'Tasty and That's It': Russia's knock-off McDonald's goes international
By: Joshua Askew (euronews)
McDonald's sold its Russian operations to a Russian buyer, Alexander Govor. So, this isn't exactly a knock-off that's competing with McDonald's. This is a rebranded replacement for McDonald's. And it looks like replacing McDonald's is going to succeed.
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The Russian-based fast food chain, 'Vkusno I Tochka' ('Tasty and That's It'), has gone international, expanding into Belarus.
"We are entering a new market," said Alexander Govor, owner of the chain. "Now Vkusno I Tochka will operate not only in Russia, but also in Belarus."
"This is just the beginning," he added.
Vkusno I Tochka took over McDonald's in Russia after the US fast food giant quit the country, following the Russian invasion of Ukraine.
Since opening in June, its 800 restaurants have been blighted by supply chain issues, including shortages of fries and Coca-cola, in what was a bumpy start for the Russian rebrand.
In a statement released on Friday, the company said it was "completing" a franchising agreement with a Belarusian chain of fast-food restaurants owned by KSB Victory.
It plans to open 25 outlets in six cities across Belarus, Russia's neighbour and principal ally in the region, which are currently operating under the McDonald's brand, according to TASS, a Russian state-owned media outlet.
They will "start working under the new brand within a few weeks after all the necessary legal procedures are wrapped up and "organisational issues are resolved," TASS reported, adding the move will "save" more than 2,000 jobs.
Until the transition, the fast food restaurants will continue to operate under the McDonald's brand.
Vkusno I Tochka has withheld specific details on sales, revenue and profitability, though its CEO Oleg Paroev has previously painted a rosy picture of the company's fortunes.
In September, he told reporters the chain had sold more than 1.2 million burgers, claiming it occasionally enjoyed days of higher sales than under the McDonald's brand.
Issues with potato supplies left many of the chain's restaurants without French fries this summer and it began serving Dobry Cola on tap, after Coca-cola stocks ran dry.
During its six months of operations, Vkusno I Tochka said in a statement it has fully recovered from past supply chain problems and adapted logistics, ensuring the "smooth operation" of all its enterprises.
McDonald's shut all its restaurants in Russia on March 14, amid a Western backlash over Russia's invasion of Ukraine. All its outlets were sold to Govor as a local licensee, who initiated a comprehensive rebranding.
Vkusno I Tochka currently operates in 62 Russian regions, with more than 830 venues currently open.
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Only seven months were required to replace McDonald's. Russian entrepreneurs seem capable of competing with American capitalists when the opportunity arises. But can American capitalists compete without rigging the system?
Why wouldn't Putin approve?
He does. Putin appreciates your support!
Well, I wouldn't really call that going "international", Belarus already has Putin's arm elbow deep in its ass and takes all its ques from the Russian dictator.
Also, this is quite the hilarious bit of pro-Russian propaganda at a time when Russia is flailing and failing miserably in its illegal war against Ukraine. This seems to be an attempt to cheer up the authoritarian loving white fascists giving them a silver lining after major fast-food companies understandably abandoned Putin's violent authoritarian freedom hating Russia.
Hopefully Putin stops by one of the restaurants and eats a dozen cheeseburgers heavily laced with Novichok, then "Tasty and That's it" would live up to its name and become a hero to rational humans around the globe.
Morning...just goes to show both those countries will eat anything...wonder how the horse hamburgers are going??