Following McDonald’s boycotting Russia after invading Ukraine, Vkusno & tochka (Tasty & point), a revamped version of the fast food giant has spiralled to fame, opening its doors for the first time on Sunday.
After McDonald’s announced its exit from Russia in May…
The multinational fast food chain has sold nearly eight hundred and fifty restaurants in the country, as serious shortages have loomed over the Russian economy, causing panic among Russian leaders to take action.
‘Tasty and that’s it’ the slogan to Russia’s copy of McDonald’s read, as it opened fifteen stores in Moscow
Now the grand opening on Moscow’s Pushkin Square attracted smaller crowds than the first opening of McDonald’s, dating back in 1990.
Chief Executive Oleg Paroev told the Guardian: “The name changes but the love is still the same,” adding that their ‘main goal’ was for customers to not notice a difference.
The opening invited a rave of responses, both a sense of pride and rejection followed…
Along the crowds, streets danced with colors from the Kremlin flag, as Russia’s economy predicted a bounce back from the boycott.
Ariana told The Moscow Times: “We haven’t eaten McDonald’s in 3 months. We didn’t even go to Burger King during that time. We were waiting for McDonald’s.”
While one protestor held up a sign telling the government to: “Bring back the Big Mac.”
And prices were reasonably cheaper compared to McDonald’s…
With prices ranging from one hundred and twenty nine roubles ($2.21) for a cheeseburger to one hundred and sixty nine roubles ($2.90) for a fish burger – the affordable Russian version of the fast food giant was cheaper than a McDonald’s burger, which previously cost approximately one hundred and ninety roubles ($3.25).
Ditching the red and yellow packaging, Vkusno & Tochka served their food in white wraps and cartons, while the menus did not offer the Big Mac and other burgers, including desserts like the popular McFlurry.
But that didn’t stop Siberian owner Alexander Govor, who plans to revamp and open eight hundred and fifty stores across Russia by the end of June…
According to reports, Mr Gover hopes to reopen all the chain restaurants and open ‘new ones’ in a bid to grow his enterprise. His ambitiousness has fuelled the creation of Vkusno & Tochka’s new logo, which features a hamburger and two potato fries.