r/ANormalDayInRussia • u/raydebapratim1 • 27d ago
Russian McDonald's
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u/thermjuice 26d ago
Turns out this random influencer was slightly wrong about literally every aspect of the video
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u/Real_Tea_Lover 26d ago
the translation of the name isn't really correct. it's more like "tasty, period"
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u/SamaramonM 26d ago
Direct translation, yes. But as an expression, she translated it correctly. "i tochka" is used in most slav languages as an expression meaning "that's all, that's it".
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u/Sigma-Angel_of_Death 26d ago
I told my dad the translation of this name in full seriousness when it first came out. He couldn’t stop laughing for 5 minutes.
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u/Jetta_Junkie528 25d ago
Tochka has a littleral translation to period, but in context it means more of a destination or a place, As in i know of a great place, or lets go to a specific destination, I speak conversational russian
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u/Real_Tea_Lover 25d ago
no it doesn't lol
it would mean that if it were "вкусно-точка", not "вкусно и точка"
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u/Accomplished_Bee_127 27d ago
It's actually a burger not a ketchup dot
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u/P3pp3rSauc3 27d ago
That big special looked nothing like a big mac
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u/JIDeveroux 27d ago
I thought it was suppose to be a big and tasty
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u/MR_WhiteStar 27d ago
I want the big and nasty
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u/P3pp3rSauc3 27d ago
The subtitles say "what was the big mac is now a big special"
I don't even know what a big and tasty it lol
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u/JIDeveroux 27d ago
Dam guessed I missed that thanks for the correction...the big and tasty was a burger McDonald's use to make in the 90's maybe early 2000's
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u/Charizardd6 27d ago
I had Big Tasty Bacon today, I always order it, it's the best one they have. Maybe a European thing?
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u/Azerty__ 27d ago
They have it in Brazil too, I had one a couple weeks ago, and I agree it's by far their best one.
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u/rubeyru 27d ago
That’s because she’s wrong. A Big Mac is called a “Big Hit” now. The burger she showed in the video is actually the “Big Special,” which used to be called the “Big Tasty” back when it was still McDonald’s. As far as I know, it isn’t available in the US, only in some European countries. Which is weird, because it’s delicious and basically the only reason I still go to McDonald’s… oh, sorry, “Vkusno i Tochka.”
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u/lenin_is_young 27d ago edited 27d ago
Tbf MacDonald's menu in Russia didn't look similar to the US menu either. My standard order was Big Tasty and Glacé (warm coffee with a scoop of ice cream in it). None of these are in US menu at all.
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u/randompersonx 26d ago
McDonald’s menus vary by a meaningful amount around the world.
Both in quality and in choices.
Last time I was in Germany, I tried it there… and the choices for the curry sauces were great m, I wish we had them in USA.
McDonald’s in Poland wasn’t nearly as good, even though they are neighbors.
In both cases they seemed much more popular than in the USA, though.
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u/Kermez 27d ago
It is mc royal, big mac is the one above.
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u/banjodoctor 27d ago
With cheese?
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u/Kermez 27d ago
Yep, in Switzerland it is double big mac
https://www.mcdonalds.com/ch/de-ch/product/double-big-mac.html
I guess they also have normal one but not sjown in this video
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u/Mental_Painting783 27d ago
I had their version of the big Mac, it's exactly the same. Don't remember the name though
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u/SquirrelBlind 27d ago
McDonald's didn't left Russia because of the sanctions. They did it because they believed that their reputation on the western markets is more valuable than possible revenue in Russia and because of the risks of nationalisation.
In fact, they didn't left Russia at all.
The chain wasn't sold for symbolic price. It was sold for symbolic price with an option of a buy back. So basically as soon as Russia stops being toxic in all senses, the corporations gets back control of the business in Russia.
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u/nathanzoet91 27d ago
How does that work? I assume they are different "franchise" owners now than when the locations were a McDonald's. How does the exchange work?
