Homegrown fried chicken chain replaces KFC in Russia

The Russian incarnation of KFC opened its first restaurant in Moscow on Tuesday after the American fast food chain exited the country amid the Kremlin's offensive in Ukraine.

The new owners of the US giant's former restaurants across Russia are resuscitating Rostic's, a brand that appeared in the tumultuous early years of post-Soviet Russia.

At the launch in central Moscow, Colonel Harland Sanders, the founder of the KFC chain, was absent from the new logo, but the new colour scheme still featured the US giant's signature red and white.

The Rostic's flagship venue would welcome its first customers at 5 pm (1400 GMT).

Originally launched in 1993, Rostic's helped KFC expand in Russia over two decades. For many Russians, Rostic's brings back memories of the turbulent early years of transitioning to a free-market economy following the collapse of the Soviet Union in 1991.

Last week, the US giant's parent company Yum Brands completed its withdrawal from Russia. The KFC business in the country has been sold to Smart Service, a local franchisee.

Neither company was immediately available for comment.

As part of the deal, Smart Service agreed to retain the company's employees in Russia, the US parent company said in a statement last week.

"Smart Service will initially convert their more than 100 KFC restaurants in Russia to Rostic's," the statement said.

"As master franchisor, Smart Service will also be responsible for working with other franchisees in Russia to rebrand to Rostic's."

With more than a thousand restaurants, KFC was the largest fast food chain in Russia.