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Traces of the dismantled signage are seen on the facade of a McDonald's restaurant in St Petersburg. Reuters
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/3YDJS3T7LT4LG2GYW5XNJOWMP4.jpg?smart=true&auth=9af0c23cfd520d4e7ac60fe734307bf7af843c67ad32b15f5d1e7c6f94349b69&width=400&height=225)
Staff of a former McDonald's restaurant prepare for its reopening under a new brand, Vkusno i Tochka (Tasty and that's it), in Moscow on Sunday. EPA
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/FFQPZSKEYUVVQSKHQ5FVX4DKFE.jpg?smart=true&auth=ad6cf7be24e5401b068a1183144215364369bad918faf8b0b7d68b9216323f60&width=400&height=225)
Wrapped double cheeseburgers in the new restaurant. Its opening comes after US fast-food company McDonald's pulled out of Russia in May, after closing all its restaurants in the country in March due to the war in Ukraine. AFP
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/VJW2D5U7UXQYB7TL7OLMDBZMNA.jpg?smart=true&auth=6f611a78a03e4b0e78ef85336680aa0486970436e68e526afbdd762de0b0f65e&width=400&height=225)
The first 15 rebranded outlets open in Moscow on Sunday. EPA
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/B2UCAM4SXSQJSIEKJJEDTPBNE4.jpg?smart=true&auth=92c2a24ce82f87e08724539c40ac88beae803dae1f117dbfdf98aea6600610ab&width=400&height=225)
Oleg Paroev, chief executive of Vkusno & tochka, said the company was planning to reopen 200 restaurants in Russia by the end of June and all 850 by the end of the summer. EPA
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/3KP4PIA7PBREPKF47ZHHORQLIE.jpg?smart=true&auth=2cccf6c0ff5b036d25450816a339ca244536fa310ab182dda65ed717b288f018&width=400&height=225)
The chain will keep its old McDonald's interior, but will expunge any references to its former name, said Mr Paroev, who was appointed Russia's McDonald's chief executive only weeks before Moscow sent tens of thousands of troops into Ukraine on February 24. AFP
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/QYUO553CQKVBE4Q6VFYNRMQD3M.jpg?smart=true&auth=bb57c0cb7af9d6302890fca4c60996ad0fe72c2233011d856cedb12c081b0560&width=400&height=225)
Siberian businessman Alexander Govor is the new owner of the outlets. He told Reuters he was striving launch something similar to the famous Big Mac. AFP
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/6OXSU3PCPI2JI67UIP345BRVTU.jpg?smart=true&auth=176e083b940055385054187d4d22fb632a91793c814b4cfcf390ba609b6ad185&width=400&height=225)
'Our goal is that our guests do not notice a difference either in quality or ambience,' Mr Paroev told a media conference in the restaurant. He said the chain would keep 'affordable prices' but added they would likely rise due to inflation but not higher than its competitors. AFP
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/BGBL23W33GDPF5QDP6VQOQNULE.jpg?smart=true&auth=f940303eef7b2b7dc3f52ed893284fe0e33737bf99b2ba1bb1eb2efed7532dad&width=400&height=225)
The rebranding coincided with Russia Day, a holiday marking the country's independence. AFP
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/MWPEWI7NHQ3WBF2I44WX6AXYYI.jpg?smart=true&auth=7962de00ac43d65da2d62a9f7d8fc4d1822ac26f0f88f7e5010edfb21755328d&width=400&height=225)
Scores of people queued outside what was formerly McDonald's flagship restaurant in Pushkin Square, central Moscow on Sunday. The outlet sported a new logo - a stylised burger with two fries - plus a slogan reading: 'The name changes, love stays'. Reuters
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/GQLVMAYVOQUBI5G2QGXXFCAULQ.jpg?smart=true&auth=6be4d99f3ab0077a9b9053b259160dabea4bdb04a6654dac047e55a8b64618e9&width=400&height=225)
Some people said they could not taste the difference between the new and old food. EPA
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/VT6RB3FWNEH3ZXZZANBIQFWYQU.jpg?smart=true&auth=2637a873ee4de3a685191d34877108f10830e0683849148a0f9cd9b6e4774d37&width=400&height=225)
Workers use a crane to dismantle the McDonald's golden arches while removing the logo signage from a drive-through restaurant in the town of Kingisepp, Leningrad. Reuters
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/YVCII53GBHJ6ST5NI2RIHXAWGY.jpg?smart=true&auth=e9c17b7f651f67a0a34cbf3c4744633b87ce765719b0f986ae2845cc363e8eda&width=400&height=225)
A worker carries dismantled McDonald's golden arches outside a restaurant in St Petersburg. Reuters
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/HF5Q5GTKWPHSCCA6Z7FL6HYTLE.jpg?smart=true&auth=f5ef374d07b0a734bcfdf1a3d555ef65ebc3419c7c2e182070fbac4d28added1&width=400&height=225)
Traces of the dismantled signage are seen on the facade of a McDonald's restaurant in St Petersburg. Reuters
