Coca-Cola, McDonald’s, PepsiCo Slammed Over Continued Sales In Russia, Customers Call For Boycotts

Some social media users are calling for a boycott of McDonald’s, Coca-Cola, and PepsiCo as the companies continue their operations in Russia amid the attacks on Ukraine.

Several companies, such as Netflix, Apple, H&M, and Ikea, have pulled out of Russia and are no longer selling products in the country. But Coca-Cola, McDonald’s, and PepsiCo have yet to make an announcement that they are pulling out of Russia, causing backlash on social media among their customers who are calling for a boycott of their products.

The hashtags #BoycottCocaCola, #BoycottPepsi, and #BoycottMcDonalds were trending on Twitter over the weekend as the movement to boycott the companies’ products over their stay in Russia gathered steam.

One former Coca-Cola customer said the company had earned their “eternal” boycott as they will never buy their products again over their decision to continue operating in Russia.

Another criticized Coca-Cola, McDonald’s, and PepsiCo in one post, telling them, “Shame on you!!!”

Another user on Twitter simply said “no tanks” as they joined the boycott.

Another former McDonald’s customer said, “No more Big Macs for me until McD suspends operations in Russia.”

And yet another user said, “It’s a small thing to do in support of Ukraine,” as they pushed for a boycott of Coca-Cola, McDonald’s, and PepsiCo.

Three Ukrainian supermarket chains – Novus, Fozzy Group, and Varus - said they are removing Coca-Cola products from their shelves, according to the Independent.

The boycott from the grocers came after a spokesperson for Coca-Cola Hellenic Bottling Company – the company that has the exclusive right to distribute Coca-Cola products in Russia and other countries – allegedly told Russian state-owned media outlet TASS that “all operational, production, and logistics facilities of Coca-Cola in Russia are working,” as reported by the Independent.

They reportedly continued by saying, “We are fully responsible to partners, society, and thousands of our employees in Russia. Our top priority is the safety of our employees.”

Coca-Cola has not denied the statement but has said it is donating €1 million to support the Red Cross in Ukraine as well as €550,000 to refugees in Romania, Hungary, Slovakia, and Poland.

No statements have been released from McDonald’s or PepsiCo about the Russia-Ukraine crisis.