{"id":1512890,"date":"2022-06-13T06:50:56","date_gmt":"2022-06-13T10:50:56","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/?p=1512890"},"modified":"2022-06-13T06:50:58","modified_gmt":"2022-06-13T10:50:58","slug":"russia-opens-rebranded-mcdonalds-restaurants-under-russian-ownership","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/russia-opens-rebranded-mcdonalds-restaurants-under-russian-ownership\/","title":{"rendered":"Russia Opens Rebranded McDonald\u2019s Restaurants Under Russian Ownership"},"content":{"rendered":"<aside class=\"mashsb-container mashsb-main mashsb-stretched\"><div class=\"mashsb-box\"><div class=\"mashsb-count mash-medium\" style=\"float:left\"><div class=\"counts mashsbcount\">16<\/div><span class=\"mashsb-sharetext\">SHARES<\/span><\/div><div class=\"mashsb-buttons\"><a class=\"mashicon-facebook mash-medium mash-nomargin mashsb-noshadow\" href=\"https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/sharer.php?u=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.conservativenewsdaily.net%2Fbreaking-news%2Frussia-opens-rebranded-mcdonalds-restaurants-under-russian-ownership%2F\" target=\"_top\" rel=\"nofollow\"><span class=\"icon\"><\/span><span class=\"text\">Facebook<\/span><\/a><a class=\"mashicon-twitter mash-medium mash-nomargin mashsb-noshadow\" href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/intent\/tweet?text=&amp;url=https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/?p=1512890&amp;via=ConservNewsDly\" target=\"_top\" rel=\"nofollow\"><span class=\"icon\"><\/span><span class=\"text\">Twitter<\/span><\/a><a class=\"mashicon-subscribe mash-medium mash-nomargin mashsb-noshadow\" href=\"#\" target=\"_top\" rel=\"nofollow\"><span class=\"icon\"><\/span><span class=\"text\">Subscribe<\/span><\/a><div class=\"onoffswitch2 mash-medium mashsb-noshadow\" style=\"display:none\"><\/div><\/div>\n            <\/div>\n                <div style=\"clear:both\"><\/div><\/aside>\n            <!-- Share buttons by mashshare.net - Version: 4.0.47--><header aria-label=\"Beginning of Article\" class=\"article-header\">\n<nav aria-label=\"Breadcrumb\" class=\"breadcrumbs\">\n<h2 class=\"visually-hidden\">Breadcrumb Trail Links<\/h2>\n<ol class=\"breadcrumbs__items list-unstyled\">\n<li class=\"breadcrumbs__item\"> <a class=\"breadcrumbs__item-link\" href=\"https:\/\/financialpost.com\/category\/pmn\/business-pmn\/\">PMN Business<\/a> <\/li>\n<\/ol>\n<\/nav>\n<div class=\"article-meta\">\n<div class=\"wire-published-by\">\n<p class=\"visually-hidden\">Author of the article:<\/p>\n<p> <img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" alt=\"Reuters\" aria-labelledby=\"wire-company-name\" class=\"wire-published-by__logo\" height=\"70\" src=\"https:\/\/secure.gravatar.com\/avatar\/0e5521e933d53566787277062da28f5a?s=70&#038;d=mp\" srcset=\"https:\/\/secure.gravatar.com\/avatar\/0e5521e933d53566787277062da28f5a?s=70&#038;d=mp, https:\/\/secure.gravatar.com\/avatar\/0e5521e933d53566787277062da28f5a?s=140&#038;d=mp 2x\" width=\"70\" \/>  <\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/header>\n<section class=\"article-content__content-group\">\n<h2 class=\"visually-hidden\">Article content<\/h2>\n<p>It might look and smell like McDonald\u2019s but now it\u2019s Vkusno &#038; tochka. The golden arches are gone, the Filet-O-Fish is simply a fish burger. The Big Mac has left Russia.<\/p>\n<p>A new era for Russia\u2019s fast-food and economic scene dawned on Sunday, as McDonald\u2019s restaurants flung open their doors in Moscow under new Russian ownership and with the new name, which translates as \u201cTasty and that\u2019s it.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>The unveiling of the rebranded outlets, more than three decades after the American burger giant first opened its doors in Moscow in a symbolic thaw between East and West, is once again a stark sign of a new world order. The reopenings took place on Russia Day, a holiday celebrating national pride.<\/p>\n<\/section>\n<div class=\"ad__section-border article-content__ad-group\">\n<section aria-describedby=\"advertisment8851105626288429696167938389714153\" class=\"ad\">\n<h2 class=\"visually-hidden\" id=\"advertisment8851105626288429696167938389714153\">Advertisement 2<\/h2>\n<div class=\"ad__container\">\n<div class=\"ad__label\">\n<p> Story continues below <\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<div class=\"ad__inner\" id=\"ad__inner-2\">\n<div class=\"ad__inner__container\" data-ad=\"[[6,6],[1200,250],[1200,90],[970,90],[970,250],[728,90],[300,250]]\" data-ad-interscroller=\"6x6\" data-ad-loc=\"2\" data-ad-mobile=\"[[6,6],[320,50],[300,50],[300,250],[300,600]]\" id=\"ad-2\">\n<div aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"ad__placeholder\">\n<p> This advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below. <\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/section><\/div>\n<section class=\"article-content__content-group\">\n<h2 class=\"visually-hidden\">Article content<\/h2>\n<p>The fortunes of the chain, which McDonald\u2019s sold when it exited the country over the conflict in Ukraine, could provide a test of how successfully Russia\u2019s economy can become more self-sufficient and withstand Western sanctions.