MICHELIN said on Friday that its world-famous guide would suspend all restaurant recommendations in Russia in response to Moscow’s invasion of Ukraine.
All development projects in Russia were now frozen, it said in a statement, adding that all social media and online activity in Russia was also on hold.
“Given the severity of the current crisis, the teams of the Michelin Guide have had to take the decision to suspend all restaurant recommendation activities in Russia,” Michelin said.
Michelin in 2021 published its first selection for Moscow, which included nine restaurants that were awarded its coveted stars, a distinction seen as proof of ranking among the best restaurants of the world.
“We have made the choice not to promote Moscow as a destination,” Michelin said. “As a result, the Moscow selection will not be updated this year.”
Michelin’s Moscow Guide, the only one in Russia, currently includes 69 restaurants.
The Guide, developed at the beginning of the 20th century by French tire maker Michelin as a handy glove box companion when on the road, is one of the world’s most influential rankings for restaurants and hotels, with many country and city editions.
Michelin Guides are published annually, so any mention or star has to be renewed each year.
A Michelin spokesperson said that it was too early to tell if the Guide would put a permanent end to its Russia activities.
In the news release, Michelin said that “in no way do these decisions call into question the talent of the teams and chefs.”
JACK DANIEL’S MAKERPAUSES HIRING IN RUSSIA
Meanwhile, Jack Daniel’s maker Brown-Forman Corp. said last week that it has paused hiring for its own distribution business in Russia following the country’s invasion of Ukraine.
The company, which gets about 1% of its sales from Russia and has about 80 employees in the country, said on an earnings call that it had initially planned to hire more workers for its own distribution business there, which was set to be operational in July.
Currently, Brown-Forman sells its spirits and wine through third-party sellers in Russia. The company did not comment on whether it would stop sales in the country.
Earlier, Brown-Forman’s European peer Diageo paused exports to both the countries and said its priority is the safety of its people in Ukraine and the wider region. — Reuters