Skip to main content

Starbucks is leaving Russia for good

Starbucks paused its operations and stopped shipments of its products to Russia in March. (dpa/picture alliance/Getty Images/CNN) Starbucks paused its operations and stopped shipments of its products to Russia in March. (dpa/picture alliance/Getty Images/CNN)
Share

Starbucks is leaving Russia for good.

The coffee company paused its operations and stopped shipments of its products to Russia in March. Now, it "has made the decision to exit and no longer have a brand presence in the market," Starbucks said in a brief statement Monday.

Employees in the country, which number about 2,000, will get paid for six more months. Starbucks will also help them look for new jobs outside of the company.

Starbucks first opened in Russia in 2007. As of March, it had 130 Russian locations, all owned and operated by a partner.

The move follows a similar one by McDonald's.

Last week, the burger chain said that it is selling its Russia business after operating for more than 30 years in the region. McDonald's said that the "humanitarian crisis caused by the war in Ukraine, and the precipitating unpredictable operating environment, have led McDonald's to conclude that continued ownership of the business in Russia is no longer tenable, nor is it consistent with McDonald's values."

McDonald's later announced that it has entered into an agreement to sell the business to an existing licensee, who will open the restaurants with new branding.

Starbucks and McDonald's both decided to pause their operations around the same time in March.

At the time, Starbucks' then-CEO Kevin Johnson said "we condemn the horrific attacks on Ukraine by Russia and our hearts go out to all those affected."

CNN's Jordan Valinsky contributed to this report

CTVNews.ca Top Stories

Here's why provinces aren't following Saskatchewan's lead on the carbon tax home heating fight

After Prime Minister Justin Trudeau said the federal government would still send Canada Carbon Rebate cheques to Saskatchewan residents, despite Saskatchewan Premier Scott Moe's decision to stop collecting the carbon tax on natural gas or home heating, questions were raised about whether other provinces would follow suit. CTV News reached out across the country and here's what we found out.

Local Spotlight

Stay Connected