American chain Starbucks announced on Tuesday that it would suspend all of its business in Russia in response to the invasion of Ukraine, which will include the immediate closing of all cafeterias, a few hours after MacDonald’s also announced the same action. “We continue to monitor the tragic events and today we have decided to suspend all business activities in Russia, including shipping for all Starbucks products”The company’s CEO Kevin Johnson said in a letter.
According to Johnson, all chain franchises in Russia have agreed to “immediately suspend operations” and has pledged to support the nearly 2,000 workers who depend on Starbucks. The company, reiterating its condemnation of Russia’s “terrible attack on Ukraine” continued that, as the situation developed, will continue to take actions that are in line with its “values”.
Starbucks’ decision was announced shortly after another major American hotel chain, McDonald’s, announced the temporary closure of its 850 stores in Russia and suspended operations because they could not “ignore the unnecessary suffering caused by Ukraine”.
The two companies join a long list of companies that have opted for a similar course of action, while that many others are being pressured to do. Soft drink giant PepsiCo, for example, is exploring options with its main business in Russia in response to this call, The Wall Street Journal reported today.
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