Pepsi and Coca-Cola have joined Starbucks and McDonald’s in suspending all operations in Russia.
Following Putin’s invasion of Ukraine and the start of the biggest war in Europe since World War 2, Western businesses have begun pulling out of Russia and cutting corporate ties.
Among the latest US giants that halted all business in the country are Pepsi and Coca-Cola who followed suit after Starbucks, McDonald’s, and other major businesses vowed to impose sanctions against Russia.
As Coca-Cola confirmed, the company is suspending all business, including their ten bottling plants, in Russia.
Meanwhile, Pepsi, one of the first Western brands that made its presence in the former Soviet Union, announced it would halt the sales of all products except for baby formula and other essentials in the country.
The move comes shortly after McDonald’s closed its 850 stores in the country. While the locations have been closed for business indefinitely, the company vowed to continue paying their employees “who have poured their heart and soul” into the brand.
Closing its doors to the Russian market was also Starbucks, whereas CEO Kevin Johnson vowed to close all 130 locations and suspend all sales in the country. Starbucks, too, promised to continue paying its employees.
As of this writing, it remains unclear whether the businesses in question will resume their operations in Russia and when.
While KFC remains one of the last major US-based companies to continue doing business in Russia, there is mounting pressure on the Yum Brands-owned company to follow suit by stopping operations across the country.
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