NEW GLASGOW – Universally recognized Golden Arches of fast food giant McDonald’s have opened a gateway leading hundreds of multi-national companies to Russia.
It's been 20 years since Moscovites got their first taste of the world famous Big Mac, and since then the country has become the chain's fastest growing market in Europe.
Larry Swenson, owner-operator of New Glasgow McDonald’s (1983) and McDonald’s in Truro (1991) was one of just two Canadian McDonald’s owner-operators who were part of a delegation attending the anniversary events in Russia this month.
"From the time I got there until the time I left I was on the go constantly," said Swenson.
He was awed by the size of the first McDonald’s set up in the former Soviet Union in Pushkin Square, Moscow, still one of the largest in the world. For example, in Truro there are four cash registers for frontline staff while the Pushkin Square restaurant boasts 28.
Most of the menu items are the same but there are a few distinctly Russian additions such as mushroom or potato pie.
George Cohon, founder of McDonald's Canada, was instrumental in bringing McDonald's to Russia, a task that took more than 14 years following a chance meeting between Cohon and a Soviet delegation at the 1976 Olympic Games in Montreal.
Swenson said he had turned down the opportunity to attend the grand opening of Russia's first Golden Arches, and eagerly accepted an invitation by Cohon to celebrate the 20th anniversary.
He said it has been a challenging process building the Russian McDonald’s, literally from the ground up, by teaching local farmers how to grow potatoes to make signature french fries and to supply other breads and vegetables. "Now 80 per cent of all their products are sourced within Russia," said Swenson.
He said they are a huge economic driver with 125,000 jobs directly and in-directly related to McDonald’s restaurants.
In 2010, with plans to accelerate the pace of growth, McDonald's Russia is expected to add 4,000-4,500 new job opportunities for local citizens.
During the two-week long visit, Swenson toured a number of McDonald’s locations, now numbering 245 in 60 cities, as well as the Kremlin, the Hermitage Museum and Red Square.
He returned to his home base in New Glasgow on Feb. 15 with a new outlook after experiencing the genuine enthusiasm of the Russian people.
"I think the biggest thing I came back with is it rejuvenated me in terms of being a franchisee," said Swenson.
He said sometimes when you are facing the constant demands of operating a business you can lose sight of some of the basic things that can boost customer service.
"We have an opportunity to be better than we are," he said.