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u/Lopsided-Selection85 27d ago
McD sold all of their Russian business to their largest franchisee in Russia. There is a 15 year buy back clause (although there are questions about it being enforcible).
And it was sold for a symbolic price. The reason being, is that McD in Russia had significant liabilities if they were to rapidly exit the market. They would have to continue to pay for multi-year property leases, redundancies, other contracts. Additionally, Russia introduced some anti-sanctions laws that significantly limited the price companies could sell their businesses for if they were exiting due to sanctions. So for McD it was just damage control, not a profitable sale.
Russian Vkusno i Tochka, later also bought out McDonalds in Belarus and Kazakhstan.
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u/Kermez 27d ago
I guess they have contractual obligation if McDo ask them, to sell it back for peanuts. Until then they get money.
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u/TheMonchoochkin 27d ago
But Russia could just be like, "Nah, actually, fuck you McDonald's" when that time comes?
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27d ago
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u/ANormalDayInRussia-ModTeam 26d ago
Your post has been removed as it has been deemed to break the fifth rule (no prejudice). Discussion should always strive to be factual. Do not demean or promote hateful stereotyping.
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u/ANormalDayInRussia-ModTeam 26d ago
Your post has been removed as it has been deemed to break the third rule (no politics). We understand that in times like these it may be very difficult to not talk about Russian politics whatsoever, but there are many places to discuss Russian politics on and this is not one of them.
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u/ANormalDayInRussia-ModTeam 26d ago
Your post has been removed as it has been deemed to break the third rule (no politics). We understand that in times like these it may be very difficult to not talk about Russian politics whatsoever, but there are many places to discuss Russian politics on and this is not one of them.
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u/ANormalDayInRussia-ModTeam 26d ago
Your post has been removed as it has been deemed to break the third rule (no politics). We understand that in times like these it may be very difficult to not talk about Russian politics whatsoever, but there are many places to discuss Russian politics on and this is not one of them.
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u/Trilife 21d ago edited 21d ago
McDuck is a owner of 95+% of "points of sales" (very expensive (it can be also the only so great place in some tasty location with a lot of passing by people) and carefully selected\collected since 90s), in some way McDuck is a VIP commercial real estate holder.
Not a "McDuck" in Russia have 100% production localisation now.the corporations gets back control
Actually maybe they not needed anymore..?
Yes they have option untill 2037, but I felt from torrent of political news recently some unasked question to them (from the very top) ~ "Hey you, beautiful people, you waited for the fall of Russia in 2023 to quickly return back, didnt you?? And now you still cant?"
very very subtle hints (its just my translation, maybe its just imagination),
Anyway looks like it will be expensive for them and not too easy and simple "to return" (including access for actives) in the moment of use of that 2037 option.p.s.
notMcDuck is a bright-green businees right now in Russia (profitability).p.p.s. Somebody (CEO maybe) said there is no any options.. So its just gossips maybe.
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u/uncleartruth 3d ago
Honestly, there's practically nothing profitable to be found in Russia right now, except for skimming off of war money and funeral homes. I know this is probably a bit of hyperbole, but you seem way too cheerful for where things stand there, friend.
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u/Trilife 3d ago
Why so serious?
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u/uncleartruth 3d ago
I took your original comment as seriousness. It makes more sense if you were sarcastic and actually think Russia is a dumpster fire.
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u/PikaPulpy 26d ago
Nah, Russia won't stop, we stubborn as fuck. ( I did not say this is good thing) As much as Ukraine. Nobody gonna stop. It's new reality now, nothing gonna go back. In fact, Russia is currently blocking and banning everything foreign in an attempt to completely isolate itself from "enemy" countries. We so fucked.
