PepsiCo, Coca-Cola, McDonald's and Starbucks temporarily shut businesses in Russia

KFC and Burger King are under increasing pressure from social media users and leading figures to pull their business from the country.

Pic: AP
Image: McDonald's is to shut all 850 of its restaurants in Russia. Pic: AP
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PepsiCo, Coca-Cola, McDonald's and Starbucks have said they will temporarily stop selling their products and close all of their outlets in Russia in response to the country's invasion of Ukraine.

The firms, along with several other global companies, had been facing threats of boycotts for failing to pull out of Russia in protest at the war.

McDonald's has said all 850 of its restaurants in the nation will close their doors - but it will continue to pay the 62,000 people who work for them there.

McDonald's owns 84% of its restaurants in Russia, and they contributed 9% of the company's revenue last year.

Pic: Sipa/Shutterstock
Image: Opening of the first McDonald's restaurant in Russia - in Moscow in 1990. Pic: Sipa/Shutterstock

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In a letter to employees, the company's president and CEO Chris Kempckinski said closing the outlets is the right thing to do because they cannot ignore the "needless human suffering in Ukraine".

Just hours later, Starbucks announced it was "suspending all business activity in Russia, including shipment of its products and cafes run by a licensee".

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The company said Kuwait-based Alshaya Group, which operates at least 100 Starbucks cafes in Russia, will "provide support to the nearly 2,000 partners who depend on Starbucks for their livelihood".

Coca-Cola followed suit announcing it was "suspending its business in Russia".

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A company statement added: "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."

PepsiCo will suspend all advertising in Russia and stop the sale of its drinks brands.

KFC and Burger King have been criticised for staying largely silent about the war and have been under increasing pressure from social media users and leading figures to pull their business from the country.

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Coca-Cola announced last week it would be donating €1m (£829,700) to support the Red Cross in Ukraine and a further €550,000 (£456,000) to support refugees in neighbouring countries.

KFC and McDonald's had already temporarily closed their restaurants across Ukraine and have been helping to feed soldiers and civilians on the ground, according to a report by The Kyiv Independent last week.

McDonald's is said to have donated food, water, vegetables and fruit to local authorities for distribution, while KFC reportedly opened its kitchens to prepare meals.

Burger King owner, American-Canadian Restaurant Brands International, which has around 550 locations in Russia, expressed concern about the impact of the war on its business in its recent annual report.

It added: "The conflict between Russia and Ukraine could adversely impact economic conditions and demand for dining out as well as result in heightened economic sanctions from the US, Canada and other countries in a manner that may adversely affect us and our franchisee's restaurants located in Russia and Eastern Europe."

Sky News has contacted KFC and Burger King for comment.

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Major technology firms like Apple, Microsoft and Samsung, and businesses including Visa, Paypal and Netflix have shuttered operations or cut ties with Russia over its invasion of Ukraine.

Meanwhile, Unilever has suspended all imports and exports of its products into and out of Russia, and said that it will not invest any further capital into the country.

The company condemned the war in Ukraine as "a brutal and senseless act by the Russian state".

It said it will continue to supply everyday essential food and hygiene products that are made in Russia to people there, but will keep that under review.