As of today, half of the American companies that were operating in Russia before February 2022 continue their business activities in the country.
IT, Food and Industrial
According to ABNews, there were 659 U.S. companies active in Russia before the conflict escalated.
Most of these companies were in the IT sector, industrial fields, and food and consumer goods sectors.
Currently, 322 of these companies have exited the Russian market. However, 159 firms are still conducting business as usual.
Additionally, 178 companies have either paused their investments or scaled back their marketing efforts, with some opting to supply products through distributors or rebrand their goods.
Burger King and PepsiCo Stayed
Notably, industrial enterprises, along with those producing food and consumer goods, such as Procter & Gamble, PepsiCo, and Burger King, have largely remained. In contrast, well-known companies like Nvidia, McDonald's, and Starbucks have left.
Economist Mikhail Belyaev noted that American companies that left Russia in 2022 might return if there are no obstacles from Russian authorities.
While only a few have returned so far, successful examples might encourage others to reopen their stores. Belyaev emphasized that the Russian market, with its 150 million potential consumers, is attractive to brands. Moreover, Russian consumers appreciate the reputation of Western companies they are familiar with and trust.