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/3YDJS3T7LT4LG2GYW5XNJOWMP4.jpg?smart=true&auth=9af0c23cfd520d4e7ac60fe734307bf7af843c67ad32b15f5d1e7c6f94349b69&width=400&height=225)
Staff of a former McDonald's restaurant prepare for its reopening under a new brand, Vkusno i Tochka (Tasty and that's it), in Moscow on Sunday. EPA
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/FFQPZSKEYUVVQSKHQ5FVX4DKFE.jpg?smart=true&auth=ad6cf7be24e5401b068a1183144215364369bad918faf8b0b7d68b9216323f60&width=400&height=225)
Wrapped double cheeseburgers in the new restaurant. Its opening comes after US fast-food company McDonald's pulled out of Russia in May, after closing all its restaurants in the country in March due to the war in Ukraine. AFP
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/VJW2D5U7UXQYB7TL7OLMDBZMNA.jpg?smart=true&auth=6f611a78a03e4b0e78ef85336680aa0486970436e68e526afbdd762de0b0f65e&width=400&height=225)
The first 15 rebranded outlets open in Moscow on Sunday. EPA
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/B2UCAM4SXSQJSIEKJJEDTPBNE4.jpg?smart=true&auth=92c2a24ce82f87e08724539c40ac88beae803dae1f117dbfdf98aea6600610ab&width=400&height=225)
Oleg Paroev, chief executive of Vkusno & tochka, said the company was planning to reopen 200 restaurants in Russia by the end of June and all 850 by the end of the summer. EPA
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/3KP4PIA7PBREPKF47ZHHORQLIE.jpg?smart=true&auth=2cccf6c0ff5b036d25450816a339ca244536fa310ab182dda65ed717b288f018&width=400&height=225)
The chain will keep its old McDonald's interior, but will expunge any references to its former name, said Mr Paroev, who was appointed Russia's McDonald's chief executive only weeks before Moscow sent tens of thousands of troops into Ukraine on February 24. AFP
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/QYUO553CQKVBE4Q6VFYNRMQD3M.jpg?smart=true&auth=bb57c0cb7af9d6302890fca4c60996ad0fe72c2233011d856cedb12c081b0560&width=400&height=225)
Siberian businessman Alexander Govor is the new owner of the outlets. He told Reuters he was striving launch something similar to the famous Big Mac. AFP
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/6OXSU3PCPI2JI67UIP345BRVTU.jpg?smart=true&auth=176e083b940055385054187d4d22fb632a91793c814b4cfcf390ba609b6ad185&width=400&height=225)
'Our goal is that our guests do not notice a difference either in quality or ambience,' Mr Paroev told a media conference in the restaurant. He said the chain would keep 'affordable prices' but added they would likely rise due to inflation but not higher than its competitors. AFP
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/BGBL23W33GDPF5QDP6VQOQNULE.jpg?smart=true&auth=f940303eef7b2b7dc3f52ed893284fe0e33737bf99b2ba1bb1eb2efed7532dad&width=400&height=225)
The rebranding coincided with Russia Day, a holiday marking the country's independence. AFP
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/MWPEWI7NHQ3WBF2I44WX6AXYYI.jpg?smart=true&auth=7962de00ac43d65da2d62a9f7d8fc4d1822ac26f0f88f7e5010edfb21755328d&width=400&height=225)
Scores of people queued outside what was formerly McDonald's flagship restaurant in Pushkin Square, central Moscow on Sunday. The outlet sported a new logo - a stylised burger with two fries - plus a slogan reading: 'The name changes, love stays'. Reuters
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/GQLVMAYVOQUBI5G2QGXXFCAULQ.jpg?smart=true&auth=6be4d99f3ab0077a9b9053b259160dabea4bdb04a6654dac047e55a8b64618e9&width=400&height=225)
Some people said they could not taste the difference between the new and old food. EPA
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/VT6RB3FWNEH3ZXZZANBIQFWYQU.jpg?smart=true&auth=2637a873ee4de3a685191d34877108f10830e0683849148a0f9cd9b6e4774d37&width=400&height=225)
Workers use a crane to dismantle the McDonald's golden arches while removing the logo signage from a drive-through restaurant in the town of Kingisepp, Leningrad. Reuters
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/YVCII53GBHJ6ST5NI2RIHXAWGY.jpg?smart=true&auth=e9c17b7f651f67a0a34cbf3c4744633b87ce765719b0f986ae2845cc363e8eda&width=400&height=225)
A worker carries dismantled McDonald's golden arches outside a restaurant in St Petersburg. Reuters
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/HF5Q5GTKWPHSCCA6Z7FL6HYTLE.jpg?smart=true&auth=f5ef374d07b0a734bcfdf1a3d555ef65ebc3419c7c2e182070fbac4d28added1&width=400&height=225)
Traces of the dismantled signage are seen on the facade of a McDonald's restaurant in St Petersburg. Reuters
Rebranded 'Tasty' McDonald's restaurants open in Russia
The American fast-food company closed 850 restaurants in the country after its invasion of Ukraine
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The National
12 June, 2022
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