Wkusno i Toczka" exits Belgorod amid escalating conflict
The press service for the "Wkusno i Toczka" (Tasty and Dot) chain, which mimics the world's most famous fast-food brand, has announced the shutdown of its outlets in Belgorod. The local courts have also halted their usual operations.
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For the safety of its staff and customers, the Russian franchise "Wkusno i Toczka" (Tasty and Dot) has decided to close all its establishments in Belgorod.
They stepped into McDonald's shoes
There's no indication of when they might reopen. "Tasty and Dot" took over the spots previously occupied by McDonald's. Belgorod's media outlets are reporting that the courts have also paused, shifting to a critical operations mode. Only urgent cases will be heard.
It’s worth remembering that in a move against Russia's harsh military offensive in Ukraine, McDonald’s exited the Russian market on May 13, 2022. Merely three days after, Russian entrepreneur Alexander Govor acquired the 850 erstwhile locations and was present at the Sunday inauguration of the Russian fast-food brand.
By the middle of June 2022, the chain was up and running under the new moniker, amid online reports showing moldy buns at one of the branches.
The trigger for the closure of these outlets has been the guerrilla warfare ongoing since March 9. So far, 16 individuals have lost their lives, and approximately 98 are wounded. "What we're seeing is not merely a skirmish against a covert squad, but a comprehensive military assault, utilizing aircraft, artillery, tanks, and a substantial number of drones" - Russian military bloggers note. Putin has mobilised the FSB.
