A string of 'copycat' Starbucks coffee shops are opening in Russia just weeks after the multinational chain pulled out of the country.
The launch of the first Stars Coffee shop in Moscow Thursday (August 18) on the site of a former Starbucks marked the entrance of another new name on the nation's high streets following a mass exodus of Western brands after the invasion of Ukraine.
As well as having a familiar name, the brand new chain of roasteries owned by restaurateur Anton Pinskiy is also emblazoned with a circular logo featuring a stencil drawing of long-haired female figure — as they are banned from using Starbucks' green siren.
But when speaking alongside rapper Timati at this week's launch event, co-owner Pinskiy suggested that the similarities ended there, commenting: "People's perceptions may be different.
"But if you compare, then apart from the circle, you won't find anything in common."
Stars' break with the past extends to logistics too, with the new company ditching Starbucks' former resource and production base in favour of new suppliers.
Stars Coffee now imports beans from Latin America and Africa, Pinskiy said, with suppliers of other items based in Russia.
"We just found other suppliers, found the right roasters, and because the baristas mixed it all correctly, we have a product that we think will be competitive," he said.
More branches will open in former Starbucks shops over the next few months, according to Pinskiy.
Starbucks permanently closed all of its 130 Russian stores back in May over the country's invasion of Ukraine, having stopped selling coffee in most locations two months earlier.
The company had operated in the country for 15 years through various franchises, and employed 2,000 staff. Around 1% of Starbucks' revenue was thought to come from its Russian franchises.
Starbucks declined to comment on the similarity of the logo and name, but referred to an earlier statement in which it said the company had made the decision to exit and no longer had a brand presence in the Russian market.
A similar venture by ex-franchisee and businessman Alexander Govor launched in June saw 15 empty McDonalds restaurants around Moscow reopen under the new name 'Tasty and That's It'.