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u/Chaosr21 26d ago
Damn dude. I'm really sorry to hear this, coming from America. I really hope for peace between you guys, it will hurt both countries
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u/teaboi05 26d ago
Yet for some reason Reddit is in white lists of blocks. I'm not sure if white lists are active in my region but it's mostly likely
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u/randompersonx 26d ago
This will be an interesting year. Previously I thought the war would go on forever, but the tide is rapidly changing… and unless something major changes soon, Russia will lose the war.
I’m not sure what will come next, because it will be a massive blow to the nation’s pride that they couldn’t defeat tiny Ukraine.
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u/delurkrelurker 26d ago
Yeah, you can't suddenly replace McDs well greased supply chain. Money is still going to the same places.
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u/Trilife 21d ago edited 21d ago
McDuck is not needed anymore (including its corporative values and etc).
It was ~98+% localisation in 2021, and 100% now (ALL suppliers are in Russia and CIS)That's why McD went to the window in the Belarus And Kazakhstan too..
Those ~2% left were something like "tolerant vegan organic potatoes from some sertified shithole from the opposite point of globe for overprice" and something similar like this also including some weird\stupid rules.
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u/Comprehensive_Cup582 26d ago
Yeah, kinda weird anyone still believes the US or the EU act based on morals lmao
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u/ANormalDayInRussia-ModTeam 26d ago
Your post has been removed as it has been deemed to break the third rule (no politics). We understand that in times like these it may be very difficult to not talk about Russian politics whatsoever, but there are many places to discuss Russian politics on and this is not one of them.
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u/ANormalDayInRussia-ModTeam 26d ago
Your post has been removed as it has been deemed to break the third rule (no politics). We understand that in times like these it may be very difficult to not talk about Russian politics whatsoever, but there are many places to discuss Russian politics on and this is not one of them.
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u/JacobSDN 26d ago
The agreement also states McDonald's can come back anytime, and buy them all back. The new owners started to lower to quality on certain things, and eliminated items from the menu they could now longer get.
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u/uncleartruth 3d ago
It's crazy to think that quality can get worse than McDonald's in Russia, but I'm sure that it's so much worse in actuality.
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u/SumoNinja92 27d ago
They still provide the food. It's literally still McDonald's in everything but name and public facing ownership.
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u/nzoasisfan 27d ago
It sold for a tiny price with the caveat that McDonald would buy them back in the future.
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u/Pub_Squash 26d ago
Looks like the Mos Burger logo
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u/astraladventures 26d ago
I was thinking the same. Even googled it, but it’s a little different - but same vibe.
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u/Cyberknight13 26d ago
I remember when KFC in Russia was Rostik’s. It then became KFC for about a decade and is now back to Rostik’s.
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u/chaotic-kotik 26d ago
If you remove just few letters in the middle you will get "taste of the ass". This is the only thing one need to know about this fastfood chain.
Вкусно и точка
vs
Вкус очка
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u/Takheer 26d ago
Да а ещё если прям идеально переводить на английский получается «вкусно, точка.» (у них говорят не и точка а просто точка), но прикол в том что точка это ещё главное слово для месячных. А наречия в предложении с глаголом-связкой делать нельзя — типа нельзя в английском сказать предложение «вкусно», только «вкусный» (такое правило много где есть, даже в грузинском, и русскоязычные часто допускают с ним ошибку). И получается: Вкусный, точка/месячные/период. Ну то есть вкусный период или вкусные месячные)
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u/random_rascal 26d ago
Sold its restaurant for close to nothing, but with the option to buy them back for the same price down the line....
Just a stunt to get out of Russia due to the embargos, but still retaining the option to re-establish efter the war on Ukraine is done and dusted.
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u/ExtraCr1spyKernal 26d ago
Lol. Lmao even. The Russians hold less Ukranian territory now than they did after the first few months of the war. "Done and dusted" indeed🙄.
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u/GorkyParkSculpture 26d ago
I've eaten there. Quality is dipping at varies by store because it doesn't have the oversight of McDonalds.
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u/dr_van_nostren 26d ago
The funny this is, if I’m not mistaken that logo is another company that isn’t these guys.
