Boston Public Radio Podcast

Social media users and investors are calling on various U.S. fast food companies with operations in Russia to speak on the country’s invasion of Ukraine, with many companies remaining silent and continuing business as usual. A number of U.S.-based fast food chains in Russia — such as Starbucks, Papa John’s, and Yum Brands-owned KFC and Pizza Hut — are owned and operated by franchisees, making it difficult for companies to uniformly close stores due to political issues. “[Companies] don't have as much control over their franchisees,” food writer Corby Kummer told Boston Public Radio on Monday. “It's mostly franchise owners who decide whether or not to close the restaurant because of political turmoil, not the brands themselves.” According to the New York Times, however, McDonald’s owns the majority of its 847 restaurants in Russia, with the country accounting “for 9 percent of the company’s total revenues and 3 percent of its operating income” — leaving the company in a prime position to make a statement. P