McDonald’s replacement in Russia is running out of staples of French fries and will have to pause serving them.
Fast food chain ‘Vkusno i Tochka’, which translates to ‘Tasty and that’s it’, released a statement to Russian news agency TASS explaining that their poor 2021 potato harvest has affected their ability to serve a variety of French fries with burgers.
They said the company expects to return to its regular menu by fall, but the problem comes just days after customers posted pictures on social media of burger buns covered in mold.
“Vkusno i Tochka” emerged when McDonald’s pulled out of Russia in protest of the country’s invasion of Ukraine and sold its franchises to a Russian businessman in June.
The new business reopened on June 12 with a renamed menu, new staff uniforms, and swarms of people lining up near Pushkin Square in downtown Moscow.
McDonald’s alternative fast-food chain in Russia, “Vkusno i Tochka,” which translates to “Tasty and that’s it,” is running out of French fries staples and will have to pause serving them.
Customers complained about mold on burger buns in several outlets
The new Russian McDonald’s, “Vkusno i Tochka”, is remarkably similar to the old American company but has supply chain problems that have affected the quality of its products
Although the uniforms are nearly identical to the clothes of McDonald’s workers, the old equipment remained behind as part of the exit deal
But less than a month later, the operation management is already struggling to meet the basic demands that McDonald’s customers have been expecting effortlessly.
The “country fries”, a thicker version of French fries for fast food lovers, may also not be available.
The Russian company said that despite its attempt to get potatoes from Russian suppliers, it has become impossible to import potatoes from foreign markets to make up for the shortfall in the local crop.
However, the Russian Ministry of Agriculture issued a combative statement on Telegram with the title “There are potatoes – this is” doubting the Vkusno i Tochka account that she could not get domestic potatoes.
The Russian market is completely supplied with potatoes, including processed ones. In addition, the crops of the new harvest are already arriving, which excludes the possibility of a shortage.
The statement by the Russian Ministry of Agriculture could be part of a nationwide propaganda effort to minimize or deny the impact of Western sanctions on the country’s economy.
However, this is not the first time that Vkusno i Tochka’s ability to replace the McDonald’s operation in Russia has come into question.
The supply chain problems that have plagued the company due to the widespread sanctions imposed on the Russian economy were laid out in response to Vladimir Putin’s invasion of Ukraine.
Earlier this month, the fast food chain, which also translates as ‘Delicious full stop’, was caught serving moldy burgers to tired customers, suggesting it was struggling to get fresh burger buns, too.
Renamed McDonald’s restaurants in Russia have been caught serving moldy burgers to tired customers after the US chain left the country due to its invasion of Ukraine
“Insect legs” were also found in Russian burgers, which shocked and disgusted customers
Eaters have complained about mold on their burger buns in several outlets, according to Ksenia Sobchak, a TV celebrity and the most prominent female politician in the Russian opposition.
Separately, “insect legs” are found in Russian burgers.
The first McDonald’s in Russia opened in central Moscow more than three decades ago, shortly after the fall of the Berlin Wall.
It was a powerful symbol for relieving Cold War tensions between the United States and the Soviet Union.
McDonald’s was the first American fast food restaurant to open in the Soviet Union, which finally collapsed in 1991.
McDonald’s decision to leave comes as other US food and beverage giants, including Coca-Cola, Pepsi and Starbucks, have suspended or closed their operations in Russia in the face of Western sanctions.
Russian businessman Alexander Govor, who ran 25 McDonald’s branches in Siberia, bought all 847 of the company’s locations in May.
Mr. Gofour is also part owner of Neftekhimservis, a construction company that operates an oil refinery.
The fast food giant’s operations in Russia accounted for about 9% of its annual revenue, or $2 billion (£1.48 billion).
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