Main points
- Fast food chains in Russia, such as Vkusno i Tochta, Rostic's, and Burger King, have experienced a significant decline in profits due to population savings.
- Rising operating costs, rising ingredient prices, and slowing food service spending were the main reasons for the drop in profits.
Fast food chains in Russia are declining due to austerity / rosZMI
The austerity regime that Russians are increasingly entering has begun to seriously affect the fast food market. The largest fast food chains recorded a decline in profits in 2025, and the growth rate of revenue slowed significantly.
“Vkusno i dotka”, Rostic's, Burger King: what is happening with fast food chains in Russia?
The global economy has forced Russians to save even on burgers, writes the Russian media outlet Kommersant.
- The biggest drop in profit was recorded at the Rostic’s chain (the management company of Unirest) – minus 27.5%, to 4.1 billion rubles. For comparison, a year earlier the company showed rapid growth – over 60%.
- In the Vkusno i Tochka chain, which replaced McDonald's in Russia, the situation also worsened: net profit decreased by 15% to 14.4 billion rubles, although the company was still growing in 2024.
- Burger King (in Russia, Burger Rus) has an even worse performance: its profit has more than halved – by about 60%.
Valeria Popova, a senior analyst at Rikom-Trust, attributed the decline in fast food profits to a “significant increase” in operating costs, including rising employee salaries, as well as higher ingredient prices due to “inflationary processes” and logistical difficulties. Another reason could be a slowdown in Russians' spending on public catering.
At the same time, prices in establishments continued to rise. The average check for the year jumped by about 12%, while the number of visitors increased by only 2%. That is, people pay more, but come less often.
What is happening to the Russian economy?
In an interview with the Kommersant Ukrainian channel, economist Andriy Novak said that the Kremlin's economy could reach a systemic crisis this year.
According to the economist, this will happen due to the fall of the ruble and the deterioration of the financial situation in large companies.
It (the Russian economy – Channel 24) is already starting to die. Now, of course, I can’t name the exact month, but it will happen this year,
– said Andriy Novak.
He added that in such a situation, the Kremlin will be faced with a choice: either reduce funding for the war or face economic collapse. In particular, ending the war in Ukraine will not save Moscow, but rather will lead to political destabilization.
Business problems in Russia
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In 2025, VkusVill closed 286 stores in Russia, reducing the total number by 12.7% to 1,973 points, which is explained by the optimization and acceleration of delivery.
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The number of stores in Russia has decreased for the first time since 2000 due to rising taxes and increased competition. This applies to all retail outlets – from grocery stores near the house, supermarkets and fruit stands to communication salons and clothing stores.
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In Russia, the delivery times and costs of household appliances have increased sharply due to the conflict in the Middle East. Disruptions in logistics could lead to a 10-15% increase in prices for household appliances in Russia by the end of spring.