Sudden: Starbucks Announces withdrawal from Russian Market

According to comprehensive media reports, Starbucks of the United States announced on the 23rd local time that he would withdraw from the Russian market. Starbucks said in an open letter to employees on the same day that it decided to close its 130 stores in Russia and that its brand would no longer be retained in the Russian market. However, Starbucks said it would pay six months' wages to its nearly 2000 Russian employees and help them transition to new jobs.

Starbucks entered the Russian market in 2007 and has 130 stores, all of which are wholly owned and operated by franchise partners. Some foreign market analysts estimate that the Russian market accounts for less than 1% of the company's annual revenue. In March this year, as the war between Russia and Ukraine continued, former Starbucks CEO Kevin Johnson (kevin Johson) said in an open letter on March 4 local time: Starbucks condemns Russia's unprovoked, unfair and terrible attack on Ukraine and expresses sympathy for all those affected. It also promised to donate the concession costs of its Russian operations to humanitarian undertakings in besieged countries. And issued a statement on March 8 to suspend business and store operations in Russia.

In the second-quarter financial report released in the United States on May 3, Starbucks did not disclose the financial impact of the suspension of Russian operations on the company's finances. Before Starbucks announced its withdrawal from the Russian market, McDonald's in the United States issued an announcement on May 16 local time that it would withdraw from the Russian market. On May 19th, McDonald's agreed to sell its Russian business to Alexander Govor, the long-time owner of McDonald's franchise. He said that in the future, more than 90% of McDonald's Internet suppliers will come from Russia, and chain restaurants and menus as well as workplaces will be retained, but will continue to operate under a different brand name.

Also in March, McDonald's CEO Chris Kempchinski said in an open letter to employees on March 8 local time: "the conflict in Ukraine and the humanitarian crisis in Europe have brought untold suffering to innocent people. As a system, we (McDonald's) will join the world in condemning aggression and violence and praying for peace." At the same time, the open letter also said that the company will continue to pay salaries for 62000 McDonald's employees in Russia and donated US $5 million to the employee Assistance Fund.

In addition to the two big US restaurant chains announcing their withdrawal from the Russian market, many Western companies are also agreeing to sell their assets in Russia. Dmitry Medvedev, head of the Russian Federation Security Council, said when foreign companies stopped / withdrew from the Russian market on a large scale in March that the government was carrying out actions such as bankruptcy / nationalization of evacuated foreign company assets. Some Russian market analysts believe that most of these international brands will be taken over by local companies when they announce their withdrawal from the Russian market. On the other hand, it is an once-in-a-lifetime opportunity for local enterprises to develop. Photo source: online professional coffee knowledge exchange more coffee bean information please follow the coffee workshop (Wechat official account cafe_style) more boutique coffee beans please add private Wechat Qianjie coffee, WeChat: qjcoffeex