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The fast-food chain opened 73 restaurants in Russia last year,
exceeding its forecast. Of the newly-opened restaurants, 65 are
company-owned, Khamzat Khasbulatov, head of McDonald's Russia,
told a news conference.
Khasbulatov said the target for new outlets in 2017 did not
signify the company was slowing the pace of its expansion.
"(The situation) has not got better or worse, 50 is not a small
number, we are just giving more freedom to our partners and time
to gather pace," said Khasbulatov.
McDonalds currently has three franchisees in Russia, two of
which have been opening its outlets in the Urals and Siberia.
Franchisees operate 92 restaurants out of its total of 609.
"The (franchising) program will develop, we are looking for new
partners," Khasbulatov said.
He added the company aimed to bring the share of local suppliers
to almost 100 percent by the end of 2018 from the current 85
percent and was encouraging suppliers to develop production in
Russia - a move likely to shield it from currency swings and any
import restrictions.
In 2014 Russia banned many food imports in retaliation to
Western sanctions over Moscow's role in the Ukraine crisis. The
food embargo, which is still in place, has driven up prices and
gave a boost to the Russian agriculture industry.
(Reporting by Maria Kiselyova and Olga Sichkar; Editing by
Christian Lowe)
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