McDonald’s has admitted acknowledged a significant impact on its business due to boycotts related to Israel’s Gaza siege. CEO Chris Kempczinski stated that the misinformation causing this impact is “disheartening and ill-founded.” He emphasized that McDonald’s is represented by local owner-operators in every country, including Muslim nations, who contribute to their communities. Approximately 5% of McDonald’s global outlets are in the Middle East.
The call for boycotts gained traction after McDonald’s Israel announced free meals for the Israeli Defence Force, prompting the Boycott, Divestment and Sanctions (BDS) movement to officially advocate boycotting the fast-food chain. While local operators own global outlets, proponents argue that the franchises indirectly contribute to the global company, which is linked to its Israel franchise.
The backlash reached Pakistan, where McDonald’s had to clarify its non-affiliation with Israel, stating its opposition to violence and hate speech. This admission follows a similar statement from Starbucks, reporting vandalism and threats to its outlets amid controversy over the company’s legal actions against the Workers United union.