<\/p>\n<p>On Sunday, scores of people queued outside what was formerly McDonald\u2019s flagship restaurant in Pushkin Square, central Moscow. The outlet sported a new logo \u2013 a stylised burger with two fries \u2013 plus a slogan reading: \u201cThe name changes, love stays.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>The queue was significantly smaller than the thousands of people who thronged to the original McDonald\u2019s opening there in 1990 during the Soviet era.<\/p>\n<p>Vkusno &#038; tochka\u2019s menu was also smaller and did not offer the Big Mac and some other burgers and desserts, such as the McFlurry. A double cheeseburger was going for 129 roubles ($2.31) compared with roughly 160 under McDonald\u2019s and a fish burger for 169 roubles, compared with about 190 previously.<\/p>\n<\/section>\n<div class=\"ad__section-border article-content__ad-group\">\n<section aria-describedby=\"advertisment8787143156825851183592317392201266\" class=\"ad\">\n<h2 class=\"visually-hidden\" id=\"advertisment8787143156825851183592317392201266\">Advertisement 3<\/h2>\n<div class=\"ad__container\">\n<div class=\"ad__label\">\n<p> Story continues below <\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<div class=\"ad__inner\" id=\"ad__inner-3\">\n<div class=\"ad__inner__container\" data-ad=\"[[7,7],[1200,250],[1200,90],[970,90],[970,250],[728,90],[300,250]]\" data-ad-interscroller=\"7x7\" data-ad-loc=\"3\" data-ad-mobile=\"[[7,7],[300,250],[320,50],[300,50]]\" id=\"ad-3\">\n<div aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"ad__placeholder\">\n<p> This advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below. <\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/section><\/div>\n<section class=\"article-content__content-group\">\n<h2 class=\"visually-hidden\">Article content<\/h2>\n<p>The composition of burgers has not changed and the equipment from McDonald\u2019s has remained, said Alexander Merkulov, quality manager at the new company.<\/p>\n<p>McDonald\u2019s closed its Russian restaurants in March and said in mid-May that it had decided to leave the country altogether.<\/p>\n<p>In a sign of the haste the new owners have had to rebrand in time for the launch, much of the packaging for fries and burgers was plain white, as were drink cups, while takeaway bags were plain brown. The old McDonald\u2019s logo on packets of ketchup and other sauces were covered over with makeshift black markings.<\/p>\n<p>Sergei, a 15-year-old customer, saw little difference though.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cThe taste has stayed the same,\u201d he said as he tucked into a chicken burger and fries. \u201cThe cola is different, but there really is no change to the burger.\u201d<\/p>\n<\/section>\n<div class=\"ad__section-border article-content__ad-group\">\n<section aria-describedby=\"advertisment729954985104053005384927425418870\" class=\"ad\">\n<h2 class=\"visually-hidden\" id=\"advertisment729954985104053005384927425418870\">Advertisement 4<\/h2>\n<div class=\"ad__container\">\n<div class=\"ad__label\">\n<p> Story continues below <\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<div class=\"ad__inner\" id=\"ad__inner-4\">\n<div class=\"ad__inner__container\" data-ad=\"[[1200,250],[1200,90],[970,90],[970,250],[728,90],[300,250]]\" data-ad-loc=\"4\" data-ad-mobile=\"[[320,50],[300,50],[300,250]]\" id=\"ad-4\">\n<div aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"ad__placeholder\">\n<p> This advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below. <\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/section><\/div>\n<section class=\"article-content__content-group\">\n<h2 class=\"visually-hidden\">Article content<\/h2>\n<p>BETTER THAN A BIG MAC?<\/p>\n<p>The flagship Moscow restaurant is among 15 rebranded outlets that are initially opening in and around the capital on Sunday. Oleg Paroev, CEO of Vkusno &#038; tochka, said the company was planning to reopen 200 restaurants in Russia by the end of June and all 850 by the end of the summer. See FACTBOX:<\/p>\n<p>\u201cFor three months we did not work,\u201d said Ruzanna, manager of a Moscow branch that is due to open in July. \u201cEveryone is very pleased.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>The chain will keep its old McDonald\u2019s interior but will expunge any references to its former name, said Paroev, who was appointed Russia McDonald\u2019s CEO weeks before Moscow sent tens of thousands of troops into Ukraine on Feb. 24.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cOur goal is that our guests do not notice a difference either in quality or ambience,\u201d Paroev told a media conference in the restaurant. He said the chain would keep \u201caffordable prices,\u201d though added that prices would likely rise due to inflation, but not higher than its competitors.