When Russia invaded Ukraine earlier this year, their actions not only drew criticisms but prompted businesses and organizations to sever ties with them across the world. McDonald’s and Starbucks are among the logos that have withdrawn from the country. However, Russians have not missed the taste of American delicacies as establishments like Hard Rock Cafe and Sbarro continue to operate in the country.
The two restaurants are among the twenty-seven U.S-based companies that are defying the call to exit or curtail their activities in Russia. Other establishments announced their complete withdrawal from the country recently, but Hard Rock continues to operate out of Moscow and St. Petersburg, Russia.
In an emailed statement to CBS MoneyWatch, Hard Rock, which the Seminole Tribe of Florida acquired in 2007, will suspend all future investment and development in Russia and donate its profits from the two locations to humanitarian causes in Ukraine.
Pizza chain Sbarro has also maintained its stance. The restaurant has operated in Russia since 1997 and signed a new franchise deal in the country in 2017. In addition, Sbarro partnered with Horeco Band Group and plans to open more than 300 Sbarro chains in Russia by 2027.
American restaurants are not the only establishments to continue operation in the country as the owners of online dating services Match.com and its Tinder unit maintain their course. The executives of the dating company said in an earnings call earlier this month that it expects to lose about $10 million revenue every quarter as long as the Russian invasion continues.
“European performance was impacted by the Russian invasion of Ukraine, which reduced revenue in Russia, Ukraine, and several other nearby countries,” said Match chief operating and financial officer Gary Swidler.
Dating app Bumble made a contradicting decision, ceasing operations last March and removing its apps from the Apple App Store and Google Play Store in Russia and Belarus. However, some companies, regarded as among the worst offenders by Yale University management professor Jeffrey Sonnefield, dispute the notion that they are conducting business as usual because they haven’t withdrawn from Russia.
Other American companies operating in Russia including the following:
- Aimbridge Hospitality
- Align Technology
- Amdocs
- Amgen
- Avaya
- Cloudfare
- Donaldson Co
- Fleetcor
- Forever Living Products
- Huntsman Corp
- International Paper
- IQVIA
- Koch Industries
- Medtronic
- Paccar
- Riot Games
- Stryker
- TGI Friday’s
- Titan International
- Tom Ford
- Valve Corp
- Zimmer Biomet
