(ANSA) – ROME, MARCH 18 – The operator of the 800 Burger King restaurants in Russia has “refused” to close the premises, despite requests for suspension of trade.
Restaurant Brands, owner of Burger King, said he contacted his local partner, Alexander Kolobov, to close the restaurants after the Russian invasion of Ukraine.
However, reports BBC News online, Kolobov replied that he was not in a position to break the “complicated” contracts he has signed with foreign partners.
Many Western companies have closed or suspended their operations in Russia. However, writes BBC, some of them, including Burger King and the British Marks and Spencer (M&S), have not been able to do so because their shops are run by franchise partners with “complex” legal agreements.
In a letter to staff, Restaurant Brands International president David Shear said: “We contacted the main operator of the business and asked for the suspension of the Burger King restaurants in Russia. He refused to do so.”
Shear added that making changes to Burger King’s local business “would ultimately require the support of Russian authorities on the ground, and in practice we know that won’t happen anytime soon.” (HANDLE).
Source: Ansa
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