Monitoring Desk
ISLAMABAD/ALMATY: Workers have removed branding from McDonald’s outlets in Kazakhstan’s biggest city, Almaty, after the fast-food giant closed operations in the central Asian country as it fell victim to collateral damage from the ongoing Russia-Ukraine war.
The brand’s pull out of Kazakhstan, a country of 20 million people, led to a mixed opinion on social media and among the locals in general.
McDonald’s pull out from Kazakhstan
Locals in disbelief over McDonald’s pull out from Kazakhstan
Many Kazakhs, who are proud of their meat-focused cuisine, expressed disbelief that McDonald’s Kazakh licensee, Food Solutions KZ, was unable to source its beef patties locally and imported them from Russia until the war forced it to stop and ultimately shut down.
Whereas, industry insiders were of the view that certificates and audits required by the US burger giant were expensive and lengthy, and local meat producers did not want to indulge with them.
Food solutions said on Thursday that it would soon reopen its restaurants under a new brand due to “supply issues”.
Food Chains such as KFC, Burger King, and Hardee’s have restaurants in Kazakhstan.
Meanwhile, Popeyes said last month that it would also open dozens of restaurants in the central Asian country in partnership with local firm Centras Group.
