McDonald’s Corp., which recently has been forced to close some restaurants in Russia, will open its first store in nearby Kazakhstan next year.
The world’s biggest fast-food chain will open locations in a partnership with Kazakh businessman Kairat Boranbayev, the Oak Brook, Illinois-based company said yesterday in a statement. Kazakhstan will be the company’s 120th global market and will be included in its European division.
Recently, McDonald’s has had to close locations in Russia after consumer-safety regulators conducted inspections of the restaurants. Russian courts temporarily shut nine locations, the company said last month.
American fast-food chains are expanding abroad as they struggle to boost US sales. McDonald’s said earlier this month that domestic same-store sales fell 1 per cent in October, the sixth straight monthly decline. Competitors including Hardee’s and KFC, owned by Yum! Brands Inc., already have locations in Kazakhstan.
The first McDonald’s store in Kazakhstan will open in the second half of next year, the company said. The restaurant will feature free Wi-Fi and the menu will include Big Macs, Chicken McNuggets and french fries.
Bloomberg News, edited by Hospitality Ireland
