ukrainian authorities.
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