After 32 years, McDonald’s plans to sell its Russia business.

After more than three decades in Russia, McDonald’s — an icon of U.S. lifestyle and capitalism — has put its Russia business up for sale as it works to leave the country completely.

The move is a significant departure for a brand whose growth across the world became the symbol of globalism.

Russia’s invasion of Ukraine has forced many companies that hoped to operate as normal to take action. Under growing employee and consumer pressure, brands and restaurant chains have partly — or fully — paused their operations in Russia.

But few have left entirely because of concerns over the welfare of employees and the difficulties of re-entering after a departure.

McDonald’s, which employs 62,000 people in Russia, said in March that it would temporarily close its operations there.

But now the company has decided to leave entirely. It plans to sell its business, including 850 restaurants, some run by franchisees, to a local buyer. Read more

@nytimes