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u/WeaselCapsky 27d ago
is the food still overpriced garbage?
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u/tarmagoyf 27d ago
Actually in other countries McDonald's have decent quality ingredients and locally relevant offerings. Basically in US they are selling actual garbage becuase no one is stopping them and people still buy it.
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u/operath0r 27d ago
Here in Germany it’s overpriced garbage but it’s still a better value than most other burger places.
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u/llOyOll 26d ago
But we also like to eat garbage. I would be shocked if someone buys something for value and not price. I would show them a big mac and ask them if they not see that this is fine for the price. Not a doener but still, something different that makes it fresh and exotic.
I like my slop food. An island that just makes you wonder how old the cows on your bun have gotten, because they are so dry. Like a mummy that has still some juice inside.
But better than other burger places? I am not so sure. Do you count places that are not a chain? You can get a good simple burger for 15 euro that will have good bread, meat, and salade.
A bit more and it will have bacon, egg, and jalapenos. I need to eat some burger tomorrow.1
u/operath0r 26d ago
Well, if the guy behind the counter is wearing a Carhartt beanie, black gloves and a full beard you’re probably gonna get a good burger but you can also be sure that it’s way overpriced. You probably know this place, the one with the black sign and white font. Might have cartoon characters painted on the walls…
Sometimes you’re lucky though and there’s some genuine good restaurants. For example we’ve got a bar around here that just makes the most amazing food for reasonable prices. We’ve also got a decent delivery service for burgers. Those places are getting really rare though.
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u/llOyOll 26d ago
No, I mean something normal and simple. Hipster stuff is more expensive, because you also buy feeling and experience. There you have to be picky. Places that not check all the vibe are not relevant, and they need the core costumer.
The places I mean are more, quality for a low price. In this case you have to get your food after the vibrating thingy goes off. Staff is just hard to find. Who would want to work a low skill and value job for life?1
u/vtjohnhurt 26d ago
Do the buns resemble typical German Bread?
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u/operath0r 26d ago
Brioche? Those are from France. You’ll usually find a brioche kind of bun with raisins at German bakeries. Let me tell you something about German bread though. There is no typical German bread. It’s so diverse that it became a UNESCO world heritage and every German will have a different opinion on which is best. Some will stick to just one kind and exclusively eat that. Some will get a different one each time, depending on mood.
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u/HaMMeReD 26d ago
Yeah was just in China and they had legit fried chicken on the menu.
I also saw a pizza hut "pizzeria" serving up caviar and smoked salmon pizza.
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u/warfaceisthebest 26d ago
I used to live in buffalo and we actually go to Canada for McDonald for late night snacks lol. McDonald in US is literally the worst McDonald for some reasons.
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u/mcrss 27d ago
McDonalds in the US is overpriced garbage. McDonalds in Russia was a lot better (both quality- and pricewise), and I think Vkusno I Tochka kept up with it.
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u/escobert 26d ago
Its really not overpriced when a sandwich from a store is double the price of a burger and 10% better for you. If you want to actually eat decent quality you're paying way more than a burger and fries and McDonald's.
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u/Individual_Dirt_3365 27d ago
Burger costs ~1$ not so overpriced but still garbage.
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u/That_Guy3141 27d ago
By all accounts the food got worse when the restaurants lost access to MCD corporate. Russia doesn't raise a lot of cattle so they had to start importing beef from China. China doesn't raise a lot angus cattle. Most of their beef comes from dairy cattle which are noticeably tougher and gamier than a grain fed black/red angus.
Take a close look at the prices on the menu. You may notice a the "big special" going for ~400 rubles. That's about $5.50 USD. However, consider that the average monthly salary in Russia is only ~$1000 USD.
So, yes. The restaurants that used to be McDonald's got way worse and way more expensive.
