McDonald's successor reopens in Russia after U.S. giant withdrawal

People dine at the newly opened fast food restaurant in a former McDonald's outlet in central Moscow, Russia, on June 12, 2022. The successor to McDonald's in Russia, "Vkusno - i tochka," reopened the first batch of 15 restaurants in Moscow and its suburbs on Sunday, three months after the U.S. fast-food chain ended its business in Russia. (Photo by Alexander Zemlianichenko Jr/Xinhua)

MOSCOW, June 12 (Xinhua) -- The successor to McDonald's in Russia, "Vkusno - i tochka," reopened the first batch of 15 restaurants in Moscow and its suburbs on Sunday, three months after the U.S. fast-food chain ended its business in Russia.

Oleg Paroev, general director of the company, announced the new brand meaning "Delicious - and that's it," during a ceremony at the restaurant in downtown Moscow's Pushkinskaya Square, the first McDonald's restaurant in the Soviet Union that opened in 1990.

Another 50 outlets will be reopened on Monday, and roughly 200 outlets are expected to reopen by the end of June. All of McDonald's former 850 restaurants across Russia are expected to reopen by the end of summer, Paroev told reporters.

According to a previous deal, the rebranded fast-food network will use new names on the menu and retain all employees under equivalent terms for at least two years.

McDonald's suspended its business in Russia on March 14. The company announced its withdrawal from Russia on May 16 and three days later sold the assets to Russian businessman Alexander Govor, a former McDonald's licensee. 

A woman dines at the newly opened fast food restaurant in a former McDonald's outlet in central Moscow, Russia, on June 12, 2022. The successor to McDonald's in Russia, "Vkusno - i tochka," reopened the first batch of 15 restaurants in Moscow and its suburbs on Sunday, three months after the U.S. fast-food chain ended its business in Russia. (Photo by Alexander Zemlianichenko Jr/Xinhua)

An employee prepares food at the newly opened fast food restaurant in a former McDonald's outlet in central Moscow, Russia, on June 12, 2022. The successor to McDonald's in Russia, "Vkusno - i tochka," reopened the first batch of 15 restaurants in Moscow and its suburbs on Sunday, three months after the U.S. fast-food chain ended its business in Russia. (Photo by Alexander Zemlianichenko Jr/Xinhua)

An employee prepares food at the newly opened fast food restaurant in a former McDonald's outlet in central Moscow, Russia, on June 12, 2022. The successor to McDonald's in Russia, "Vkusno - i tochka," reopened the first batch of 15 restaurants in Moscow and its suburbs on Sunday, three months after the U.S. fast-food chain ended its business in Russia. (Photo by Alexander Zemlianichenko Jr/Xinhua)

Journalists take pictures of hamburgers at the newly opened fast food restaurant in a former McDonald's outlet in central Moscow, Russia, on June 12, 2022. The successor to McDonald's in Russia, "Vkusno - i tochka," reopened the first batch of 15 restaurants in Moscow and its suburbs on Sunday, three months after the U.S. fast-food chain ended its business in Russia. (Xinhua/Bai Xueqi)

Oleg Paroev (R), general director of the "Vkusno - i tochka," and Russian businessman Alexander Govor attend a press conference prior to the opening of the fast food restaurant in a former McDonald's outlet in central Moscow, Russia, on June 12, 2022. The successor to McDonald's in Russia, "Vkusno - i tochka," reopened the first batch of 15 restaurants in Moscow and its suburbs on Sunday, three months after the U.S. fast-food chain ended its business in Russia. (Photo by Alexander Zemlianichenko Jr/Xinhua)

Employees celebrate during the opening ceremony at the newly opened fast food restaurant in a former McDonald's outlet in central Moscow, Russia, on June 12, 2022. The successor to McDonald's in Russia, "Vkusno - i tochka," reopened the first batch of 15 restaurants in Moscow and its suburbs on Sunday, three months after the U.S. fast-food chain ended its business in Russia. (Xinhua/Bai Xueqi)

Customers enter the newly opened fast food restaurant in a former McDonald's outlet in central Moscow, Russia, on June 12, 2022. The successor to McDonald's in Russia, "Vkusno - i tochka," reopened the first batch of 15 restaurants in Moscow and its suburbs on Sunday, three months after the U.S. fast-food chain ended its business in Russia. (Xinhua/Bai Xueqi)

People line up to enter the newly opened fast food restaurant in a former McDonald's outlet in central Moscow, Russia, on June 12, 2022. The successor to McDonald's in Russia, "Vkusno - i tochka," reopened the first batch of 15 restaurants in Moscow and its suburbs on Sunday, three months after the U.S. fast-food chain ended its business in Russia. (Xinhua/Bai Xueqi)

People order food at the newly opened fast food restaurant in a former McDonald's outlet in central Moscow, Russia, on June 12, 2022. The successor to McDonald's in Russia, "Vkusno - i tochka," reopened the first batch of 15 restaurants in Moscow and its suburbs on Sunday, three months after the U.S. fast-food chain ended its business in Russia. (Photo by Alexander Zemlianichenko Jr/Xinhua)

People dine at the newly opened fast food restaurant in a former McDonald's outlet in central Moscow, Russia, on June 12, 2022. The successor to McDonald's in Russia, "Vkusno - i tochka," reopened the first batch of 15 restaurants in Moscow and its suburbs on Sunday, three months after the U.S. fast-food chain ended its business in Russia. (Photo by Alexander Zemlianichenko Jr/Xinhua)

Food is seen on a table at the newly opened fast food restaurant in a former McDonald's outlet in central Moscow, Russia, on June 12, 2022. The successor to McDonald's in Russia, "Vkusno - i tochka," reopened the first batch of 15 restaurants in Moscow and its suburbs on Sunday, three months after the U.S. fast-food chain ended its business in Russia. (Photo by Alexander Zemlianichenko Jr/Xinhua)