According to Kari Salmela, CEO of Hesburger, the trademark will be used against the will of the chain if the restaurant in Moscow continues to operate.
Simo Ortamo,
Sofia Tawast
2.5. 17:45 • Updated 2.5. 21:16
The Hesburger on the Arbat pedestrian street was open as before today at lunchtime. The restaurant still used Hesburger logos and sold branded products. There were diners on site, and food couriers picked up meals from the counter.
A cashier told ’s photographer who was visiting Hesburger that the restaurant was not going to close. However, according to him, it is possible that its name will change at some point.
CEO of Hesburger Kari Salmela writes by e-mail to that all the chain’s own restaurants in Russia have been closed.
– If the restaurant continues to operate as a Hesburger, the entrepreneur will use the Hesburger trademark against our will. We will discuss the matter through lawyers, Salmela comments.
Hesburger has also had independent entrepreneurs in Russia. Local self-employed people have previously been sent a notice of dissolution informing them that the use of the Hesburger trademark must be stopped immediately.
Hesburger does not own the business premises of the restaurants, but only the Hesburger brand. Salmela says that Hesburger has also stopped supplying raw materials to Russia.
– Hesburger no longer receives income from Russia. Over the years, Hesburger has invested approximately EUR 15 million in the Russian business, which is becoming a loss, the CEO writes.
Hesburger is not the only Western company to have had difficulty closing its offices in Russia. McDonald’s said it was leaving Russia as early as March, but some restaurants are still open.
For example, all 17 McDonald’s restaurants in the city of Kazan continue to operate, local Tatar-inform news site (go to another service) says. They are run by a Russian franchisor who operates in a total of 14 regions in Russia.
The franchisor has no intention of closing their restaurants.
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