Former KFC restaurants rebranded in Russia

(25 Apr 2023)

FOR CLEAN VERSION SEE STORY NUMBER: 4431134

++PLEASE NOTE: AP IS OPERATING IN RUSSIA ACCORDING TO RUSSIAN RESTRICTIONS ON ALL REPORTING RELATED TO THE ONGOING MILITARY OPERATION IN UKRAINE++
ASSOCIATED PRESS
Moscow, Russia - 25 April 2023
1. Wide of staff chanting and applauding UPSOUND (Russian) "We are the Unirest team! Unirest! Unirest!"
HEADLINE: FORMER KFC RESTAURANTS REBRANDED IN RUSSIA
2. Close of managers of Rostic's chicken shop cutting red ribbon at opening of restaurant
LOCATION: LONDON
3. Wide of managers of Rostic's chicken shop celebrating after cutting red ribbon
ANNOTATION: Former KFC restaurants have been rebranded after the U.S. chain left Russia.
4. Wide of Rostic's employee bringing chicken wings to table
ANNOTATION: The new owners say the food will be the same as the former KFC menu.
5. Close of wings
6. Various of Rostic's employee bringing food to table
ANNOTATION: Forty Rostic's restaurants will open by the beginning of May in Moscow and in the Khanty-Mansiysk region, with more to follow.
7. Various of customers eating at restaurant
ANNOTATION: KFC's parent company partnered with Rostic's in 2005 before later buying the brand.
ANNOTATION: In March 2022, following the start of the special military operation in Ukraine, the group decided to leave the Russian market.
8. Various of Rostic's employees collecting orders
ANNOTATION: The company later announced it would transfer ownership of its restaurants and franchises to new owners.
ANNOTATION: Rostic's first opened in Russia in 1993.

STORYLINE:
Former KFC restaurants which were rebranded after the U.S. chain left Russia have opened their doors as Rostic’s in Moscow.

An opening ceremony took place in the centre of the Russian capital on Tuesday.

The new owners told reporters food on offer would be indistinguishable from the former KFC menu.

According to managers, 40 Rostic's restaurants will be open by the beginning of May in Moscow and the Khanty-Mansiysk region.

Another 26 restaurants will open in the Moscow region by the end of May.

Rostic's opened in 1993 in Russia.

KFC, operated by U.S. fast food corporation Yum! Brands, partnered with Rostic's in 2005 before later buying the brand.

In March 2022, Yum! Brands decided to exit the Russian market at the start of the special military operation in Ukraine.

In October 2022, it said it would transfer ownership of Russian restaurants and franchises to Konstantin Kotov and Andrey Oskolkov's Smart Service.

===========================================================