ALMATY, Kazakhstan -- Kazakh consumers are having to adjust from eating at restaurants with one of the world's most recognizable names to enjoying their food at a place with no name at all.
Food Solutions KZ Ltd, the franchise holder of McDonald's in Kazakhstan, said on January 23 that it had resumed operations at five of its Almaty outlets -- which recently closed due to supply issues amid Russia's war with Ukraine -- but with no name on the doors.
The franchise holder added in a statement that more of the 24 restaurants it used to run under the name of McDonald's will soon resume operations across the country under a new brand name.
In November, Food Solutions KZ suspended operations, citing unspecified supply-chain issues sparked by Russia's unprovoked invasion of Ukraine, which was launched in February 2022.
SEE ALSO: McDonald's Quits Kazakh Market As Russia's War In Ukraine Disrupts Supply ChainReuters quoted sources as saying that McDonald's Kazakhstan had stopped buying supplies from Russia because of the disruptions and that it had trouble replacing them locally.
The statement by Food Solutions KZ did not say where it was sourcing supplies for the reopened outlets.
Menu items at the restaurants that reopened without a name included hamburgers, chicken burgers, and fish burgers as well as chicken nuggets, french fries, and ice cream.
Last week, the Kazakh Justice Ministry said it was looking into a request by Russia's Vkusno i Tochka (Tasty and That's It) company to register its trademark in Kazakhstan.
McDonald's restaurants in Russia were rebranded under the name Vkusno i Tochka after the iconic fast-food chain pulled out of the market last year over the invasion of Ukraine.
In that instance, McDonald's signed a deal to sell its business in Russia to a local licensee, Aleksandr Govor, that gave him the global fast-food giant's entire restaurant portfolio in the country and allowed him to operate the restaurants under a new brand.
It is unclear if Vkusno i Tochka's trademark was registered in Kazakhstan.