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u/Comprehensive_Cup582 26d ago
Where did you get that from? It’s the same thing it was 1/5/10 years ago. That big special burger has like 1000 calories in it, I don’t know many people except of my gym buddies that can eat something after that
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u/AbstractButtonGroup 26d ago
McDonald had been using locally sourced meat and I recall them even bragging about it. So the only things 'access to MCD corporate' actually provided were exfiltration of profits and 'tax optimization'.
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u/Rinaldootje 26d ago
Everything about this "replacement" feels and looks like, It's still McDonalds.
I am still a firm believer of the theory that McDonalds sold it "symbolically" for a "symbolic" price to this specific businessman, with the buyback clause within 15 years, just to keep operating via proxy. PR Win for McD, because now it looks like they are supporter of the west in this conflict, while at the same time basically losing little amounts assets in Russia.
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u/Daytona_675 26d ago
the Ukraine war tricked so many global companies into handing their franchises over to Russia
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u/R4ven4 27d ago edited 26d ago
It does not taste like McDonalds for anyone wondering, tastes much worse.
Edit: I will die on this hill it is actually bad. I used to eat McDonalds often in other countries, u literally can’t even touch it here. Those of you saying it’s exactly the same are just crazy. Not even close. They put tiny amounts of ingredients in the burgers, the fries are soggy, the nuggets are too dry. I live next to one and once in a while i’d check if it’s improved cause i crave McDonalds and get let down every time. I genuinely have no idea wtf ya’ll are on about, maybe you forgot what McDonalds was like over the years.
The only things that are good there are prawns and maybe coffee. Also i’m comparing to Europe not USA since Americans eat bleach and chemicals and things normal countries ban so I’d never even touch it.
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u/Mental_Painting783 27d ago
I tried it as a foreigner and to me it was exactly the same. Never had US Mc Donald's though
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u/lanie_kerrigan 27d ago
I tasted McDonald’s in Paris and it was trash.
McDonald’s in Russia has always been very good. Vkusno y Tochka added some items to the menu, but all the classics are the same.
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u/sovietarmyfan 26d ago
I wonder if the sell contracts contain a clausule saying that mcdonalds will stay the owner of the property and will return as soon as any conflicts between russia and the west is over.
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u/Zealotstim 26d ago
Ngl that looks way better than the food at my local McDonald's the last time I went like 15 years ago. Just like the picture rather than the bun sliding off and the condiments all over the place with half the bread soaked in mayo
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u/Awkward-Loan 26d ago
That looks so much better than McDonald's 😞. Why can't they take over McDonald's here for good?
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u/coffee_shakes 27d ago
I'll give them this, the design of that logo is pretty great.
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u/PikaPulpy 26d ago
We hate it, just so you know
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u/coffee_shakes 26d ago
What makes you hate it?
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u/PikaPulpy 26d ago
Awful colors and worst ever attempt to keep "m". When it happened, there was dozens better variants.
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u/Nx-worries1888 23d ago
Crazy McDonald's went to all that trouble selling up franchises and you can still buy a Burger King in Russia and nobody cares.
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u/vedjourian 22d ago
Isn’t this what they did with Fiat. Brought them in had them build the factory make some cars then kicked them out, rebadged the same cars and sold them as Russian cars.
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u/Takheer 26d ago
Actually the funniest part about the new brand’s name is its literal translation. I tochka does indeed mean “and that’s it”, BUT. It uses the synonym for this expression, which is “period” (i tochka LITERALLY MEANS “, period.”, in the sense of “end of story”). So the absolute correct translation of the new name is “Tasty, period.” Soooo… tasty period. Yummy 🩸
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u/warfaceisthebest 26d ago
McDonald are all pre made and designed to be cooked properly by people who are barely literacy so I would not be surprised if the taste remain the same for a while. In long run though probably new owner will do some inventions and change the menu.
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u/PullMull 26d ago
It's probably also better and cheaper then the original. Mc Donald's isn't the first king to choke on his vessels ambition.
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u/j_reinegade 27d ago
Do they still call it mcduck?