In a significant fallout from the growing boycott movement in solidarity with Palestine, KFC has closed all 537 of its outlets across Turkey.
The shutdown, which affects over 7,000 workers, comes amid intensifying public pressure on Western brands seen as aligned with or silent on Israeli aggression in Gaza.
The franchise collapse follows months of protests and calls for boycotting U.S.-based companies, including KFC and Pizza Hut, both owned by Yum! Brands.
These calls have gained traction across Türkiye, where citizens and activists have demanded economic disengagement from companies linked to Israel or its allies.
Yum! Brands terminated its long-standing agreement with Iş Gıda in January, citing failure to meet operational standards. However, insiders suggest the brand’s tarnished image and plummeting sales in Türkiye were key factors behind the move. Iş Gıda soon filed for bankruptcy protection, revealing debts of over 7.7 billion Turkish liras (approximately $214 million).
Iş Gıda CEO Ilkem Şahin expressed heartbreak over the closure, admitting that even his personal savings were used in an attempt to rescue the company. “We were overwhelmed—by debt, by seizure of properties, and by a collapse in consumer trust,” he said.
The economic downturn was compounded by mass boycotts, soaring inflation, and currency devaluation—conditions that made recovery nearly impossible. The closure of all 283 KFCs and 254 Pizza Huts in the country is being seen as one of the most significant corporate exits in Türkiye’s recent history.
Unpaid workers, who received their last salaries in December 2024, have protested across Istanbul and other major cities, demanding compensation and answers from Yum! Brands. Many have turned to social media, urging the corporation to clarify their employment status and acknowledge the human cost of their departure.
“We served this company with loyalty,” wrote one manager on LinkedIn. “All we ask now is fairness—and a voice.”
The shutdown has also raised concerns about the broader impact of boycott movements on multinational corporations operating in countries with strong pro-Palestinian sentiment.
While KFC’s future in Türkiye remains uncertain, the message from the streets is clear: silence or complicity on Palestine carries a price.
- News Deskhttps://thekashmiriyat.co.uk/author/kashmiriyat/
- News Deskhttps://thekashmiriyat.co.uk/author/kashmiriyat/
- News Deskhttps://thekashmiriyat.co.uk/author/kashmiriyat/
- News Deskhttps://thekashmiriyat.co.uk/author/kashmiriyat/
