Russia was met with a wave of global sanctions after invading Ukraine in February. From Western superpowers to worldwide superstores, countries and companies have attempted to hurt the Russian economy by freezing it out of global markets. But not everyone has turned their back on President Putin's country. Using data from Yale's Chief Executive Leadership Institute (CELI) List of Companies Staying in Russia, read on to see the everyday products that are still being bought and sold in the Russian Federation – and indirectly funding Putin's campaign.
The caramel candy Toffifee, which retails under the name Toffifay in the US, first appeared on shelves in West Germany in 1973. Today, it’s sold in over 100 countries, and that includes Russia, as German parent company Storck is continuing its sales there despite the war in Ukraine.
Storck is also the parent company of Werther’s Originals, which are still available to buy in Russia. The global market for hard candies is expected to increase at a "healthy" compound annual growth rate through 2028. Given 17% of Russians claim to have bought "snacks and candy" online within the last year, Storck is clearly unwilling to turn its back on such a huge business opportunity.
Tupperware started being sold in New Hampshire living rooms back in the 1940s. By 2012 it had grown into a multibillion-dollar business that operated across 100 markets, with a so-called Tupperware party taking place somewhere in the world every few seconds. According to Yale’s CELI List, the company isn’t just operational in Russia – unlike many of the other companies in our round-up, it’s actively hiring there too.
Bistro Bowls, the ready-to-eat salads sold in the US, have been billed as "the delicious, convenient salad bowls that make it easier than ever to be good to yourself and the planet." But French parent company Bonduelle is still selling its line of products in Russia. In fact, Bonduelle has only recently expanded its investment in Russia; although the business has been operational in the country since the 1990s, it bought a frozen vegetable production company in the town of Belgorod in 2019.
Founded in 1831, Italian company De Cecco was the world's third-largest pasta producer by 2014. Its product line – which also includes olive oil, pasta sauces, and flours – can be found all over the globe, and the Russian war in Ukraine hasn't changed that. According to Yale's CELI List, De Cecco is continuing its Russian sales and operations.
Back in 2016, an interview with Mauro Moscardi, the director of four De Cecco Russian subsidiaries, revealed the Russian pasta market was the third largest after Italy and the US. At the time, the company was producing around 60 million kg (132 million pounds) of pasta in partnership with local Russian brands, as well as selling 1.4 million kg (3 million pounds) of imported own-brand products, every year.
Owned by parent company CKE Restaurant Holdings, American fast food chain Carl's Jr. has more than 3,900 locations around the world. The business has continued trading at its sites in Russia, having ramped up its Russian investment just last year. In August 2021, CKE announced a franchise agreement with Nevada Russia Franchising Company LLC with the intention of expanding its presence in the Federation. The plan involved opening at least 300 new Russian restaurants over the coming years.
Japanese sportswear brand Asics is also still selling its products in Russia, according to Yale's CELI List, although the company hasn't disclosed this publicly. The business, which is best known for its range of running shoes, has at least one store in Moscow. Back in the first quarter of 2016, company reports showed "significant growth in the regions of Europe, the Middle East, and Africa... with Russia standing out in particular" after the Federation recorded three-figure percentage growth in just three months.
Another American company that’s declined to leave Russia is Sbarro, a pizzeria chain famous for its New York-style pizza slices. Of its 600 locations, several are based in Russia and continue to serve customers. Locals can also place orders online, according to Yale’s tracker. Sbarro’s reluctance to leave Russia could be a result of poor global performance: its sales plummeted by more than 18% during the pandemic.
On the company website, Austrian energy drink Red Bull says: "Red Bull suspended all marketing activities and new investments in Russia in early March and complies with all EU and US sanctions." But the brand is still operational in Russia, where it has a subsidiary with at least 199 employees and $100 million (£83.5m) in revenue, according to Yale's CELI List.
Red Bull's reluctance to leave the market is particularly surprising as energy drinks aren't widely consumed in the country. Data from Statista shows that, while the per-capita consumption of energy drinks was a whopping 29 litres (over 7 and a half gallons) in the US last year, the average per-capita consumption in Russia was just one-third of a litre (less than 0.1 of a gallon).
Dutch multinational corporation Philips provides professional diagnostics products as well as household electronics, which includes everything from espresso machines and air purifiers to razors. Yale notes that Philips is still offering online sales in Russia. Although the Federation isn't the company's biggest market – according to Statista, total sales in the country are eclipsed by those in the US, China, Japan, Germany, Netherlands, UK, and France – its diagnostic imaging equipment is found in 18% of Russian clinics. Back in 2011, Philips also entered into a partnership with the Russian state nuclear company ROSATOM to develop nuclear medical capabilities.
Sbarro isn't the only pizza chain refusing to serve sanctions on Russia. Domino's is already the top-grossing pizza chain in the US and apparently has hopes for world domination, according to company CFO Stu Levy last year. This would involve increasing its number of international stores from 8,550 to 13,750 over the next few years. Back in March, Domino's announced that it would be suspending royalty payments from its Russian restaurants and halting any new investment in the country – but its website is firmly open for business.
According to the Huffington Post, Subway serves around 5,300 sandwiches every minute. If a footlong is a staple of your lunchtime routine, you might like to know that Yale has categorised the global sandwich chain as "buying time" when it comes to Russia. The brand has suspended all investment and advertising in the Russian Federation but continues to operate its 450 franchised restaurants in the country, as announced in a statement shared by the company earlier this year. Subway went on to say: "We will redirect any profits from operations in Russia to humanitarian efforts supporting the Ukrainian refugees across Europe. We are also working with our franchisees across Europe to provide meals to refugees."
Although it hasn't publicly disclosed its policy on Russia, Italian clothing brand Diesel is still operating in the country, according to Yale's research. That said, the company is no longer listing any Russian stores on its online locator tool and isn't able to export any products worth more than €300 ($305/£255). This is in accordance with EU sanctions that came into force back in March.
Austrian company Fischer Sports, which manufactures ski equipment and hockey sticks, is still selling its products online in Russia. (There are currently no bricks-and-mortar dealerships in the country, according to the company’s dealer locator.) The ongoing war has caused serious disruption to the ski equipment industry: at least 50% of all skis sold around the world are made in western Ukraine, where major factories have now been evacuated. Fischer, which manufactures most of its stock in Austria, has been less affected than other global suppliers, with one store owner from Missoula, Montana saying he’s had to order more skis from Fischer this year to make up the shortfall.
American video game developer Riot Games is the publisher behind big names including League of Legends and Star Guardian. According to Yale’s CELI List of Companies, Riot Games' products are still available in Russia – and the company still has an office in Moscow (pictured), although there are currently no positions open.
Now discover why Ukraine's economy is so vital to the world