Ukraine war: Starbucks rebranded in Russia as ‘Stars Coffee’ by restaurateur Anton Pinskiy and rapper Timati
- Rapper Timati and restaurateur Anton Pinskiy are relaunching the coffee chain following the company’s decision to exit the Russian market
- Starbucks is among numerous Western brands and companies that have pulled out of Russia, following Moscow’s decision to invade Ukraine
The new name on the Moscow shop was still under cover of plastic on Wednesday evening as Timati and co-owner, restaurateur Anton Pinskiy, prepared to unveil the first new store later on Thursday.
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Starbucks declined to comment on the similarity of the logo and name, but referred to an earlier statement in which it said the company had made the decision to exit and no longer had a brand presence in the Russian market.
In late May, Seattle-based Starbucks, which helped popularise takeaway coffee in a traditionally tea-loving society, said it would exit Russia after nearly 15 years.
Starbucks had 130 stores in Russia, operated by its licensee Alshaya Group, with nearly 2,000 employees in the country.
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It is also the latest example of prized assets from car factories and tyre makers to food retailers being handed over to local businesspeople in an unexpected windfall.
Pinskiy in July told Forbes Russia he would become a co-owner of Starbucks’ coffee shops in Russia, also partnering with the Sindika holding company.
While the partnership may appear unlikely, Timati, one of Russia’s most famous rappers, co-founded the Black Star Burger chain in Russia, which sells a “Timati Burger”.
Pinskiy, who earlier this month told Russian reporter and political activist Ksenia Sobchak that he had never tried coffee in his life, has a string of restaurants in his portfolio, including a joint project with Timati, Redbox, which serves Pan-Asian cuisine.
