Hesburger, Finland’s largest fast food chain and a family firm with over 400 restaurants, opened a new restaurant in Kyiv on Aug. 28.
Located across the river from the city center, in the Novus shopping centre at 7G Zdolbunivska Street, the new restaurant opened with a festive ceremony of champagne, ribbon cutting, speeches and, of course, hamburgers.
Previously, Hesburger had a restaurant on the Maidan
Nezalezhnosti, but it was closed down last year in the midst of the EuroMaidan Revolution
The
company’s CEO, Kari Salmela, who was present at the opening of the
new restaurant, recalled the decision to withdraw: “Tanks were on the
roof of the mall and entrances were blocked with shots being fired everywhere.
I made the decision to close down for both security and business reasons.”
Now however, the political situation has stabilized and the
economic situation offers opportunities to expand at low cost.
But, according to
Johnny Bergendahl, the head of Hesburger’s operations in
Ukraine, opening a restaurant in Kyiv was not simple.
Excessive bureaucracy and
officials who sought to abuse their authority prolonged the process.
“With persistence and by making clear
that we won’t give into extortion, we made it,” Bergendahl said.
Now, if all goes well. Hesberger plans to expand its operations in Kyiv.
With its simplistic design of dark wooden panels and furniture,
like that of any other fast food restaurant, it is not obvious though what sets
Hesburger apart from its competitors.
“I believe our burgers taste better, it’s
that simple” Salmela said, advising new
customers: “Try the double burger. In Finland, I eat it four times a week.”
The
monumental burger filled with beef, mayonnaise and calories did indeed seem to
be one of the most popular products in a crowd that filled the restaurant.
Anastasia Melnyk, 37, who was
eating a cheeseburger in the corner of the restaurant with her 8-year-old son,
Oleksandr ,was happy to have a newcomer: “I live nearby and
of course it is great to have a new option. Though honestly, these fast food
places are all the same.”
