Chris Kempczinski says Middle East boycotts are impacting McDonald’s business

Chris Kempczinski, the CEO of McDonald’s, has taken to LinkedIn to share his hopes for the business in 2024 and to reaffirm the business’s support for suffering communities.

Kempczinski’s post also addressed the issues the brand is facing in the Middle East, as a result of the war in Gaza and “associated misinformation.”

“Several markets in the Middle East and some outside the region are experiencing a meaningful business impact due to the war and associated misinformation that is affecting brands like McDonald’s. This is disheartening and ill-founded,” the fast food boss wrote.

He added: “In every country where we operate, including in Muslim countries, McDonald’s is proudly represented by local owner operators who work tirelessly to serve and support their communities while employing thousands of their fellow citizens.”

McDonald’s, and a handful of other well-known Western brands, have been hit by grassroots boycotts since the conflict between Israeli forces and Hamas soldiers escalated in October last year.

Western brands are being shunned in countries that have large Muslim populations, who have been staunch supporters of the Palestinian people’s plight.

Governments like the U.S. however—the home nation of McDonald’s—had previously been supportive of Israel, though that backing appears to be beginning to wane.

McDonald’s was also accused of having pro-Israel ties after the company’s autonomous franchise in Israel said it was donating meals “to all those who are involved in the defence of the state, hospitals, and surrounding areas.”

Although all under the same banner of golden arches, other McDonald’s franchises in the region moved to distance themselves from the Israel group. As per Reuters, franchises in Saudi Arabia, Oman, Kuwait, the United…