<\/p>\n<\/section>\n<div class=\"ad__section-border article-content__ad-group\">\n<section aria-describedby=\"advertisment2388179140368275359653464210476330\" class=\"ad\">\n<h2 class=\"visually-hidden\" id=\"advertisment2388179140368275359653464210476330\">Advertisement 5<\/h2>\n<div class=\"ad__container\">\n<div class=\"ad__label\">\n<p> Story continues below <\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<div class=\"ad__inner\" id=\"ad__inner-5\">\n<div class=\"ad__inner__container\" data-ad=\"[[1200,250],[1200,90],[970,90],[970,250],[728,90],[300,250]]\" data-ad-loc=\"5\" data-ad-mobile=\"[[320,50],[300,50],[300,250]]\" id=\"ad-5\">\n<div aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"ad__placeholder\">\n<p> This advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below. <\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/section><\/div>\n<section class=\"article-content__content-group\">\n<h2 class=\"visually-hidden\">Article content<\/h2>\n<p>Siberian businessman Alexander Govor, the new owner of the chain, told Reuters that it would look to launch something similar to McDonald\u2019s flagship Big Mac.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cWe don\u2019t have the right to use some colors, we don\u2019t have the right to use the golden arches, we don\u2019t have the right to use any mention of McDonald\u2019s,\u201d he told Reuters.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cThe Big Mac is the story of McDonald\u2019s. We will definitely do something similar,\u201d he said. \u201cWe will try to do something even better so that our visitors and guests like this dish.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>Govor said up to 7 billion roubles ($125.56 million) would be invested this year in the business, which employs more than 50,000 people.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cThe corporation asked me to, first of all, keep the headcount, to provide people with work. That\u2019s what I\u2019m going to do,\u201d he added.<\/p>\n<p>Govor said the company was looking for new suppliers of soft drinks as Coca Cola, which has said it was suspending its business in Russia.<\/p>\n<p>Moments after the press conference finished a man stood up in front of the cameras holding a sign that read \u201cBring back the Big Mac.\u201d He was swiftly escorted out by restaurant staff.<\/p>\n<p>(Reporting by Reuters; Editing by Josephine Mason and Pravin Char)<\/p>\n<\/section>\n<section class=\"article-content__share-group article-delimiter\" data-evt=\"beforeunload\" data-evt-typ=\"page_scroll\" data-evt-val=\"{\" control_fields>\n<h2 class=\"visually-hidden\">Share this article in your social network<\/h2>\n<\/section>\n<div class=\"article-content__ad-group\">\n<div class=\"ad__section-border ad__section-border--category visually-hidden\">\n<section aria-describedby=\"advertisment8183000004092357936842123673905156\" class=\"ad\">\n<h2 class=\"visually-hidden\" id=\"advertisment8183000004092357936842123673905156\">Advertisement <\/h2>\n<div class=\"ad__container\">\n<div class=\"ad__label\">\n<p> Story continues below <\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<div class=\"ad__inner\" id=\"ad__inner-acceptable\">\n<div class=\"ad__inner__container\" data-ad=\"[[1200,250],[1200,90],[970,90],[970,250],[728,90],[300,250]]\" data-ad-acceptable=\"\" data-ad-loc=\"1\" data-ad-mobile=\"[[320,50],[300,50],[300,250]]\" id=\"ad-acceptable\">\n<div aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"ad__placeholder\">\n<p> This advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below. <\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/section><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<div class=\"widget article-content__widget-group article-content__widget-group--slot1 article-content__widget-group--no-featured-media\">\n<section aria-labelledby=\"FinancialPostTopStories1957207889763150263734995349910892\" class=\"newsletter-widget fp-headlinenews\" data-account-id=\"b9d3df2fccd108b5eff3c44f573b2cd6\" data-newsletter=\"single\" data-newsletter-component=\"\" data-target-list=\"FP_HeadlineNews\" data-widget=\"newsletter\"> <img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" alt=\"Top Stories Newsletter logo\" class=\"newsletter-widget__logo newsletter-widget__logo--FP_HeadlineNews\" height=\"80\" src=\"https:\/\/dcs-static.gstage.postmedia.digital\/10.6.1\/websites\/images\/newsletters\/logo\/newsletter-envelope.svg\" width=\"97\" \/> <\/p>\n<div class=\"newsletter-widget__body\">\n<h2 class=\"newsletter-widget__title\" id=\"FinancialPostTopStories1957207889763150263734995349910892\">Financial Post Top Stories<\/h2>\n<p class=\"newsletter-widget__text\">Sign up to receive the daily top stories from the Financial Post, a division of Postmedia Network Inc.<\/p>\n<div class=\"js-replace-main\">  <small class=\"newsletter-widget__disclaimer text-size--micro\"> By clicking on the sign up button you consent to receive the above newsletter from Postmedia Network Inc. 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